The first ever "Golden Goal" at the World Cup Finals was scored by Laurent Blanc of France in the 1998 World Cup. The Golden Goal rule was introduced in the 1998 World Cup as a way to determine a winner in knockout stage matches without the need for a penalty shootout.

The Golden Goal rule stated that if a team scored a goal in extra time, the match would be immediately ended and that team would be declared the winner. This added an extra level of excitement and drama to the knockout stage matches, as teams knew that one goal could make all the difference.

Laurent Blanc's Golden Goal came in the Round of 16 match between France and Paraguay. In the 113th minute of extra time, Blanc scored with a header to send France through to the quarterfinals and make history as the first player to score a Golden Goal at the World Cup Finals.

The Golden Goal rule was in place for the 1998 and 2002 World Cup Finals, but was eventually abolished in favor of the traditional extra time and penalty shootout format. While the Golden Goal rule added excitement to the knockout stage matches, it also faced criticism for potentially ending matches prematurely and denying teams the chance to come back and equalize.

If you want to learn more about the history of the Golden Goal rule and its impact on the World Cup Finals, you can visit the official FIFA website at www.fifa.com/worldcup/. There you will find a wealth of information on past World Cup tournaments, including videos, articles, and statistics.

In conclusion, Laurent Blanc of France scored the first ever Golden Goal at the World Cup Finals in 1998, adding his name to the history books and forever changing the way knockout stage matches are decided. While the Golden Goal rule may no longer be in place, its impact on the World Cup Finals will always be remembered.

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