Russia 6-1 Cameroon: 1994 World Cup Salenko Five Goals Win Golden Boot

# Russia 6-1 Cameroon: Five Goals, One Man, and a Golden Boot

June 28, 1994. The USA World Cup. Russia vs Cameroon. Both teams were already eliminated. Oleg Salenko scored five goals in this match—the most goals by a single player in a World Cup game in history. With six goals total, he shared the Golden Boot with Bulgaria's Hristo Stoichkov. But Stoichkov played seven matches and reached the semifinals. Salenko played just three games and went home after the group stage.

Cameroon's defense had given up in this match. Each of Salenko's five goals was different—a header, left foot, right foot, penalty, and one-on-one. With this game, he forever changed his life: from an unknown striker at a small Spanish club to a World Cup Golden Boot winner. Those five goals weren't just football. They were the most perfect ninety minutes of a man's life.