10 memorable moments that defined world football in 2016
What a year. Here are 10 moments from 2016 that will forever define what was an incredible 12 months in world football.
Stefan Frei makes ‘The Save’
The stage was set for Toronto FC to erase a decade’s worth of failure and humiliation. Boasting a superior squad and playing in front of its boisterous home crowd, TFC was expected to capture its first MLS Cup earlier this month. And when Jozy Altidore rose majestically in extra time, thumping a powerful header towards the top corner, it looked as though the Canadian side’s dream would be realized. Then Seattle Sounders ‘keeper Stefan Frei turned into Superman, and the rest is history.
Related: How Stefan Frei’s story came full circle with dominant performance in Toronto
Lionel Messi calls it quits … sort of
World Cup final in 2014. Copa America final in 2015. Copa America Centenario final in 2016. Lionel Messi has known nothing but painful failure with Argentina, the final hurdle proving an obstacle too great to overcome for three consecutive years. It was perhaps not entirely surprising that, after the Albiceleste fell to Chile in another shootout this past summer – with Messi sending his penalty flying over the bar, no less – a heat-of-the-moment declaration saw the pint-sized magician call it quits with the national team. He returned shortly after and is once again leading his compatriots, but time is running out to capture an elusive international title.
Manchester United makes history with Pogba signing
Mired in an extended slump that has straddled the line between disappointing and embarrassing since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United took some major steps this past summer to regain its place atop the pyramid of English football – a position the club so typically occupied with the curmudgeonly Scot at the helm. Jose Mourinho and Zlatan Ibrahimovic arrived to much fanfare, but the crown jewel of the transfer window was the return of Paul Pogba, the Frenchman returning to Old Trafford after the Red Devils paid a world-record fee of €105 million to procure his unrivaled services from Juventus. It’ll take some time, sure, but don’t be surprised if United is back on top in the near future, with Pogba serving as the catalyst.
Iceland’s shining moment is England’s shame
Euro 2016 had Xherdan Shaqiri’s bicycle kick, Will Grigg’s intoxicating tune, and so much more, but there’s an argument to be made that nothing – not even Portugal’s emotional triumph – captured the attention quite like Iceland’s magical run in the tournament. The perfect beards, the exuberant fans, the hypnotizing Viking Clap, and the unforeseen victory over England – especially that victory. While it produced outrage in England and led to national discourse (again) on how to fix the Three Lions, it turned an unheralded collection of Icelandic footballers into national icons. That reception upon returning home tells the story better than we ever could.
Ronaldo’s tears: From heartbreak to euphoria
Whatever your feelings are about Cristiano Ronaldo, it was impossible not to feel for the Portuguese captain as he crumbled to the turf, eyes welling upon realizing his Euro 2016 final was coming to a premature end after Dimitri Payet clattered into his knee. This was supposed to be the crowning moment of his marvellous career; it was, after all, the only title he was yet to win. And yet, by emerging from the dressing room and barking out instructions from the touchline, watching on as Eder – seriously, Eder – scored an extra-time belter to vanquish a superior French side and deliver Portugal the crown, Ronaldo did more for his legacy than he ever could on the field. Despair turned to joy, and even the most ardent Messi supporter applauded.
Hibs end 114-year wait for Scottish Cup glory
There are droughts, and then there are droughts. When you’re dealing with one that has stretched 114 years, it’s only fitting to bring it to a merciful end in dramatic fashion. That’s exactly what Hibs did, scoring a 92nd-minute goal to defeat Rangers and capture the Scottish Cup for the first time since 1902.
Allardyce’s dream job slips away after 67 days
Life comes at you fast. After finally getting his dream job as England manager, Sam Allardyce found himself at the centre of a wide-ranging newspaper sting uncovering corruption in football. Big Sam, caught on camera offering advice on how to circumvent transfer rules, was promptly canned as Three Lions boss, just 67 days after hoisting that scarf proudly above his head.
Leicester City pulls off the impossible
If this one needs explaining, then perhaps you found your way here by mistake. Leicester City did it. Somehow. Absurd odds be damned. An achievement beyond compare, the Foxes’ Premier League title triumph had a little bit of everything. Riyad Mahrez turned into the best player in the Premier League, Jamie Vardy couldn’t stop scoring, Robert Huth and Wes Morgan formed an impenetrable wall, and N’Golo Kante tackled everything in sight. The rest of the league fell by the wayside, and the lucky bounces just didn’t stop, even when the numbers said they eventually would. As if that wasn’t enough, the whole thing was commemorated by Andrea Bocelli, live at the King Power Stadium. Yeah, I never thought I’d write that, either.
Neymar delivers Brazil its elusive gold medal
Rio 2016 was, by so many measures, a disaster. A nation already enduring a financial crisis was thrown further into economic turmoil, and venues were plagued by sewage, among other issues. But if you only watched Neymar lead Brazil to its first-ever gold medal in men’s football, slotting home the winning penalty in front of 80,000 people inside the vaunted Maracana, you’d think these Olympic Games were the most successful the world had ever seen. Neymar, who has experienced competitions far more illustrious – the World Cup and Champions League final highlight his ever-growing resume – wept, and all of Brazil roared.
Chapecoense: Champions, forever
The moment that will live on, the lasting image that comes to mind when we think of Chapecoense, will always be the celebration that ensued inside the dressing room after the club booked its spot in the Copa Sudamericana final. In the wake of the tragic plane crash that killed 71 people, including 19 team members who were en route to Colombia for the first leg of the Sudamericana final, that jubilant scene is the one we’ll cherish. In that moment, those players, many of whom are now gone, were celebrating as if they had won the tournament. They were champions. They are champions. Forever.
Related – Chapecoense: A beautiful dream that never got a chance to come true
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