No matter how the year of 2016 might have gone personally for you, you cannot deny that as a football fan you thoroughly enjoyed a season that will be etched in your memories for years to come. Years later when your kids are watching the game, you can proudly tell them that you were alive in the year when the biggest underdog story in footballing history took place and that you also saw a Cristiano Ronaldo-led Portugal win their first major international trophy.
Football is called the beautiful game for a reason- the reason being the emotional roller coaster ride that it so often is. 2016 was a shining testament as to how brilliant the game can be. And as this year draws to an end, we look back at 5 moments that defined the year and a few of them are ones that you shall never forget –
#5 Lionel Messi announces his retirement from international football
When Chile defeated Argentina for the second consecutive year in the Copa America finals on 26th June, naturally the Argentinians were upset. Perhaps none more than Lionel Messi, who as a captain had just seen his team lose a third consecutive major international final, and having missed a penalty in the shootout, the Barcelona man immediately announced his retirement from international football after the match.
The announcement sent shockwaves throughout the footballing community, as nobody wanted arguably the greatest player of all time to hang up his boots at the age of 29. A campaign began in Argentina which pleaded Messi not to retire, and fans worldwide took to social media, organising petitions and tweeting to the magician to return.
Although the striker did eventually come back, his announcement, which got him a fair amount of criticism from some journalists and fans, will be remembered as one of the moments of 2016, as ardent Messi supporters, and even otherwise, were left open-mouthed and shell-shocked at the prospect of never seeing him in the white and blue jersey again.
#4 Bengaluru FC reach the AFC Cup finals
A little background – Bengaluru FC is an Indian club which was formed just three years ago, and plays in the Indian domestic league (I-league).
Indians have always been loyal and passionate football supporters, but the success of the European clubs they support always made them wonder as to when football would become so good (or even remotely as good) in their country. After all, what better feeling than to see a team from your city or country do something previously unprecedented?
Bengaluru FC appointed former Barcelona assistant coach Albert Roca as the manager of the club this year, and under his guidance, this Indian outfit became the very first team from the country to reach the AFC Cup final (which to put it crudely, is Asia’s Europa League).
Indians who did not even know about the AFC Cup or who supported rival clubs like Mohun Bagan got behind the team when they went to Qatar for the finals, as the club at that point was not representing Bangalore- they were representing Indian football.
Although Roca’s men narrowly missed out as they lost 1-0 in the finals, it was beautiful to see the country get behind one club from their own homeland, and it was remarkable to see a club formed just 3 years ago achieve the near impossible. Hopefully, it is a sign of even better things to come.
#3 Cristiano Ronaldo’s Champions League winning penalty
As Barcelona won the domestic double in Spain, Real Madrid’s last chance to salvage something from another season where they were outdone by their rivals domestically was to conquer the competition they had previously won 10 times – the Champions League.
On 28th May 2016, local rivals Atletico and Real faced off in San Siro, Milan, in what was a repeat of the 2014 CL finals. This game was much more evenly contested than the one two years ago, which Atletico had lost 4-1.
The match went into extra time and then to penalties with nothing to separate the teams as the score was tied at 1-1 after two hours of some exciting football.
Three penalties were taken by both sides, and all of them found the back of the net. Then Sergio Ramos tucked his penalty in, while his international teammate Juanfran could not.
Top scorer in the CL that season, Cristiano Ronaldo stepped up to take the final spot kick. The Portuguese had had a poor performance in the final, but he sent Jan Oblak the wrong way as he scored and led Real Madrid to their unparalleled 11th Champions League win.
Ronaldo took off his shirt in his customary celebration as Atletico were left in tears yet again. This win further cemented Real’s place as the greatest club of all time and although not as exciting as the 2014 final where we saw a stoppage-time equaliser, the final shall always be remembered.
#2 Eder scores the Euro winning goal
No one quite knew what to expect when Portugal faced hosts France in the finals of the Euro 2016 competition on the 28th of July. France were the clear favourites, but Portugal had had a good run of form to reach a place where no one expected them to and their captain Ronaldo had just found his form.
In what was one of the most emotional moments of the year, Ronaldo got injured from a Dmitri Payet tackle and despite his best attempts to play, had to be subbed off in the 25th minute. He exited the pitch crying, as his best chance to win something with his country was now not in his own hands.
France were slightly more dominant in possession but none of their players really threatened to score despite the team taking 18 shots in 120 minutes.
As the 2nd half of extra time started, substitute Eder took a shot from 25 yards out and beat France captain Hugo Lloris as the stadium went into shock. Portuguese coach Fernando Santos could barely control himself and Ronaldo could be seen jumping up and down the touchline in delight.
The game ended 0-1 and the hosts were left broken and shocked as the biggest international upset since 2004 when Greece won the Euros had taken place. Truly a moment for the ages to come.
#1 Chelsea 2-2 Tottenham Hotspur, Leicester City win the title
It needed something special to overtake the Euro winning moment, and indeed this is one truly glorious one.
In what was one of the games of the season even despite the conditions in place, Tottenham Hotspur were eight points behind leaders Leicester with three games to go. Anything but a victory would put them out of the race for the title.
Spurs went 2-0 up in the first half with goals from Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min, and it looked as though Leicester would have to wait another week to officially achieve the impossible. Cometh the second half, and Chelsea decided they would give their former manager a moment he would never forget.
Gary Cahill halved the deficit as he scored from a poorly defended corner, and eventual Man of the Match Eden Hazard’s brilliance saw Tottenham concede a second as he scored in the 83rd minute to draw the hosts level.
Spurs did everything they could in the last ten or so minutes, but to no avail as the game ended in a stalemate and the city of Leicester, and the football world itself erupted as the greatest underdog story of all time had just come to its fairy tale conclusion. You could not write a script like this if you tried.
Promoted just the season before and escaping relegation in the last few weeks, sacking their manager and hiring a 64-year-old with a squad and players few had ever heard of, Leicester did something that no one had ever imagined they would – they won the Premier League.
Arguably the greatest moment in league history alongside “AGUERRROOOOOO”, this will be one season that will never be forgotten by anyone in years to come. Without a doubt, THE defining moment of 2016.
Honourable mentions –
Sevilla win their third consecutive Europa League – A record fifth Europa title and an astonishing hattrick of wins, Sevilla defeated Liverpool to clinch their third Europa title in as many years as they came back to win the match 3-1. A truly historic moment as no club had ever done this before; and perhaps no one is likely to ever again.
Iceland knock England out of the Euros – In what was one of the most shocking moments of the year, minnows Iceland knocked the English team out from the Round of 16 of the Euros to record one of England’s worst humiliations in their history. Iceland came back from a one-goal deficit to win the game 2-1 as England’s trend of premature departures from international tournaments continued.
Lionel Messi wins a record 5th Ballon D’Or – A moment not surprising in itself seeing as how we are used to Messi winning awards, but an unprecedented fifth World Player of the Year Award is something even the humble Argentinian will always remember and be proud of. Possibly the greatest ever.
