The men’s football moments that left their mark on the media Sport team in 2023.
The FIFA World Cup in Qatar may have fallen in 2022, but 2023 went a long way towards matching last year for stories and events.
Here are media’s top 10 football moments from the men’s game for this calendar year:
Manchester City were finally crowned champions of Europe in June when they beat Inter Milan 1-0 in the Champions League final.
It was the trophy that had eluded City and their esteemed manager, Pep Guardiola, in his time with the club.
For the Spaniard, it was his third Champions League triumph after the two he claimed with Barcelona, but the wait to lead City to continental glory was becoming the elephant in the room.
The win secured the domestic treble for City as they won the Premier League for a third consecutive year. It also opened the door for City to challenge in two more competitions – the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup.
Victor Osimhen finished top scorer in Serie A to help Napoli to their first Serie A title since Diego Maradona graced the Italian top flight.
The Nigerian striker netted 26 goals in a stellar season that alerted all of Europe’s top clubs.
3. Messi wins eighth Ballon d’Or
Lionel Messi was also on the move in 2023 as the former Barcelona star swapped Paris for Miami.
The Argentinean’s time at Paris St Germain didn’t quite go to plan, but a glamorous move to David Beckham’s Inter Miami is expected to help sprinkle some glitz on Major League Soccer in the United States.
It has hardly been a barren couple of years for Messi. After Argentina’s World Cup win at Qatar in 2022, the forward was handed his eighth Ballon d’Or.
He claimed his first in 2009 as his incredible club career began. The latest, though, must have been the sweetest award for Messi, who was rewarded for finally joining some of the game’s greats in holding aloft the World Cup.
1. Manchester City win the Champions League
Cristiano Ronaldo ended his European love affair when he switched Manchester for Saudi Arabia.
From Sporting Lisbon to United, Real Madrid, Juventus and Old Trafford again, Ronaldo decided to take up the challenge of the Saudi Pro League with Al Nassr.
Having claimed the Serie A title, manager Luciano Spalletti immediately left Napoli to take time out of the game.
The 64-year-old, who said he was tired, was replaced by Rudi Garcia – but he lasted only 16 games before being sacked.
Walter Mazzarri took charge with the title defence in tatters, both on and off the field, given rumours of unrest – most especially for their prized-asset Osimhen, who deleted a series of social media posts venting his frustration at the club.
Matters weren’t helped by a controversial post by the club themselves seemingly mocking a penalty miss by Osimhen.
Although it was quickly removed, the player’s agent was quick to express his disappointment at what he described as disrespect for his client, and legal action was even threatened.
Perhaps Spalletti saw a storm brewing on the horizon.
A quadruple already in the bag, Manchester City headed to Saudi Arabia last week as heavy favourites for the FIFA Club World Cup.
A 2-0 semifinal win against Japan’s Uwara Reds appeared a stroll in the park, but that was nothing compared with the final.
Guardiola’s side secured a fifth trophy in 2023 with a 4-0 hammering of Brazil’s Fluminense.
The scoreline didn’t flatter City in any way whatsoever in what was a complete mismatch.
United Arab Emirates Dirham Exchange Rate
