2023 has been a year of great football ecstasy—a year we witnessed triumphs, heartbreaks, dominance, and pure sporting brilliance that encompasses the making and breaking of unfathomable individual and team records that made this annual experience worth reliving.
We were on the receiving end of wholesome remarkable memories, some of which might have been forgotten over the past 364 days. But as we stand on the brink of a new year, Six Sports highlights seven out of the top football moments that defined this culminating year.
On March 5, 2023, Manchester United suffered an embarrassing 7-0 loss to their rivals Liverpool, in what appears to be one of the most iconic dubbings in the history of the Premier League.
The Erik Hag-led side were coming from an 11-game unbeaten run, before they were inflicted their joint-heaviest defeat in history at Anfield, one which earned the Reds their biggest win over their rivals and a bragging right that’s one for the books
Luciano Spalleti guided Napoli to their only Serie A title in the past 33 years on May 5, 2023.
NAPOLI WIN SERIE A FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1990 🏆 pic.twitter.com/bhvTR4wkhs
— B/R Football (@brfootball) May 4, 2023
It was a historic night for the Partenopei who courtesy of Victor Osimhen’s goal drew 1-1 away at Udinese to lift the title 16 points clear of the first runner-up: Lazio.
For the first time in their history, Manchester City won the UEFA Champions League after defeating Inter Milan 1-0 in Istanbul back in June.
Manchester City are Champions of Europe and complete legendary treble! 🏆🔵✨ #MCFC #UCL pic.twitter.com/tfhvtT27VO
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 10, 2023
Despite coming close on different occasions after the Abu Dhabi takeover, the UCL has always eluded City, before Rodri’s second-half goal at the Atatürk Olympic Stadium sealed their treble season, as they became the second English team to achieve that feat since Manchester United in 1998/99 season.
Lionel Messi, arguably the greatest footballer of all time won a record-breaking 8th Ballon d’or for the pivotal impact he had in guiding Argentina to their first World Cup title in 36 years.
LIONEL MESSI WINS HIS EIGHTH BALLON D’OR #BallonDor | #Messi pic.twitter.com/IlQj8YHvCW
— Sixsports_Network (@SixSportsNet) October 30, 2023
The ex-Barcelona superstar was bestowed the accolade at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris on October 30, 2023—edging second-placed Erling Haaland (who had a terrific treble-winning season with Manchester City) by 105 points.
Emerging from the streets of Olusosun in Nigeria to the hearts of Neopelolitans and other football enthusiasts, 25-year-old Victor James Osimhen ended his country’s 24-year African Footballer of the Year award drought on December 11, 2023, in Marrakech, Morocco.
The striker who recently renewed his contract with Napoli won the accolade courtesy of his monumental efforts to Napoli winning the 2022/2023 Seria A title— the only club trophy he has won hitherto.
Unlike their city rivals, Manchester United made it into our top 7 moments of 2023, not for their impressive on-field performances, but for their takeover saga that stole the headlines for months during the year.
Qatari businessman Sheikh Jassim who proposed a full takeover worth over £5bn withdrew from the bidding process back in October due to unrealistic valuations from the Glazers family—a development that paved the way for Ineos CEO Jim Ratcliffe to complete a 25 per cent procurement of Manchester United earlier this week.
🚨 OFFICIAL: Manchester United plc announces today that it has entered into an agreement under which Chairman of INEOS, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, will acquire 25 per cent of Manchester United's Class B shares and up to 25 per cent of Manchester United's Class A shares. pic.twitter.com/lmTD9xMnsX
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 24, 2023
Although it was in December 2022 that Ronaldo completed his move to Al-Nassr, the Portuguese mega superstar’s decision to test the water outside European leagues was one of the major factors that influenced a handful of top footballers to follow suit later in 2023, in what happens to be an iconic transfer window in the history of the game.
Neymar, Karim Benzema, Sadio Mane, N’golo Kante, Roberto Firmino, and Eduardo Mendy are a few of the top footballers who secured moves to the Saudi Pro League in the 2023 summer transfer window.
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