The beautiful game is loved by billions of people across the globe. When their team wins, they dance and shout in celebration.
When their team loses, they scream and clutch at their faces in despair. When the referee makes a bad call…well, let’s just say their response probably isn’t appropriate for all ages.
Whether your team is doing well or on the losing end, you can’t deny a spectacular moment. We have compiled a list of the most stellar moments in football this year. Take a close look at who is at the heart of them; it should make betting on the Europa League much more of a sure thing if you pay attention!
Arsenal versus Tottenham in the North London Derby
Fans who watched this match were likely thinking to themselves, “Wait a moment, aren’t Arsenal supposed to be in the middle of a crisis?” In September this year, the Gunners took it upon themselves to absolutely destroy Tottenham Hotspur at the North London Derby. This rivalry has undoubtedly been the best in the division and has kept fans on the edge of their seats. Arsenal was on the attack right out of the gate and won with a score of 3-1. This was a surprise as the Spurs have been getting the better of the Gunners of late, but Arsenal fans were pleased indeed to see this reversal of fortune.
Phil Foden for Manchester City
This young blood has been one of the top players to watch during the 20/21 season. A graduate of the academy, many think that Phoden should already have been playing for the City starting lineup for much longer than he has. Although he is only 20 years of age, Phoden scored one of the most memorable goals of the year for Manchester City back in February, at Anfield – their first victory in that stadium since 2003. He certainly is a player to keep your eye on, as he still has many years left in his career to improve on what some believe to be perfection already. We hope for big things for the youngster in the future.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s return
Arguably one of the most famous footballers of all time, Cristiano Ronaldo is finally back at Manchester United. Fans were on tenterhooks ahead of his first match back on the team, and they were certainly not disappointed. Even Ronaldo himself is quoted as saying that his unbelievable return exceeded his expectations for the event.
It has been a long 12 years for Man United without Ronaldo, and his return was marked with a performance in front of 76,000 fans: a fitting welcome home for a king. Ronaldo was nervous before the game and was happily surprised that he managed to score not just one goal but two. He has his head screwed on the right way, though: Ronaldo knows that who scored the goals is not as important as the team playing well as a whole. BBC News quoted the star as saying that it was an unbelievable moment. A hall of fame game for the man in the number seven shirt.
Fans steal the limelight
While this list focuses primarily on the football players who thrill us on the field, there have also certainly been some moments this year where the fans themselves were worthy of recognition.
This year has seen six of Europe’s best clubs pushing hard to get a European Super League off the ground. Fans met this idea with nothing less than genuine horror, and weren’t afraid to show it. Protests swiftly erupted as many believed that such a Super League would destroy football as it is known today. That’s telling them!
Another exciting fan moment was the return to the stadiums as the Government lifted health restrictions. While games still went on without fans present in the stands, it has been apparent to those watching that the silence and empty stands dramatically affected the players during play. Everything is once more as it should be. After all, the beautiful game would be nothing without its fans.
The ghost of Jesse Lingard
Nothing stings quite so much as a bite on that hand that used to feed you. When a player switches teams, all fans (and the players as well) dread that unavoidable moment when said player will come up against his old side. West Ham United fans and players saw that moment this year, as Jesse Lingard came through for Manchester United with a match-winning goal, which he chose not to flash in the face of his old side. While the match wasn’t entirely incident-free, it seems that all the players know that “this is football.” Former teammates say that Jesse is acting differently now that he’s playing for the reds and would not have behaved like that while he was still playing for West Ham. Only time will tell if this is true or an isolated incident brought about by the heat of the moment.
Aston Villa versus Liverpool
Unquestionably one of the most surprising match conclusions of the year was seen when Aston Villa trounced Liverpool 7-2 in October. Both sets of fans were left utterly slack-jawed as the Villains held absolutely nothing back. This defeat has been 20 years in the making, and the curse seems to be broken at last. Ollie Watkins and John McGinn are certainly working hard to earn their keep; the players contributed a hat trick and a deflected volley, respectively. This was Liverpool’s worst defeat since back in 1963, and it’s something the side won’t easily forget. Another stunning moment in the annals of football history and a definite hall of fame moment in 2021.
Wrap up
As you can see, 2021 has been a year of incredible ups and downs for our teams. With new players joining the ranks of our favorite teams and old players leaving or shifting sides, who can tell what’s coming next. We’ve laughed, we’ve cried, and we’re ready for what the future of football holds.
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