Late drama & brilliance: Best football moments of 2024
Jurgen Klopp, Pep Guardiola and Jude Bellingham all had memorable moments in 2024
What a great year 2024 is proving to be for football.
We’ve had shocks, dramatic moments, emotional farewells and wonderful goals. But how much do you remember about this year?
BBC Sport looks back at the 15 best football moments from 2024.
Non-League Maidstone beat Ipswich Town in FA Cup
Maidstone advanced to the seventh round of the FA Cup but lost 5-0 to Coventry City in the last 16
national league south side Maidstone United cause huge FA Cup shock An away win against then Championship club Ipswich Town in the fourth round.
Excellent goals on the counter-attack from Lamar Reynolds and Sam Cohen – with Maidstone’s only shot on target – helping the non-league side secure a 2-1 win at the top of the Football Pyramid A team that was 98 spots above them and sparked jubilant scenes.
Klopp’s last trophy before bidding farewell to Liverpool
During his time at Liverpool, Klopp won the Premier League, Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, Club World Cup, FA Cup and League Cup twice
Jurgen Klopp shocked the football world in January by announcing that he would step down as Liverpool manager at the end of the 2023-24 season.
He managed to win another trophy Carabao Cup final Reds 1-0 Chelsea At Wembley, thanks to Virgil van Dijk’s header in extra time.
It will be Klopp’s last piece of silverware before an emotional farewell to Anfield in Liverpool’s final game of the season in May.
Hayes leaves Chelsea with another WSL win
During her 12 years at Chelsea, Emma Hayes’ achievements include winning 7 league titles, 5 FA Cups and 2 League Cups
Emma Hayes is another high-profile figure to quit her domestic job in England, agreeing to become the head coach of the U.S. women’s soccer team this summer.
before she leaves Hayes wins fifth consecutive Women’s Super League title With Chelsea. Manchester City was expected to win this game, but they conceded two goals in a row at the last minute and lost 1-2 at home to Arsenal.
That opened the door for Chelsea, who beat Manchester United 6-0 on the final day to beat Manchester City to the title on goal difference.
Manchester City wins record-breaking fourth consecutive title
Manchester City lost just three league games in 2023-24, scoring 96 goals and scoring 91 points
Manchester City made history and became The first team to win the English Championship for four consecutive seasons.
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City need a win in their final game to stop rivals Arsenal and secure their historic title success.
Two goals from Phil Foden and one from Rodri helped Manchester City beat West Ham United 3-1 and move two points ahead of the Gunners.
Celtic beat Rangers in final and claim Double
Celtic have won the Scottish Championship 54 times, the Scottish Cup 42 times and the Scottish League Cup 22 times.
Celtic have already won the Scottish Premiership title and face rivals Rangers in the Scottish Cup looking to complete the double.
Brendan Rodgers’ side won 1-0 at Hampden Park Adam Idah scored a dramatic late winner in a tight game with few clear chances.
This isn’t the only time Celtic have beaten Rangers in the 2024 cup final, they beat them again in December, this time in the Scottish League Cup, winning on penalties after a 3-3 draw. 5-4 win.
Manchester United beat Manchester City in FA Cup final Manchester derby
This is Manchester United’s 13th FA Cup win and their first since 2016
It has been a miserable league season for Manchester United, who ended the 2023-24 campaign in eighth place, their lowest finish in the Premier League era.
However, they have a chance to end the season on a high note by taking on league champions Manchester City in the FA Cup final.
A good first half saw United lead 2-0 with goals from Alejandro Ganaccio and Coby Mainu, although Jeremy Doku pulled one back late on – Erik ten Hag’s side held on to win trophy and secure a place in Europe.
Alonso leads Leverkusen to incredible double
Leverkusen had 28 wins and six draws in 34 Bundesliga games, clinched the title with five games remaining and defeated Kaiserslautern 1-0 in the DFB-Pokal final.
Former Liverpool midfielder Xavi Alonso leads Bayer Leverkusen to their first German title – and does it with style Unbeaten throughout the Bundesliga Ending Bayern Munich’s 11th consecutive championship record.
Leverkusen also won the German Cup and reached the Europa League final.
However, after a 51-game unbeaten run, Leverkusen failed to secure an incredible treble, losing 3-0 to Atalanta in the final, with Ademola Lookman scoring a hat-trick.
Bellingham’s talent saved England
Jude Bellingham scores for England against Slovakia a day after his 21st birthday
In the round of 16 of Euro 2024, England fell behind Slovakia 0-1 thanks to Ivan Schranz’s goal in stoppage time, and ended up embarrassingly eliminated.
But in the 95th minute, England received a throw-in on the right, Mark Gueye headed in at the near post, and Jude Bellingham created a moment of magic. Stunning overhead kick equalizer And save the Three Lions.
The game entered overtime, and Harry Kane scored for England, helping the team win 2-1.
Spain dash England’s hopes in dramatic European final
Spain has won three of the past five European Cups, following 2008 and 2012
After a dramatic win over Slovakia, England beat Switzerland on penalties in the quarter-finals before scoring a last-gasp winner to defeat the Netherlands in the semi-finals.
This puts Southgate’s side into a second successive European Cup final but, like against Italy in 2021, The Three Lions failed to do so and missed out on the first men’s championship trophy since 1966.
Nico Williams gave Spain the lead early in the second half before substitute Cole Palmer equalized. This time, however, England scored late, with Mikel Oyarzabal scoring the winning goal in the 86th minute to help Spain win 2-1.
Hayes leads Team USA to Olympic gold
The U.S. women’s soccer team has won five Olympic gold medals
As previously mentioned, Emma Hayes left Chelsea at the end of the season to take over the U.S. women’s team, with her first game set to take place at the 2024 Paris Olympics soon.
The United States topped their group with wins over Zambia, Germany and Australia, followed by overtime wins over Japan and Germany, sending Hayes’ side into the final, where they will face Brazil.
Mallory Swanson’s clinical second-half finish was enough The United States won its first Olympic gold medal in women’s soccer since 2012.
Cristiano Ronaldo scores 900th career goal
Apart from Portugal, Cristiano Ronaldo’s goals have also come from Sporting CP, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus and most recently Al Nasr in Saudi Arabia
Cristiano Ronaldo becomes First player to reach 900 top-flight goals in his career In September, Portugal defeated Croatia 2-1 in the UEFA Nations League in Lisbon.
In the 34th minute, the 39-year-old doubled Portugal’s lead with a volley from the edge of the six-yard box from Nuno Mendes’ long pass.
It was Portugal’s 131st goal, a new international record (he now has 135 goals), and 20 years after his first, the veteran celebrated in an emotional way Kneel down on one knee.
Kane wins the Golden Boot in his 100th appearance for England
Harry Kane scored 69 goals in 103 international appearances for England
England captain Harry Kane Celebrating his 100th game in style Finland were beaten in the Nations League at Wembley in September thanks to two brilliant goals.
Kane was commemorated with a golden hat before kick-off and wore golden boots – which he used to crush a stubborn Finland side.
England’s record goalscorer scored his 67th and 68th career international goals, with the 69th coming in a 5-0 home win over the Republic of Ireland in November of.
Villa beat Bayern in repeat of 1982 European Cup final
Aston Villa have four wins, one draw and one loss in six Champions League games so far, with two games remaining in the league stage in January
Jhon Duran comes off the bench in dramatic fashionAston Villa beat Bayern Munich 1-0 Champions League match at an ecstatic Villa Park.
This historic game was a replay of Villa’s 1982 European Cup final victory over the German giants in Rotterdam, with Duran ensuring a replica of the score.
Duran, who came on as a 70th-minute substitute for Ollie Watkins, also performed well when he latched on to Bayern’s veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer with a high shot in just nine minutes.
Tuchel becomes England coach
Thomas Tuchel will become England’s 16th permanent manager, excluding interim managers
Gareth Southgate quits as England manager after Euro 2024 final defeat, with Lee Carsley stepping up from the Under-21s to take interim charge of the Nations League Three Lions.
Ex-Chelsea manager announced after four games in six games Thomas Tuchel to become England’s next manager Effective January 1, 2025.
The German has signed an 18-month contract until the end of the 2026 World Cup, becoming the third non-English man to join the men’s squad permanently after Sven-Goran Eriksen and Fabio Capello Head coach.
Spain double success at Ballon d’Or
Rodri became the first Spanish man to win the Ballon d’Or since 1960, while a Spanish player has won the women’s Ballon d’Or in each of the past four years.
Spain achieved a double success at October’s Ballon d’Or ceremony.
Manchester City midfielder Rodri wins men’s championship Ahead of Real Madrid duo Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham, who finished second and third respectively.
Rodri played a key role in Manchester City’s Premier League title win in May and was named player of the tournament as Spain won Euro 2024.
Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati wins Women’s Ballon d’Or For the second year in a row.
She won every trophy possible at club level last season, helping Barcelona achieve a historic quadruple – winning the league title, Champions League, Super Cup and Copa del Rey.
