The football field of 2024 has witnessed countless moments—joyful and painful—that have left their mark. Here, we highlight some of the most significant events for the readers of bdnews24.
As another year fades from the calendar, the balance of success and failure is being tallied, both in life and in the sports arena.
This year, Spanish football’s success has reached new heights, and fans might look back in amazement. Meanwhile, in another corner of world football, Argentina’s achievements, while not as monumental, might still bring a sense of satisfaction.
In contrast, Brazil finds itself in a challenging position. After a series of disappointments, the year has been so rough for them that they would likely want to forget it.
2024 has brought with it numerous stories in football—moments of joy and sorrow. Here are some of the most notable ones for the readers of bdnews24:
A Year Colored by Spain’s Success
When asked about Spain’s golden era in football, one might immediately think of the team of Xavi, Iniesta, and Casillas, that conquered the world. However, a closer look reveals that the present is equally bright. In fact, this year has been the most successful in Spain’s football history.
From international to club football, from team achievements to individual feats, Spain has had an incredible year. Among these, the Spanish Olympic team also clinched gold in football.
Their journey has not just been about victories but has also seen them reclaim dominance in some areas, while establishing new milestones in others.
The first major celebration came on May 25, when Barcelona’s triumph in women’s club football ignited Spain’s success story. Not too long ago, Barcelona’s women’s team struggled to be the best outside their home country, but by 2019 they reached their first-ever UEFA Women’s Champions League final. Since then, they have continuously advanced, eventually winning the title.
In 2024, Barcelona once again held onto their crown by defeating France’s Lyon, the tournament’s record champions, in the final.
Alongside Barcelona’s success, Spain’s star midfielder Aitana Bonmatí, who was named the best player of the tournament, went on to win the Ballon d’Or for the second time in a row.
Just a week later, Real Madrid began to write their own success story. The club’s triumph in the UEFA Champions League final on June 1, played at Wembley, marked their 15th victory in the competition, further cementing their dominance in European football.
The Spanish influence didn’t stop there. In the UEFA Euro 2024 tournament, Spain’s resurgent squad, led by coach Luis de la Fuente, made their mark with an undefeated campaign, clinching the trophy by winning all six of their matches. Young talents like Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams, and Dani Olmo played crucial roles in their success, and their victory in Euro 2024, along with the individual accolades of Rodri and Yamal, highlighted the team’s strength.
Argentina Shines, Brazil Struggles
Argentina, after a long drought, is arguably enjoying the best period in its history. Under Lionel Scaloni’s strategic brilliance and the inspirational leadership of Lionel Messi, they’ve had another year of success, adding to their legacy.
Meanwhile, Brazil, in the midst of this shift, has struggled to find their footing. Once known for their beautiful football (“jogo bonito”), they are now searching for success, with their home crowd turning against them regularly.
2024 has been a contrasting year for these two South American giants. Argentina not only held onto the Copa America title but also finished at the top of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in the Latin American region. They have now won the continental competition, World Cup, and another continental title in succession, becoming only the second team in history to do so.
However, Argentina also faced a challenge as Messi was unavailable for some matches due to injury. In one such instance, he had to leave the Copa America final in tears, but Argentina went on to win the tournament, defeating Colombia in extra time, with Lautaro Martínez scoring the winning goal.
In contrast, Brazil’s year ended in disappointment. Their exit in the quarter-finals of Copa America and struggles in the World Cup qualifiers have left them in a difficult position. The absence of Neymar, sidelined due to injury, has been keenly felt, and the team is looking to new players like Vinícius Jr. and Raphinha to step up in the national team.
Vinícius Jr. Shines at FIFA’s Stage
While Vinícius Jr. had an incredible season with Real Madrid, winning the UEFA Champions League, La Liga, and the Spanish Super Cup, he was narrowly edged out by Rodri for the Ballon d’Or. However, Vinícius claimed the FIFA Best Men’s Player award in December, surpassing Rodri to become the top player in world football for the year.
This marked the end of a 17-year wait for Brazilian football, as the last Brazilian to win the FIFA Best Player award was Kaka in 2007.
At the FIFA Best Football Awards in December, there were more Spanish successes, with Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmatí winning the Women’s Player of the Year award for the second consecutive year.
Farewell to Two Legends: Júnior and Beckenbauer
The football world mourned the loss of two icons at the start of the year. On January 6, Brazilian football legend Mario Zagallo passed away. Zagallo had been an integral part of Brazil’s first World Cup-winning team in 1958, scoring and assisting in the final. He later went on to win World Cups both as a player and a coach.
Soon after, Germany’s Franz Beckenbauer also passed away. Beckenbauer won two World Cups, one as a player in 1974 and another as a coach in 1990. He was the first football personality to win the World Cup both as a player and as a coach.
These two losses marked a sad beginning to the year for football fans around the world.
