Football Highlights of 2017: Cristiano Ronaldo Bags 5th Ballon d'Or, India Hosts Under-17 World Cup & Other Soccer News

Footballing gods bestowed upon fans some real moments in the year 2017 as we bid farewell to it. It will be fair to say we witnessed some emotionally charged scenes on the football pitch and some equally shocking moments off it as well. From Real Madrid legend Cristian Ronaldo bagging his fifth Ballon d'Or to India hosting the 2017 Under-17 World Cup, let us have a quick recap of the headline grabbers of 2017.

1. Neymar’s World Record Transfer To PSG

Footballs golden boy Neymar in his bid to overcome the shadow of Lionel Messi handed in a transfer request to FC Barcelona shocking the football world. The temperamental striker had been showing signs of mutiny in the pre-season tour of United States and in came PSG into the fray and openly claimed it was willing to pay Neymar’s release clause of 198 million pounds. The Qatar based owners of the club pumped in 200 million pounds eventually to snap one of football’s leading talent and in the process making Neymar the most expensive transfer in football history.

2. Manchester City Breaks EPL Record With 16th Win in a Row

Pep Guardiola’s expensive recruits broke a premier league record of most wins on the trot with the away battering of Swansea. The English team has been in sensational form in the league this season banging in goals for fun. The likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling, Leroy Sane and David Silva have made sure City have dropped only two points in the league till now and looking at their form it is hard not to believe they will go unbeaten the entire season.

3. Italy Knocked Out Of 2018 World Cup

The Azzuris failed to qualify for the World cup finals since 1958 sending the football-crazy nation into despair. The Italian side came up against a resolute Swedish defence whose sheer determination to come up on top meant disaster for Buffon and co. It was a sad way for the legendary Buffon to bid adieu to his international career and he could not control his emotions at the end of the match. Italy had a comparatively easy group and their failure to qualify called for serious retrospection by the federation.

4. India Hosting 2017 Under-17 World Cup

India hosted its maiden FIFA tournament as the 17th edition of the tournament was played in the Asian nation. Six cities namely Navi Mumbai, Kochi, Kolkata, Delhi, Guwahati and Goa played host to the biennial competition. The manner in which the tournament was conducted boosted India’s credibility to host future FIFA competitions. Crowd frenzy was at its peak throughout the event with record ticket sales, a welcome sign in the country obsessed with cricket. If England was the winner of the cup, it would not be wrong to say the real winner was AIFF and India.

5. Cristiano Ronaldo wins his 5th Ballon d'Or:

The Real Madrid Ace bagged his fifth Ballon d'Or in the French capital of Paris drawing level with fierce rival Lionel Messi. It has been an interesting year for the former Manchester United legend winning one trophy after another but on a personal front, his form has seen a dip in the second half of the year. Messi had a 4-1 lead at one point of time over Ronaldo but the sheer determination of the Portuguese skipper to be the best means the football’s most coveted prize is now tied between two of the greatest footballers to have ever graced the game.

Football fans will be hoping for more great moments to come up in 2018 as we gear up for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia and some of the top leagues in the world still to be wrapped up. We look forward to the year with great enthusiasm.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 04, 2018 06:38 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).