Best football moments of 2024: Landmark year for Man City, Ronaldo and Leverkusen | OneFootball

2024 was an incredibly eventful year in football, with a lot of big moments from around the globe.

Hayters have looked back at the ten best bits of the year.

Manchester United beat rivals Manchester City in the FA Cup

Back in May, Erik ten Hag was under extreme pressure as Manchester United manager, when his team faced Manchester City in the FA Cup final. No one gave them a chance, and it was only two weeks after an incredibly embarrassing 4-0 defeat to Crystal Palace in the Premier League.

But with a fully fit squad, United came out 2-1 winners. They were very deserving of the victory as well, and lifting the trophy almost certainly bought the Dutchman an extra few months in his job.

Rodri named men’s Ballon d’Or winner

In October, Manchester City’s Rodri became the first Premier League player since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2008 to win the Ballon d’Or.

The midfielder won the Premier League and Euros in 2024 and was a worthy winner. Sadly, he damaged his ACL the month before winning the award and will not return to the pitch until 2025.

City won their fourth title in a row

Manchester City made history as they became the first team in Premier League history to win four successive league titles.

Pep Guardiola has won six out of the last seven Premier League titles and has built nothing less than a dynasty at the club.

Jurgen Klopp lifted his last trophy for Liverpool.

In February, with the news already announced that he would be leaving Liverpool at the end of the season, Jurgen Klopp lifted his last trophy with Liverpool. They beat Chelsea 1-0 in the Carabao Cup final, with Virgil van Dijk scoring the only goal in extra-time.

The German won eight trophies with the Reds, but perhaps none were as emotional as his final one at Wembley.

Coventry almost upset Man United in the FA Cup

In one of, if not the most, extraordinary games of the year, Manchester United just about beat Coventry on penalties to progress to the final of the FA Cup. On paper and in reality, it should have been a mismatch between the two sides. It was anything but.

Manchester United were 3-0 up and cruising when Ellis Simms scored in the 71st minute to make it 3-1. By the 95th minute, the score was level at 3-3. Coventry almost snatched it in the 121st minute with a goal that was ruled offside.

United eventually won on penalties and just about avoided one of the biggest humiliations in football history.

England’s Euros heroics

For a couple of weeks in June, it looked like it was going to be a bleak Euros campaign for England. But after they got past Slovakia in the round of 16 in stunning fashion thanks to a 95th-minute equaliser from Jude Bellingham, the tide started to turn.

England made it to the final before losing out to a Spanish side that was the best team in the tournament and deserved to lift the trophy.

Aston Villa beat Bayern Munich in the Champions League

No, this isn’t a report from the 1980’s. In early October, Villa hosted and beat the German giants in the grandest competition in European club football.

The Midlands side beat Bayern in the 1982 European Cup final, and 42 years later, John Duran helped to recreate some of that magic at Villa Park. He also announced himself as one of the most exciting young strikers in world football.

Emma Hayes left Chelsea with another WSL title

In sad news for Chelsea fans around the globe, Emma Hayes decided to leave the club, though not before winning a fifth consecutive WSL title.

The tense title race with Manchester City went down to the final day and was decided on goal difference as Hayes saw out her tenure with a thumping 6-0 win at Manchester United.

She became head coach of the USA Women’s team and instantly won an Olympic title.

Xabi Alonso guided Bayer Leverkusen to an invincible season

In an incredible feat, Bayer Leverkusen went invincible all season in the league and in all of the cups, before losing their penultimate game of the season, the Europa League final against Atalanta.

Xabi Alonso was in high demand last year, wanted by Liverpool and Real Madrid, and there is a good chance he will make the step up to a mega-club in 2025 and beyond.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 900th career goal

In September, Cristiano Ronaldo became the first-ever player to score 900 career goals. He did so by scoring for Portugal in the Nations League. He is soon to be 40, and showing no signs of stopping any time soon. You wouldn’t bet against him playing in the 2026 World Cup.