5 defining footballing moments of 2016
No matter how the year of 2016 might have gone personally for you, you cannot deny that as a football fan you thoroughly enjoyed a season that will be etched in your memories for years to come. Years later when your kids are watching the game, you can proudly tell them that you were alive in the year when the biggest underdog story in footballing history took place and that you also saw a Cristiano Ronaldo-led Portugal win their first major international trophy.
Football is called the beautiful game for a reason- the reason being the emotional roller coaster ride that it so often is. 2016 was a shining testament as to how brilliant the game can be. And as this year draws to an end, we look back at 5 moments that defined the year and a few of them are ones that you shall never forget –
#5 Lionel Messi announces his retirement from international football
When Chile defeated Argentina for the second consecutive year in the Copa America finals on 26th June, naturally the Argentinians were upset. Perhaps none more than Lionel Messi, who as a captain had just seen his team lose a third consecutive major international final, and having missed a penalty in the shootout, the Barcelona man immediately announced his retirement from international football after the match.
The announcement sent shockwaves throughout the footballing community, as nobody wanted arguably the greatest player of all time to hang up his boots at the age of 29. A campaign began in Argentina which pleaded Messi not to retire, and fans worldwide took to social media, organising petitions and tweeting to the magician to return.
Although the striker did eventually come back, his announcement, which got him a fair amount of criticism from some journalists and fans, will be remembered as one of the moments of 2016, as ardent Messi supporters, and even otherwise, were left open-mouthed and shell-shocked at the prospect of never seeing him in the white and blue jersey again.