The year 2016 has been a fabulous and exciting footballing year. It was a year full of surprises, new developments in the game, and individual honors but also a year that did not have a fairy-tale ending to it! March 24th 2016
Passing away of Johan Cruyff in 2016 – was a great loss to world football
Regarded as one of the best in the game, three-time Balon d’Or winner Johan Cruyff passed away on this day, a huge loss to the world of football. May 7th 2016
Leicester winning the EPL title was one of the top talking points across the world in 2016
Not so long ago Leicester City F.C. were battling it out in League One Championship (League 3), who would have thought that the Foxes would come and win their first-ever Premier League? Claudio Ranieri guided them to a perfect season and gave Leicestershire a reason to sing his name. Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy played an influential role in lifting the team’s spirits throughout the season and winning vital games for Leicester. June 10th 2016
Iceland and Wales exploits at Euro 2016 also captured the attention of football fans across the world
The Euro is a competition which excites everybody more than the Olympics. Debutants Iceland and Wales managed to pull off an amazing performance in France; Iceland managed to reach the Quarterfinal and Wales losing out to Portugal in the semis was a job well done by the first-timers. What was more striking was the support Iceland was given by their supporters during every game in the competition.
Portugal lifting the Euro was one of the special moments for Cristiano Ronaldo in 2016
Portugal lost out on the trophy to Greece in 2004 which was a big loss for the team which had lost a final at home. 11 years later Cristiano Ronaldo had every individual and team accolade in his cabinet but not a trophy with his national side. Ronaldo made sure he achieved this mark this time, second highest top scorer at the Euro 2016 Ronaldo scored some vital goals against Hungary and Wales to guide Portugal through to the final in Paris. June 27th 2016
Messi announces retirement from international football
After a shoot-out loss to Chile in the Copa America Final which was Argentina’s third consecutive loss in a final, Lionel Messi announced his retirement. It sent shock waves through the world as one of the world’s best players who many people look up to decided to hang up his boots. However, he came out of retirement within a few months to help his national side and was welcomed by the world with great enthusiasm and celebrations. 30th June 2016
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, the first Indian to play in the UEFA Europa League
On 30 June 2016, he became the 1st Indian footballer to feature in a UEFA Europa League match when he started in the away match against the Welsh football team and played for 30 minutes in Connah’s Quay at Deeside Stadium in Wales. This was a moment of pride for Indian football and inspired many budding footballers in the country. I hope many more follow the same path as Gurpreet! 13th October 2016
Uvena Fernandes first Indian woman referee to officiate in U-17 FIFA World Cup
Indian woman referee – Uvena Fernandes received an AFC special award in 2016 and was the first referee from India to officiate the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup 2017 she was the assistant referee in the final match between Japan and DPR Korea in Jordan on 20th August 2016
Brazil winning the Olympic title for the first time in 2016, provided a great joy to football fans in Brazil
Brazil created history by winning its first ever gold medal at the Olympics in 2016. What was even better was the fact that they beat Germany who had previously thrashed Brazil in the 2014 FIFA World Cup semi-final in their own backyard. Neymar Jr. guided his team to victory and gave hope to his people that the Brazil football team was as good as their former World Cup-winning team. 2nd October 2016
AFC U-16 Championship Goa
Iraq won its first AFC U-16 championship beating runners-up Iran in the final. This was a fabulous result for a country that just recently came out of war and sent a team that managed to create history. 15th October 2016
India U16 team did captured the attention of fans in India by playing fearless and positive football at AFC U16 and BRICS Cup.
Performances by the Blue Colts did provide great hope and belief to millions of fans in India that India is going to play at the highest level and can compete with the best. Nicolai Adam has been doing a great job with our U-16 national team. It will be exciting to see the boys participate in the U-17 FIFA World Cup in India next year, and I really do hope we do well. This is an opportunity for us to go and prove ourselves on the world stage. 21st October 2016
2016 has been a year to remember for Korean football
With memories of Korea DPR’s triumph at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Jordan 2016 still fresh, the country tasted success once more at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Papua New Guinea 2016. “It’s a feat that’s never been achieved before,” Boasting the most prolific attack in the tournament with 21 goals, Korea DPR were in a class of their own in Papua New Guinea. Coupled with their enterprising, attack-minded approach and their tireless running, the Asians’ remarkable mental resolve allowed them to see off all their opponents. 5th November 2016
AFC Cup Final 2016
It was a very good year for Iraq as they clinched their first AFC U-16 championship and the AFC Cup final won by the Air Force Club where they beat Bengaluru F.C (India) who also created history by becoming the first Indian football club to make it to an AFC cup final. Bengaluru F.C. took Indian football to new heights and raised the bar for other Indian clubs. 28th November 2016
Chapecoense F.C #ForcaChape
A day that left a hole in all our hearts, a day that we probably never want to see or wish that it never happens again. It was a big tragedy for Brazilian football and for a team who were doing so well in their league. I wish the team all the strength and recovery to make a stronger comeback. 1st December 2016
India was awarded the top honour by AFC
This was a big achievement for us. India was awarded the top honor by AFC in its annual awards ceremony in Abu Dhabi where India received the best Developing Member Association award on 12th December 2016
Cristiano Ronaldo wins his 4th Ballon d’Or
Recognized as the best alongside Lionel Messi, 2016 was probably the best season of Ronaldo’s career. He won every trophy there is to win this year individually and with the team except for the league title. 22nd December 2016
India moving to 135 in FIFA ranking the highest in 6 years
The Indian national team finished the year on a high as they achieved their best-ever ranking in 6 years. A brilliant move by the national team coach Stephen Constantine and India’s performance against Costa Rica in an international friendly. 18th December 2016
Kerala Blasters F.C fans
In the Indian Super League final between Atletico de Kolkata and Kerala Blasters, the Kerala fans were the true champions. The passion and support that we saw from the fans throughout the ISL season was truly amazing. It proves how football is loved and is growing in the country. India holds a bright future for the game and I am pretty sure that Indian football will take off soon enough. 29th December 2016
Carlos Tevez becomes the highest paid player in the world
History was made as the year ended, Carlos Tevez overtook Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi to become the highest-paid player in the world after his transfer to Chinese Super League side Shanghai Greenland Shenhua F.C. Chinese football continues to extend its global footprint and capturing the attention of the world by acquiring clubs and signing star players. Now we look forward to a new year with a new set of goals and milestones to accomplish, in 2017 India will host the first-ever World Cup and it will be the first-ever participation by India team, which is going to be the biggest football event India ever hosted. The world’s attention will be on India and this FIFA event will not only be a history-making event for India but also telling to the world that India is a serious football-playing nation.
It was a good year to total it up but also a year where we ended heavy-hearted for the ones we lost.
I wish you all a very Happy New Year and enjoy football
