Messi-Ronaldo era ends; Man City crisis, Sunil Chhetri goodbye headlines drama-filled 2024. The football season 2024 was a rollercoaster, a season of glory and disaster. The good game provided drama to the last, from Rodri’s Ballon d’Or victory to Kylian Mbappé’s celebrity transfer to Real Madrid.
It was a spectacular season for Real as they did double, by claiming the 2023-24 La Liga title and 15th Champions League trophy. Manchester City on the other hand remained top of the domestic table with another Premier League title, however Pep Guardiola’s men went into some downhill mode, only winning one of their last 12 games – a shocking slump for the defending champions.
To Indian footballers, 2024 was the year when the mythic striker and legend Sunil Chhetri stepped down from international football. The Spanish took a turn in the European mould, however, as they won UEFA Euro 2024 title against England in the final.
Rodri receives Ballon d’Or, vinicius Jr and Real mad at him
Rodri received the 2024 Ballon d’Or (beating Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr for the most coveted individual title in football). The defensive midfielder is one of Manchester City’s key stars of recent times, and helped Spain to UEFA Euro 2024 success as he was named Player of the Tournament.
Rodri’s injury absence has not been without its impact, Manchester City on one of their poorest run in years and Rodri’s influence over the club is clear. But his Ballon d’Or victory caused trouble and Real Madrid were irate. The club refused to invite any of its players to the ceremony, in defiance, and it only increased the rivalry between the two giants.
Lionel Messi in MLS scurries around
Lionel Messi’s games for Inter Miami this year showed that his MLS switch was no retirement move. The Argentine star showed his long-term talent and thirst for revenge and has Miami as strong threats to win the league next year even if they lost this year.
Messi had an off-season to remember, netting 20 goals and having 16 assists in 19 appearances. At the same time, he was Miami’s all-time leading scorer and led the David Beckham-owned club to a league-leading 74 points during the regular season.
Even if Miami finished its post-season with a first round playoff exit, Messi was not forgotten. His work earned him the Most Valuable Player of the Season award, and consolidated his position as one of the greatest to ever grace the floor.
The Messi-Ronaldo saga ends, forever
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have surely come of age with 2024 — both a veteran players weren’t in the 30-man Ballon d’Or field.
Together they have been voted the best footballers in the world 13 times and runner-up 11 times, usually against each other. Today Ronaldo plays for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia, Messi for MLS side Inter Miami.
Both are 39 and 37 respectively, who will both reach retirement age with the 2026 World Cup likely their last international game.
Manchester City in disaster?
The Manchester City had deserved to win the EPL last season and could have easily gone another year. Yet Pep Guardiola’s men have been in an uncharacteristic funk, only winning one of their last 12 games and dropping nine and drawing two – a far cry from the ruthless hegemony.
Guardiola is not the only one that has not been doing a good job early in the season either, star striker Erling Haaland also hasn’t been up to his best. Haaland started the campaign in a fire-breath of form with 10 goals in City’s first five Premier League fixtures.
But since August, his goals have dwindled with only three goals to his name as City struggle during this difficult time.
Real Madrid complete the double
Real Madrid made for a blistering opening half of 2024 and got a double. In the hands of Florentino Perez, they won their 36th La Liga title and 15th European Cup after knocking out Borussia Dortmund 2–0 in the Champions League final. This was their sixth European victory in 11 years, and the third as Madrid manager by Carlo Ancelotti – and fifth overall – and the best manager in the competition’s history.
Dani Carvajal, Toni Kroos and Luka Modric further added to the record, taking a 6th European Cup trophy (along with Paco Gento’s) past Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Sunil Chhetri announces retirement
Fans have complained for years that the Indian national team is largely run on Sunil Chhetri. But the 40-year-old legend is leaving international football for good after a successful career in which he scored 94 goals for his nation. His last game was on 6 June in Kolkata against Kuwait (0–0).
Chhetri still plays for Bengaluru FC in the Indian Super League (ISL) where he is also the record scorer in the ISL. He is also India’s all-time top scorer and he is considered one of the greatest players in Indian football history.
Kylian Mbappe joins Real Madrid
In 2024 the long-running transfer saga of Kylian Mbappe ended with the French striker making his move to Real Madrid in June on a five-year contract, after failing to renew his PSG contract. But his anticipated leap has been rocky. Even though the 2018 World Cup winner has already bagged nine goals in 15 games, he has been unable to make a difference in big games, such as the El Clásico loss against Barcelona.
At Madrid, Mbappe has been used as a central striker in a front three – which is not where he preferred to be, on the left wing, where he had performed well for France and PSG. It’s been a tough adjustment, and everyone wants to see if he can take it on in the big games.
Spain win UEFA Euro 2024
The Spanish introduced the golden generation at UEFA Euro 2024 with youngsters such as Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams starting for Spain. The squad blew up when they upset host country Germany in the quarter-finals and that victory inaugurated their run. In the final, Spain beat England 2–1 to win.
The three-goal scorers for Spain were the Barcelona midfielder Dani Olmo, England’s Harry Kane, Georges Mikautadza of Georgia, Germany’s Jamal Musiala, the Netherlands’ Cody Gakpo and Serbia’s Ivan Schranz. Rodri was also Player of the Tournament and Yamal won Young Player of the Tournament. Yamal’s incredible late winner in the semifinal against France was also a Goal of the Tournament winner and made him one of the tournament’s mainstays.