Ronaldo Moves to Saudi Arabia, Messi’s 8th Ballon d’Or and Other Top Football Moments of 2023

• 2023 has been a year of great football moments and memories
• Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo left the European leagues
• Victor Osimhen led Napoli to its first Serie A since Maradona

2023 is less than 48 hours to wrap up and usher 2024 in, and we have witnessed many great and memorable football moments that were felt globally.

Football’s top two biggest superstars, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, departed European football to move to the Major League Soccer and Saudi Pro League, respectively.

Sports Brief looks at some top football moments of 2023.

Top football moments of 2023

1. Messi’s 8th Ballon d’Or

Messi led Argentina to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and, as a result, won the 2023 Ballon d’Or for a record-extending eighth time. The award was presented to him by Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham. He joined the club in July after leaving Paris Saint-Germain.

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2. Ronaldo moves to Saudi Arabia

2022 was not the best year for the Portuguese international. He endured a turbulent year personally and professionally. When Manchester United terminated his contract in November, he shocked the world and moved to Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, influencing many other top stars to move to the league.

3. Osimhen leads Napoli to Serie A title

The last time Diego Maradona helped Napoli to win the Italian Serie A title, Victor Osimhen was not born. The Nigerian guided the team to victory in 2023 with 26 goals and four assists.

4. Nigeria wins double African best

Osimhen was named the CAF Men's Footballer of the Year, the first for the country since 1999, while the Barcelona Femeni forward was named the Women's Footballer of the Year, her record 6th award—a remarkable feat for the country to win both.

5. Pep Guardiola breaks UCL ‘curse’

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Guardiola led Manchester City to a historic treble after beating Inter Milan to win the Champions League. It was his first since 2011, breaking the alleged curse Yaya Toure’s agent placed on him.

6. Arsenal bottle Premier League title

Arsenal were on course for their first Premier League title since the 2003/04 Invincible season. They spent a record 248 days at the top of the table but capitulated in the final three games and surrendered the title to Manchester City to win it for a third consecutive time.

7. Xavi wins La Liga on first attempt

Club legend Xavi Hernandez returned to Barcelona as manager at the start of the 2022/23 season. Against all odds, he led the team to the La Liga title, displacing European champions Real Madrid.

8. Spain wins Women’s World Cup

Spanish Women’s national team reached the World Cup final for the first time and defeated England’s Lionesses. Olga Carmona’s 29th-minute strike sealed the win. Controversy ensued when former RFEF President Luis Rubiales kissed Jenni Hermoso.

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9. Harry Kane leaves Tottenham

He is one of the best goalscorers English football has seen – an all-time top scorer for Tottenham and England but has yet to win a trophy in his career. He moved from Spurs to Bayern Munich and debuted in the German Super Cup final, which he lost 3-0 to RB Leipzig, and his search for first silverware continued.

10. Liverpool 7-0 Manchester United

On March 5, Liverpool inflicted the heaviest defeat of the fixture on their Northwestern rivals, Manchester United, 7-0 at Anfield. Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez scored twice each, and Roberto Firmino added the seventh.

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Top stars who retired in 2023

Sports Brief analysed top footballers who retired in 2023, including Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who hung his boots with AC Milan at 41.

Former Real Madrid stars Mesut Ozil, Eden Hazard, Gareth Bale and Emmanuel Adebayor also bid farewell to football this year.