Best football moments of 2025

As we all know football is the most followed sport on the planet. With global superstars being adored by millions, the various football leagues are being watched all over the world. Though the top leagues across Europe and the European competitions are more popular amongst the football fanatics, there has been a lot of buzz across national teams as well due to the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup. Some of these football games have also led to thrilling, joyous and unforgettable moments that will stay with football fans forever. 

Hence, we take a look at the eight best footballing moments from 2025 – 

PSG become champions of Europe at last

Paris Saint-Germain finally achieved an unprecedented UEFA Champions League title after years of coming close to the big prize. Their domination in the domestic league had never been in doubt but when it came to Europe’s elite competition, PSG had failed to compete with the other top European clubs. 

However, the arrival of Luis Enrique as the PSG Head coach has truly transformed Les Parisiens. Enrique eliminated the star player culture from the team and helped them to perform as a collective. PSG was the most successful team in 2025, winning an incredible six trophies which includes the Ligue 1 title, the Champions League title, the Coupe de France, Trophée du Champions, the FIFA Intercontinental Cup and the UEFA Super Cup. Any silverware that a team wins is special and a culmination of their hard work over the season but it was the Champions League trophy that PSG craved the most. 

PSG’s route to the Champions League final was marked by a lot of struggles as they performed poorly in the league phase, not even making direct qualification. However, they peaked at the right moment and ended up defeating English heavyweights Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal on their way to the final. 

In the final they were up against a dangerous Inter Milan side but PSG annihilated the former Champions League winners in a completely one-sided affair to win their first-ever continental crown. They also played one of the most attractive football all through the season, making them deserving winners as well. This was surely one of the top footballing moments from 2025. 

The Magpies end a 70-year trophy drought

Newcastle United fans erupted in jubilation as they saw their team end their long wait for success in the League Cup final this year. Newcastle United defeated Liverpool 2-1 in the League Cup final at Wembley to clinch silverware after seven decades. 

For a club that has a huge fanbase in Tyneside, Newcastle hasn’t been able to achieve success due to a lot of reasons but financial restraints and an inferior squad have been the primary reasons for average league positions over the years. With the club being taken over by Saudi Arabian owners in 2021, Newcastle is now seeing better days. The club got in a much healthier position and were able to secure top signings which has seen them make Champions League qualification twice along with success in terms of a League Cup trophy. 

Newcastle’s run to the Carabao Cup final saw them defeat AFC Wimbledon, Chelsea, Brentford and Arsenal. Liverpool were the favourites going into the final but Newcastle outperformed the Reds to lift their first title in 70 years. 

This was indeed a great moment for the Geordie fans who hadn’t seen their team lift a trophy in their lifetime. 

The Eagles fly high with their first-ever trophy

Crystal Palace created another beautiful underdog story by winning the FA Cup in 2025. This was the club’s first major silverware as they punched massively above their weight against top English sides. 

The Crystal Palace resurgence can be again attributed to shrewd scouting and investment in quality players and a superb managerial appointment. Palace hired Oliver Glasner in the summer of 2024 as a replacement for the outgoing manager Roy Hodgson. Glasner has transformed Palace into a dangerous outfit. Palace isn’t an easy team to score against, they are difficult to break down and very quick on turnovers and transitions. 

In the 2024/25 season, Glasner led Palace to a 12th place finish in the league with their highest points tally ever, also winning them their first major silverware at Wembley when they defeated Manchester City 1-0 in the final of the FA Cup. 

For a club that had only won Championship and League One titles before, this was a significant addition to their trophy cabinet – a moment worth savouring for the Crystal Palace fans. It was also an inspirational moment for all the relatively smaller clubs that would aspire to emulate Crystal Palace in their quest for major silverware against all odds. 

Arne “slots” in at Liverpool with a league title in debut season

After Liverpool announced that Dutch manager Arne Slot was taking over from the legendary German Jürgen Klopp, there was a feeling of uncertainty around Anfield about the appointment as Liverpool Football Club is one of the biggest jobs in world football. Slot had really big shoes to fill as Klopp had returned Liverpool to their past glory days, helping them win the Premier League and Champions League amongst other major silverware.  

There was a lot of noise in the media as well that it was an underwhelming appointment that wouldn’t work but everyone was in for a shock as Slot came in, didn’t change the team too much and led Liverpool to their 20th league title. 

He didn’t chop and change the squad and when Liverpool couldn’t secure their desired defensive midfield signing in the summer, he found a solution from the existing squad. With the help of the Liverpool front line performing superbly and the defence being solid, Liverpool outperformed the other title contenders Man City and Arsenal to secure the Premier League title with four games to go. Slot also helped Liverpool to reach the League Cup final in his first season though the Reds ended up runners-up to Newcastle United. Slot had previously led Dutch club Feyenoord to an Eredivisie title but the Liverpool job was far bigger and he proved his managerial credentials in one of the most difficult leagues in the world. 

Though the 2025/26 season hasn’t been going as expected for Liverpool due to several reasons, Slot winning the Premier League with Liverpool in his first season was one of the most unexpected and significant moments from 2025. 

Chelsea become world champions

The 2024/25 season was a transitional one for a young Chelsea side with a new managerial appointment in former Leicester City boss Enzo Maresca. 

Having missed Champions League qualification in recent seasons, Chelsea’s goal for the season was to qualify for top five places and to win the UEFA Conference League. 

Chelsea started the season relatively well and at a point in December 2024, they were in the title-race. Though leading a young inexperienced team in multiple competitions took its toll in the form of fatigue and injuries, Maresca faced the same situation and their performances deteriorated. However, Chelsea ended up in the top four places, securing Champions League qualification. The Blues also ended up winning the Conference League by defeating Real Betis 4-1 to lift the continental trophy. But this wasn’t all as Chelsea ended up being the surprise winners of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup trophy. 

Amongst European heavyweights like Real Madrid, PSG and Bayern Munich, Chelsea weren’t one of the favourites to win the Club World Cup. However, Enzo Maresca’s team brushed every opposition aside in the knockouts to reach the final. Their only defeat in the tournament came against Brazilian club Flamengo in the group stage. To the surprise of many, Chelsea then pulled-off the unexpected and defeated PSG in a fairly one-sided encounter to lift the FIFA World Cup trophy. 

This was a defining moment for a young inexperienced Chelsea side that proved that with courage and belief you can conquer the biggest obstacles. 

Small footballing nations achieve big World Cup dreams

With the greatest footballing spectacle to return in 2026, the final stages of the World Cup qualifiers have witnessed some astonishing results. Jordan, Uzbekistan, Cape Verde and Curaçao have made history and will be participating at the FIFA World Cup for the first time ever. These countries do not have the kind of footballing infrastructure and culture like the big European and African countries but they have exceeded all expectations to make their World Cup dream come true. 

The FIFA World Cup is the biggest showpiece event in football and even participating amongst the 48 national teams is considered a phenomenal achievement. On top of that, Cape Verde and Curaçao are small nations with sparse populations and much smaller football leagues and yet they have managed to qualify for the World Cup. Curaçao also became the smallest nation (population – 156,115) to secure World Cup qualification – an incredible achievement for the island nation located in the Southern Caribbean Sea.

These small nations defied all odds and overcame every challenge to achieve their biggest dream, a dream to participate and compete against the best football teams at the biggest stage of all – yet again a moment worth remembering from 2025. 

Neymar saves the day for Santos

Neymar Jr has undoubtedly been one of the best players of this generation. If not for the unfortunate injuries sustained all through his career, he would still be playing in the most competitive leagues in the world. Upon his contract termination with Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal in January 2025, Neymar decided to return to the club where it all began. Neymar marked a return to his boyhood club Santos FC. Neymar was scouted and inducted in their youth academy in 2003. Neymar stayed at Santos for a decade before making a big move to Spanish giants Barcelona in June 2013. 

Neymar’s return wasn’t a pleasant one though as Santos struggled to compete in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A and were dangerously dangling in the relegation zone as the end of season approached. In the last few league games, Neymar saved his old club from top-flight relegation with crucial goals while battling a serious knee injury. Neymar scored a goal against Sport Recife and then scored a hat-trick against Juventude with one game left to ensure safety for his club. 

The Brazilian maestro proved the old cliché ‘Form is temporary, class is permanent’ true by helping secure top-flight football for his club even while suffering with fitness issues. This was one of those fairytale moments in football  that finished with a happy ending this year. 

England defend their Women’s Euros crown in a chaotic finale

The England Lionesses were the defending champions going into the 2025 European Championships and were yet again one of the strong contenders to lift the coveted trophy. 

Though their title defence started on a sour note as France beat them in the opening game. However, the Lionesses recovered fabulously to crush Netherlands and Wales to qualify for the quarter-finals. England Women’s team then overcame the challenge of Sweden and Italy to secure a consecutive final berth. However, they still had to battle the most difficult opponents in the tournament to win the Euros again.

The final was a battle of wits, focus and resilience where Spain scored first but England restored parity as the game was still undecided at 1-1 in regulation time. What ensued was one of the most chaotic penalty shootouts with both sets of penalty takers looking anxious. England finally managed to hold on to their nerves with a 3-1 win in the penalty shootout to complete their title defence and become Champions of Europe again. 

This was a defining moment for England Lionesses who competed against the elite European nations and proved that they were deserving winners yet again. Their consistency and ability to perform under immense pressure delivered yet another special moment for the football crazy English fans in 2025.