The top 10 most significant highlights in world football in 2018

No team deserved to be celebrated more in 2018 than France, the World Cup champions. 'Les Bleus' arrived in Russia with a squad valued at nearly €1 billion but began their World Cup journey with three unimpressive group-stage matches. However, as defender Raphael Varane later admitted, the team used a disappointing 1-0 victory over Peru as a turning point, regaining their form and unleashing an explosive knockout stage. 'Les Bleus' defeated Argentina 4-3, Uruguay 2-0, Belgium 1-0, before ultimately defeating Croatia 4-2 in the final to claim their second-ever World Cup title. The 2018 French squad was a blend of seasoned stars like Paul Pogba, Antoine Griezmann, N'Golo Kante, Raphael Varane, alongside younger talents such as Kylian Mbappe, Benjamin Pavard, and veterans like Hugo Lloris, Blaise Matuidi, and Olivier Giroud. With bench players like Ousmane Dembele, Adrien Rabiot, Benjamin Mendy, and Nabil Fekir, France remains a strong contender for both Euro 2020 and the 2022 World Cup.

As the mastermind behind France's triumph at the 2018 World Cup, Didier Deschamps rightfully earns the title of Coach of the Year. After a painful defeat at Euro 2016 with the flamboyant French style, Deschamps revolutionized the team's approach to the game.

In the 2018 World Cup, France moved away from the romantic style that had led them to victory in Euro 1984, the 1998 World Cup, and Euro 2000. Defense became the priority, with France content to give up possession and strike on the counter, relying on Kylian Mbappé's speed, Antoine Griezmann’s seamless transitions, and Paul Pogba’s flair.

As a player, Deschamps was once mocked by Eric Cantona as a “water carrier” for his lack of creativity and flair. But it was that very work ethic that propelled Deschamps to World Cup glory, both as a player and as a coach, placing him alongside legends like Mario Zagallo (Brazil) and Franz Beckenbauer (Germany).

Jose Mourinho's Manchester United was the biggest disappointment of 2018. First, they were eliminated from the Champions League in the round of 16 after a humiliating defeat to Sevilla. Then came the disastrous second half of the season, marked by the club’s worst-ever start in Premier League history, securing only 26 points from 17 matches, with a goal difference of zero.

On December 18th, Manchester United’s official website crashed due to an overwhelming surge of global traffic, all eager to witness the news of Mourinho's dismissal. The board made the decision to part ways with the Portuguese manager, agreeing to pay a £22.5 million compensation package. This was the second time Mourinho was sacked just before Christmas, the first being in 2015 when his tense relationship with Chelsea had reached breaking point.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, a former United player, was appointed as Mourinho’s successor. Under Solskjaer, United won their next three matches convincingly, signaling a positive shift within the team as they looked to 2019 with renewed hope.

While Mohamed Salah was awarded the FIFA Puskás Award for his stunning goal against Everton in the Premier League, the debate raged on over Cristiano Ronaldo’s unforgettable goal against Juventus in the 2017/18 Champions League quarterfinals. Not only was Ronaldo’s goal visually spectacular, but it was also significant for its impact and importance.

Ronaldo’s acrobatic bicycle kick demonstrated his incredible athleticism, reaching a height of 1.41 meters from his back and 2.38 meters from his foot to the ground. It left Juventus' legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon rooted to the spot.

What made Ronaldo’s goal even more memorable than Gareth Bale’s similar effort against Liverpool in the Champions League final? It was the catalyst for the most shocking transfer of 2018, and potentially one of the biggest in football history.

On July 10, 2018, Real Madrid's official website announced the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus for a record fee of €112 million. After 9 years, 450 goals in 438 appearances, and 15 major trophies, Ronaldo left Madrid as the club's greatest-ever goal scorer. In an interview after joining Juventus, Ronaldo confessed that his decision to join the Italian giants came after witnessing the standing ovation from Juve fans following his stunning goal in a Champions League quarterfinal match.

The transfer had a profound effect on both clubs. Real Madrid suffered a heavy blow, suffering a humiliating 1-5 defeat to Barcelona in their first El Clasico of the season. Meanwhile, Juventus dominated Serie A, with their commercial value soaring thanks to Ronaldo's presence.

By the end of December, Juventus had secured a major sponsorship deal with a leading German sportswear company worth €50 million per season—more than the combined total of AC Milan, Inter Milan, AS Roma, Fiorentina, and others. Juve's stock price also skyrocketed, rising from €0.66 per share to €1.05 following Ronaldo's arrival, with a peak of €1.67 per share in September—nearly three times the initial value.

The most heartbreaking event of 2018 was the tragic helicopter crash that took the life of Leicester City’s chairman, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha. On October 27, the helicopter carrying Vichai took off from King Power Stadium after a 1-1 draw with West Ham, but it lost control and crashed into a nearby parking lot.

The following day, Leicester City, the Premier League champions of 2016, confirmed that the Thai billionaire had passed away, along with four others on board.

Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha purchased Leicester City in 2006 when the club was playing in the second tier of English football. By 2014, the team had been promoted to the Premier League, and just two years later, Leicester achieved one of the greatest underdog triumphs in football history by winning the Premier League title at 5,000-1 odds—less than the odds of rock 'n' roll legend Elvis Presley still being alive.

Following Vichai’s passing, his son, Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, took over leadership of the club. Leicester City is now planning to honor their late chairman by erecting a statue of him outside King Power Stadium in recognition of his tremendous contribution to the club’s success.

The standout figure in world football in 2018 was undoubtedly Luka Modric. The Croatian midfielder rose above two footballing giants, Ronaldo and Messi, who had dominated the sport for the past decade, to claim the European Ballon d'Or.

Modric's triumph was largely fueled by his exceptional performance at the 2018 World Cup, where he earned the Golden Ball award as the tournament's best player, leading Croatia to the final. At 33, Modric became the oldest player to win the Ballon d'Or since Fabio Cannavaro in 2006.

His victory also symbolized the resilience of Croatia, a newly independent nation that emerged from the breakup of Yugoslavia in 1991 and endured the devastation of war. Modric's Ballon d'Or win marked the first time a player from this small country had earned the prestigious honor.

On May 31, just five days after leading Real Madrid to a third consecutive Champions League victory, cementing his legendary status in European football, Zinedine Zidane shocked the world by announcing his resignation as head coach of "Los Blancos" during an unexpected press conference.

“I am a winner, and I hate losing. When I realized I couldn’t lead Real to further success, I decided it was time to leave,” Zidane explained. Real Madrid president Florentino Perez struggled to hide his mix of sadness and surprise.

“This is a sad day for me, for the players, for the fans, and for this club. I’ve always needed him both as a player and a coach. I wanted him by my side forever,” Perez confessed.

After Zidane’s departure, Perez hastily appointed Julen Lopetegui as his successor, only for the president to dismiss the Spanish coach in late October following a 1-5 loss to Barcelona. Zidane’s former teammate, Santiago Solari, was then appointed head coach of Real Madrid.

At the Ballon d'Or ceremony, Lionel Messi finished in 5th place, behind Luka Modric, Cristiano Ronaldo, Antoine Griezmann, and Kylian Mbappe. This marked his lowest ranking in 11 years. What’s noteworthy is that Messi continued to perform exceptionally for Barcelona, winning the European Golden Shoe with 34 goals in La Liga, securing the La Liga title, and lifting the Copa del Rey.

ESPN commented that Messi’s consistently remarkable performances over the past decade may have worked against him in this year's award race. Messi couldn’t lead Barcelona to a Champions League victory, nor could he help Argentina win the World Cup, which resulted in El Pulga being sidelined in the race for the best player awards.

However, Messi’s form this season has been nothing short of extraordinary, with 21 goals and 12 assists in just 20 matches for Barcelona, despite a three-week layoff due to a hand injury. He is now the front-runner for the 2019 Ballon d'Or.

On December 20th, Mbappe celebrated his 20th birthday, having already completed a near-perfect 19th year. At just 19, he helped lead France to victory in the 2018 World Cup, scoring four goals, including a double to eliminate Messi’s Argentina in the Round of 16, and a goal in the final against Croatia. His achievements mirrored those of the 'King of Football,' Pele, who also scored six goals at the 1958 World Cup.

For Paris Saint-Germain, Mbappe continued to shine in 2018, scoring 24 goals and providing 12 assists. His market value has skyrocketed to £180 million, making him the most valuable player in the world, surpassing Neymar (£162 million), Lionel Messi (£144 million), and doubling Cristiano Ronaldo’s value (£90 million).