Another year in the footballing world filled with lots of sporting action. From the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic to the drama at Euro 2020 and the Copa America in the summer, followed by the premier league. 2021 was an incredible year for football fans all across the world as they got to enjoy lots of great moments.
Lionel Messi changed clubs for the first time in his professional career in 2021 after joining French giants Paris Saint-Germain. Ronaldo became the highest international goal scorer surpassing Ali Daei. Lewandowski shatters Gerd Muller’s Bundesliga record of scoring 40 goals in one Bundesliga season. Cristiano Ronaldo has appeared in five consecutive seasons of the European Championship – the most by any player.
So, as we start to wave goodbye to 2021, let’s have a look back on all the mind-blowing achievements that these famous stars have achieved over the last 12 months.
Lionel Messi – First man to win 7 Ballon d’Or awards
Lionel Messi picked up his seventh Ballon d’Or award in 2021, becoming the first player in history to win as many Ballon d’Or awards. Messi beat Robert Lewandowski and Jorginho, who finished in second and third place respectively to win his 7th Ballon d’Or award.
Messi also became the first man in history to pick up the award in three separate decades. He won his first Ballon d’Or in 2009 as a 22-year-old and his seventh at 34 years of age in 2021, thus winning the award in the 2000s, 2010s, and 2020s.
Longest unbeaten run in international football
Italy went on a 37-game unbeaten streak as they won the Euro Championship this year. After surpassing Brazil and Spain’s streak of 35 games, Italy eventually saw their world-record-breaking run come to an end at 37 matches with defeat in October.
Italy won their first major international trophy since their 2006 FIFA World Cup win. And the first European Championship title since 1968. Italy had reached the final in Euro 2000 but eventually lost to France in the finals and in Euro 2012, their dream was crushed again by Iker Casillas men.
Lionel Messi – Most goals in a single league
Before Lionel Messi, Pele had scored the most goals in a single league, with 469 in the Brazilian Serie A. In 2021, Messi broke this record as he scored 474 goals for Barcelona in La Liga between 2005 and 2021. Messi’s tally of 474 La Liga goals was also the highest number of league goals a player has scored for a single side.
He is the only player to score more than 400 goals in the history of the league. He also surpassed Pele’s total of 646 strikes for Santos by amassing 672 goals for Barcelona, before moving to the PSG.
The youngest player in Euros history
Jude Bellingham is now the youngest player to appear in the Euros, at 17 years 349 days. Bellingham broke the record when he took to the pitch during England vs Croatia. The midfielder surpassed Jetro Williams (18 years and 71 days) as the youngest player in the competition.
International football’s highest goalscorer ever
Cristiano Ronaldo surpassed Ali Daei to become the highest goalscorer in football history this year. The 36-year-old now has 115 strikes to his name for the national team.
The only two men to score more than 100 goals for their countries are Ronaldo and Daei. The Portuguese forward has taken 180 matches to get to the tally of 110 goals. Ali Daei had netted 109 goals in 149 appearances for Iran from 1993-2006. Ronaldo is currently tied for ninth on the all-time list with the United States’ Alex Morgan.