2023 was a year that produced an array of incredible sports highlights. With so many to choose from, we’ve tried our best to narrow it down to the most memorable moments over the past 12 months. Enjoy!
January
Nobody had a better start to the year than Novak Djokovic, who started 2023 by claiming his 22nd grand slam title with his victory at the Australian Open. The tournament’s final saw the Serb overcome Stefanos Tsitsipas to win the trophy, tying Rafa Nadal for what was at the time a record number of Grand Slam victories. The Australian Open turned out to be only the start of an incredible year for Djokovic, who brought home a further two Grand Slam wins in the following months. Take a look back at the final moments of his first!
February
While all sports fans know that February signals the Super Bowl is upon us, this past matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles is one that will go down as an all-time great. The game was intensely back-and-forth, with the Eagles leading by 10 points at halftime, before the Chiefs found their footing in the game’s second half. With the score tied 35-35 with just two minutes left in the 4th quarter, it looked like either team could take the win. Ultimately, it was Patrick Mahomes who stepped up as he so often has throughout his career, carrying the Chiefs to their second Super Bowl win in just four years.
February also saw history made in the NBA, as LeBron James broke Kareem Abdul Jabbar’s record to become the league’s all-time top scorer, further cementing himself into the history books of basketball and adding to a certain Hall of Fame career.
March
Soccer fans had their eyes on March from the moment the fixtures list was revealed. The derby game between Manchester United and Liverpool is one that is eagerly awaited by fans year after year as one of the biggest rivalries in all of sports. Whilst many Manchester United fans entered the game with confidence due to Liverpool’s somewhat sub-par season form, it soon turned into a day to forget. Liverpool ran rampant around their opponents, scoring with ease for the game’s 90 minutes, ultimately walking away 7-0 winners. Take a look back at the game United fans will surely want to forget.
April
April saw the crowning of a new champion at the Masters, as Spaniard Jon Rahm claimed his first-ever victory in golf’s premier event. Many will have doubted Rahm’s chances as he started the first day off with a double bogey, but his form improved, going on to win the entire tournament and green jacket. Take a look back at the tournament’s final moments.
May
While there have been some frantic finishes to seasons throughout soccer history, the end to the 2022-23 Bundesliga campaign was as dramatic as any ever before. The day began with Borussia Dortmund atop the table, knowing a win would be enough to secure the title. Instead, Dortmund found themselves 2-0 down early on. They were able to fight back to tie the game 2-2, a result that would only be enough if rivals Bayern Munich dropped points in their game. It looked for a moment like fortune was smiling on Dortmund as Munich conceded an 81st minute equalizer. Instead, their hearts were broken, as Bayern Munich’s young star Jamal Musiala scored a last-minute winner to not only hand his side the game, but the title.
June
June was a month that saw further sporting history written, as Manchester City finally were able to get their hands on the trophy they had desired more than any other, the Coupe des Clubs Champions, awarded to the winners of the Champions League. The victory also signaled the completion of a historic treble, this being City’s third trophy of their season alongside the Premier League and FA Cup. The only other English team to accomplish this feat prior to City were their arch-rivals, Manchester United, adding to the joy of the blue half of Manchester. Take a look back at the game that sealed one of the greatest seasons in all of sports.
July
This last year will also be remembered amongst tennis fans as the year Carlos Alcaraz fully emerged as one of the sport’s biggest names. In July, the Wimbledon final saw 20-year-old Alcaraz pitted against all-time great Novak Djokovic. Despite facing one of his heroes, Alcaraz was able to rally to a memorable victory, claiming his first-ever Grand Slam on grass. With some doubting Alcaraz’s ability on a grass court before the start of the tournament, the Spaniard silenced any questions with his victory, adding himself to the conversation of who is to be next in line to the status of tennis’ biggest star.
August
The eyes of the world turned to the Women’s World Cup in August, as soccer’s biggest event took place in Australia. The entire tournament was one to remember, from favorite USA’s exit, to host Australia’s unbelievable run to the semi-final. Eventually, it came down to Spain and England, two sides who had never achieved World Cup glory before, battling it out in the final. An early goal from Spain’s Olga turned out to be the decider, with England unable to break the deadlock.
August also saw Inter Miami continue to revel in the brilliance of Lionel Messi, who carried the side to their first-ever trophy with a win in the Leagues Cup Final against Nashville SC. Messi opened the scoring in the game’s 23rd minute, before Nashville were able to equalize. A penalty shootout was eventually needed to separate the sides, with Miami keeper Drake Callender sealing the trophy after scoring a kick himself and saving one straight after. Another year of Messi magic!
September
As the NFL season got back underway in September, the Miami Dolphins hit the ground running. In the third game of the season, the Dolphins faced off against the Denver Broncos. The contest quickly turned into a decimation, as the Dolphins put 70 points on the board, scoring touchdown after touchdown. While they stopped short of attempting a field goal that would have tied the NFL record for points scored in a single game at 73, the performance was still one that NFL fans will remember for a long time to come.
October
More World Cup drama followed in October, as the Rugby World Cup Final between South Africa and New Zealand took place. The All Blacks looked to upset reigning champions South Africa, but their efforts were impeded when their captain Sam Cane received the first-ever red card in a Rugby World Cup Final. The game was a close affair, but it was South Africa who were able to claim their record fourth Webb-Ellis cup win.
November
As if the Rugby World Cup didn’t provide enough incredible sports highlights to remember, the Cricket World Cup soon followed. November’s final between India and Australia had cricket fans everywhere anticipating the big game, none more so than fans of host nation India who packed their home stadium out hoping to see their nation win. Instead, millions of hearts were broken as Australia clenched their fifth Cricket World Cup victory.
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Over in the US, baseball history was made in November as the Texas Rangers won their first ever World Series. The all-Texas series between the Rangers and Astros was an even affair, with a 7th game needed to decide the winner. In the end, it was the Rangers who were able to celebrate as they clinched the franchise’s first World Series trophy.
December
2023’s final month did not disappoint, with some more fantastic sports highlights produced before the year’s end. Perhaps the best of the bunch came from the Premier League clash between in-form heavyweights Arsenal and Liverpool, who, along with Manchester City, are set to battle it out until the end of the season for first place in the league. The winner of this particular match would have put a serious dent in their rival’s title challenge, but in the end this hugely entertaining encounter ended in a 1-1 draw thanks to this beauty from Mo Salah.
BONUS – The Poster of the Year
Also in December, but back across the pond, all the way out on the West Coast, the University of Arizona’s Caleb Love threw down a nasty poster against Cal Berkeley. Watch him go coast-to-coast off the inbound to punch this one—talk about a great way to close out a year full of highlights!
An incredible year of sports highlights with much to remember. We can’t wait to see what awaits in 2024!
