Lionel Messi’s World Cup win to Roger Federer’s farewell – Sportsmail’s top 10 moments of 2022

As the calendar yr comes to an in depth – and everyone seems to be making ready for tonight’s fireworks – what higher time to mirror on the very best sporting moments of 2022. 

From Cristiano Ronaldo’s dramatic exit – and subsequent transfer to Al Nassr – and Roger Federer’s emotional retirement to the euphoria that swept the nation after the Lionesses’ Euros triumph – sport followers have been handled to all of it this yr. 

Ahead of one other motion-packed three hundred and sixty five days of sport, Sportsmail gives you with the top 10 moments of this calendar yr… and it wasn’t a simple choose top spot!

Chloe Kelly (proper) roars as she celebrates her late purpose which settled the Euro 2022 closing

10. Matt Fitzpatrick’s US Open win 

There was uproar on social media when followers discovered the Matt Fitzpatrick hadn’t been nominated for the BBC’s Sport Personality of the Year award for 2022.

The Sheffield-born golfer made historical past after profitable the US Open in June, following a one-shot victory at The Country Club in Massachusetts – the identical venue the place he received the US Amateur in 2013.

Fitzpatrick, 28, turned simply the third Englishman since 1924 to win this title, following Tony Jacklin in 1970 and Justin Rose in 2013.

He is the primary Englishman to win a serious since Danny Willett – additionally from Sheffield – received the Masters six years in the past. 

Gary Lineker questioned Matt Fitzpatrick’s omission from the current SPOTY shortlist for 2022 

9. Ronaldo’s dramatic Old Trafford exit

What had began as a fairytale return to Manchester United shortly descended into chaos for the 5-time Ballon d’Or winner in 2022.

Ronaldo’s United homecoming had been a relative success in 2021 and it appeared as if he would proceed that within the early levels of the calendar yr.

However, his relationship with new boss Erik ten Hag shortly soured and it lead to his dramatic stroll-out from Old Trafford throughout United’s sport towards Tottenham.

With only a few minutes remaining within the match, Ten Hag known as upon Ronaldo from the substitutes’ bench, nevertheless the ahead refused and as a substitute headed for the exit.

As if issues could not worsen, only a month later, Ronaldo’s bombshell interview with Piers Morgan solidified the tip of his United stint and his contract was terminated mid-manner by means of the World Cup. 

Cristiano Ronaldo stormed out of Old Trafford throughout Man United’s 2-0 win over Tottenham 

The ahead had refused to come on the pitch within the closing moments, earlier than leaving the stadium

8. Sport’s tributes to Ukraine

At the beginning of the yr, the world got here to a sudden halt after news broke of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It sparked unprecedented fears throughout Europe and left a quantity of sport stars in a troublesome predicament. 

Footballer Oleksandr Zinchenko, who performed for Man City on the time, remained a vocal outlet for these feeling oppressed by the assaults and refused to stay silent on the matter.

Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk put his plans to rematch Anthony Joshua on maintain as he enlisted with the Kyiv Territorial Defence in a bid to shield his homeland.

Perhaps probably the most touching tribute of all was when Liverpool and Chelsea followers confirmed immense assist for Ukraine forward of their Carabao Cup closing conflict.

The Liverpool followers have been in nice voice belting out the membership anthem of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ throughout a minute’s applause while the Ukraine flag was on the Wembley display screen with the message of ‘Football Stands Together’.

Liverpool followers sang their membership anthem ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ in assist of Ukraine

Fans got here geared up with Ukrainian flags as they ready to show their solidarity

7. Roger Federer’s emotional retirement

The majority of entries into this listing can be moments of success that needs to be cherished for years to come, nevertheless that is not the case with our No 7 slot.

In September, Federer known as an finish to his scintillating tennis profession – which noticed him win 20 Grand Slam titles – following this yr’s Laver Cup.

There have been smiles, tears and… extra tears, because the Swiss participant waved farewell to the hundreds of followers in attendance at London’s O2 Arena. 

Even his profession-lengthy competitor, Rafael Nadal, couldn’t maintain again his feelings as he watched tributes play out for his 41-yr-outdated rival earlier than the 2 shared a touching second collectively on the sidelines.

Roger Federer obtained a standing ovation from the group on the O2 Arena as he retired

Rafael Nadal (proper) broke down in tears for his nice rival Federer as he bid farewell to tennis

6. Shields vs Marshall/All-Women UK boxing card

There have been a couple of intriguing bouts this yr – corresponding to Katie Taylor’s conflict with Amanda Serrano or Usyk’s rematch win over Joshua – although, none matched the spectacular occasion that was Shields vs Marshall.

Sparks flew as America’s Claressa Shields and Britain’s Savannah Marshall headlined the primary all-feminine UK boxing card to have 11 bouts and 22 ladies on it, in October.

The two settled their 10-yr feud on a historic evening for ladies’s boxing – the place Shields emerged victorious after a Unanimous Decision in her favour.

A peak viewers of a couple of million viewers tuned in to watch Shields change into the undisputed middleweight world champion, making it probably the most-watched ladies’s skilled boxing occasion in historical past.

In whole, reside protection of the all-feminine card – which noticed Olympic gold medallist Lauren Price, Olympic bronze medallist Karriss Artingstall and Tokyo Olympian Caroline Dubois take to the ring – reached greater than two million viewers. Promising.

Shields vs Marshall was probably the most-watched ladies’s skilled boxing occasion in historical past

A peak viewers of over a million viewers tuned in to watch Shields (above) win the bout

5. England’s Twenty20 World Cup win

England tasted Twenty20 World Cup glory in probably the most dramatic fashion when Ben Stokes edged them previous Pakistan in an exhilarating, low scoring closing earlier this yr. 

Stokes produced an unbeaten 52 and placed on a decisive stand of 48 with Moeen Ali that calmed England’s nerves and noticed them previous Pakistan’s 137 for eight with six balls to spare.

It was jubilation for England who can rightly now declare to be one of the very best white-ball sides of all time after finishing their transformation from the darkish days earlier than the 2015 World Cup to change into the epitome of fashionable restricted-overs excellence. 

It was their second T20 title, following Paul Collingwood’s triumph in 2010 and their second World Cup of the submit 2015 period following their fabled 50-over triumph in 2019 and their fifth consecutive look within the final 4 of a worldwide white-ball match.

Sam Curran was named Player of the Match and Tournament after ending with 3-12

4. England whitewash Pakistan

It takes a very triumphant second to out-shine a World Cup win – however that is precisely what England’s whitewash of Pakistan was. 

Before this tour, England had managed solely two Test wins away to Pakistan in 30 makes an attempt throughout 61 years. After the December collection, they’ve now received three in three weeks. 

History was made as England, on their first Test tour of Pakistan in 17 years, turned the primary visiting group to win three matches in a collection within the nation.

It additionally capped off a yr through which England have undergone a exceptional transformation underneath captain Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum – securing 9 wins in 10 matches because the pair took cost.

Not solely that, they secured the primary collection win over Pakistan exterior of the UK for 22 years and ended a run of three successive away collection defeats stretching again to the start of 2021.

England posed for a victory photograph and this can go down as one of their nice collection wins 

3. Leon Edwards wins UFC championship

Though he did not make it into BBC Sport’s ‘Sports Personality of the Year’ listing, there can be no omitting Leon Edwards from our 2022 highlights.

The Birmingham fighter made historical past after turning into simply the second British individual ever to get their fingers on a UFC championship belt after his August win.

Faced towards the very best pound-for-pound fighter within the organisation (who had by no means misplaced in his UFC profession), Edwards’ activity of beating Kamaru Usman appeared nigh-on not possible. 

However, he overcame adversity to triumph thanks to an exceptional head-kick within the fifth, and closing, spherical of the bout. 

The spectacular kick was later voted the ‘Knockout of the Year’ within the UFC’s awards given out this month. Edwards is trying to defend his belt in London subsequent yr.

Leon Edwards is ‘prepared to go’ towards Kamaru Usman for his maiden UFC title belt defence

The Birmingham fighter delivered a brutal head-kick with only a minute remaining within the bout

2. Lionesses win the Euros

Though the lads’s group suffered a heartbreaking World Cup quarter-closing defeat to France this month, their blushes have been spared by the scintillating shows from the ladies’s aspect in 2022. 

The Lionesses – led by the fearless Sarina Wiegman- took over the nation this summer time with their thrilling Euro 2022 run which culminated in lifting the trophy.

It was a momentous day for English soccer as they celebrated the primary main worldwide trophy received by the nationwide group (males’s or ladies’s) since 1966. 

After victories towards Spain and Sweden, the ladies’s group had booked their place within the closing at Wembley towards a formidable opponent within the Germans.

Beth England celebrates by lifting the UEFA European Women’s Football Championship trophy

Ella Toone gave England the lead earlier than Lina Magull equalised for the guests – testing everybody’s nerves and sending the match into additional-time.

There have been few probabilities of notice within the first interval of additional-time, nevertheless it was after the restart when historical past was made after Chloe Kelly bundled the ball over the road to give England the lead. 

Euphoria consumed Wembley as Kelly celebrated her first worldwide purpose by taking off her shirt and whirling it above her head in a single of English soccer’s most iconic celebrations.

If there have been any remaining doubts over rising curiosity in ladies’s soccer, merely solid your eyes upon the hoards of celebrating followers that took over London that day.

Top of the world: Chloe Kelly waves her jersey around her head after she scored the essential profitable purpose with minutes to spare

1. Messi’s World Cup triumph   

Yes, you guessed it. Lionel Messi’s and Argentina’s World Cup triumph has snuck in to declare top spot in our look-again at the very best moments of 2022.

The Qatar World Cup was marred in controversy within the construct-up to the match and lots of feared it could be a contest to overlook for many years to come.

However, the occasions on the Lusail Stadium on December 18 will go down as one of probably the most iconic moments in sport historical past – not simply soccer.

After a gruelling journey to attain the World Cup closing (for the second time in his profession), Messi’s aspect had to beat reigning world champions France out in Doha.

Lionel Messi helped finish Argentina’s 36-yr wait to win the World Cup out in Qatar this month

The PSG ahead scored a brace within the closing however the match nonetheless went to penalties after his membership group-mate Kylian Mbappe bagged a hat-trick.

Despite Mbappe’s greatest efforts, he couldn’t forestall Lionel Scaloni’s aspect from ending their 36-yr wait to win the World Cup. 

It was certainly, one of the best soccer matches to ever be performed and seeing Messi have fun with one of soccer’s most prized possessions felt like an expertly-written, emotionally scary, TV collection finale. 

The PSG star kisses the World Cup trophy after the dramatic penalty shoot-out win over France