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The 25 moments that defined world football in 2017

The calendar year is nearing its end, and with it, we bid farewell to 12 months of football rife with brilliant individual performances and stellar team efforts, and damaging demonstrations and disastrous displays.

With that in mind, theScore is looking back at 25 moments that defined world football in 2017:

Giroud kicks off the year with Puskas-winning scorpion kick

It was equal parts audacious, astounding, and awesome, and earned Olivier Giroud the Puskas Award by year’s end. But for the Arsenal man, a goal could not have been struck more sweetly to kick off the new year than this.

Wayne Rooney surpasses Sir Bobby Charlton with 250 goals

At the top of the year, Wayne Rooney was approaching a club record at Manchester United, having tied Sir Bobby Charlton at 249 goals. By the end of January, Rooney scored his 250th, becoming the club’s all-time top scorer.

Schweinsteiger asked if Chicago will make World Cup

When Bastian Schweinsteiger joined the Chicago Fire, one reporter asked if his presence might help the club qualify for the World Cup. Huh? The odd (and ill-informed) question left Bastian laughing … along with the rest of us.

Canada, USA, Mexico announce joint bid for 2026 World Cup

In a historic moment for CONCACAF, the U.S., Canadian, and Mexican soccer federations announced a bold plan to joint-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with the U.S. hosting the majority of the competition’s headlining fixtures.

Borussia Dortmund team hit by explosive devices

Marc Bartra was hurt by shards of glass as three explosions went off by the Borussia Dortmund team bus ahead of a Champions League tilt with AS Monaco. This terror incident made international headlines in April.

John Terry announces Chelsea departure

After 22 years of service at Chelsea, captain John Terry called it time on his stay at Stamford Bridge in 2017. He made 713 appearances, but didn’t leave to retire, instead joining Championship outfit Aston Villa.

Messi lifts shirt to Real Madrid crowd after scoring 500th goal

(Photo courtesy: @iam_Kashmoneyy)

One of the most memorable photos of 2017 came when Lionel Messi scored his 500th goal with a dramatic late winner against Real Madrid in El Clasico. He lifted his shirt up high, his name now truly cemented in football lore.

AS Monaco pips PSG to win Ligue 1

A new crop of superstars were born in Monaco as Leonardo Jardim’s side pipped Paris Saint-Germain to claim its first Ligue 1 title since 1999-2000. The team was led by 18-year-old Kylian Mbappe, who scored the title-winning goal.

Messi loses Supreme Court appeal for tax fraud

Messi may be an alien on the field, but Spanish tax authorities didn’t treat him any differently than any other suspect as the Barcelona superstar was found guilty of evading taxes to the tune of $6.1 million.

Francesco Totti plays final match for AS Roma

Twenty-four years a loyal servant of AS Roma, Francesco Totti finally called it a day in 2017, hanging up his boots and leaving behind a legacy unmatched in Italy’s capital. Totti retired at 40 and the city actually wept.

Real Madrid successfully defends Champions League crown

Real Madrid became the first team to win back-to-back Champions League titles this year, with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring a brace as his side defeated Juventus 4-1 in the final.

Bradley Lowery passes away

After a lengthy battle with a rare form of cancer, Sunderland supporter Bradley Lowery passed away on July 7. His best friend, England striker Jermain Defoe, wrote that Lowery’s “courage and bravery will inspire me for the rest of my life.”

Rooney admits wearing Everton PJs for 13 years

Rooney has a secret, one he’s kept for the last 13 years: “I’ve actually been wearing Everton pajamas at home with my kids,” admitted the Manchester United icon, who returned to his childhood club Everton in 2017.

PSG signs Neymar for world-record fee

PSG shocked the world and changed the transfer market as we know it by spending €222 million to acquire Neymar from Barcelona. The Brazil superstar became the most expensive player in the world due to this unthinkable deal.

Juan Mata kicks off Common Goal initiative

Perhaps in response to the astronomical fees being paid this summer, United midfielder Juan Mata launched an initiative called Common Goal, pledging one percent of his salary to charity and urging other footballers to do the same.

Diego Costa finally gets his Atletico return

It was the transfer saga that just wouldn’t end, until it finally did on Sept. 26 as Chelsea and Atletico Madrid confirmed an agreement to transfer wantaway striker Diego Costa back to the Spanish capital in January.

Sergio Aguero breaks a rib in car accident

(Photo courtesy: KaWijko Media/Handout via REUTERS)

Manchester City fans received some shock news on Sept. 29 as star striker Sergio Aguero was involved in a serious car accident and suffered a broken rib. Aguero was out for around two months before returning to full fitness.

Iceland qualifies for 2018 FIFA World Cup

Iceland became the smallest nation to qualify for the FIFA World Cup after topping Group I of UEFA’s qualification stage. The nation of roughly 300,000 had already won the hearts of neutrals at Euro 2016 with its Viking Clap.

USA fails to qualify for 2018 FIFA World Cup

Uh-oh. Not good. The U.S. men’s national team suffered a shock 2-1 loss to Trinidad and Tobago and thus failed to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. It was a failure that sent shockwaves through the U.S. as calls for change finally arose.

Hope Solo accuses Sepp Blatter of sexual harassment

Former U.S. women’s national team goalkeeper Hope Solo alleged that ex-FIFA president Sepp Blatter had sexually assaulted her during a FIFA Ballon d’Or ceremony, telling Tribuna Expresso: “I had Sepp Blatter grab my ass.”

Buffon retires after Italy fails to qualify for World Cup

Italy crumbled to a shock World Cup qualifying failure with a 1-0 aggregate loss to Sweden in UEFA’s play-off round, thus ending the international career of Gianluigi Buffon, the country’s most iconic goalkeeper. Holding back tears, Buffon said: “I’m sorry. Not for me but for Italy. We blew something that could have meant so much. The only regret is that it ended like this.”

Chapecoense qualifies for 2018 Copa Libertadores

One year after a devastating plane crash killed most of the team’s players and staff, Chapecoense qualified for the 2018 Copa Libertadores. This incredible story of community, perseverance, and rebirth was truly inspiring.

Ronaldo declares himself the best in history

“You will go and say that I have a big head, but when you’re at the top, it’s normal that you’re criticised … I am the best player in history, in both good and bad times.” – Cristiano Ronaldo, after winning his fifth Ballon d’Or.

“There is no one more complete than me.”

Toronto FC wins MLS Cup, completing historic treble

From the “worst team in the world” to Major League Soccer’s greatest ever, Toronto FC finally won its first MLS Cup in 2017, as well as the Supporters’ Shield, the Canadian Championship, and the league’s points record.

Manchester City sets new EPL record winning streak

Manchester City dominated headlines in December as Pep Guardiola’s men racked up win after win after win … until the club actually set the English record for most consecutive wins with a 15th straight victory on Dec. 13.

(Photos courtesy: Getty)

NFL

Source: Seahawks' Coleman avoids fine for leap
7:12 PM ET

  • Brady HendersonESPN

Seattle Seahawks cornerback Justin Coleman was not fined by the NFL for his celebratory leap into a Salvation Army kettle last week, according to a league source.

Coleman jumped into one of the oversized red kettles behind the end zones at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, after returning an interception 30 yards for a touchdown in Seattle’s win over the Dallas Cowboys on Christmas Eve.

The celebration mirrored one done by Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott last season. Elliott also avoided a fine.

Justin Coleman lept into a Salvation Army kettle after his pick-six against the Cowboys. Tim Heitman/USA TODAY Sports

Officials flagged Coleman 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct; NFL celebration rules prohibit players from using props.

Coleman said his celebration was preplanned.

“I was telling the guys, if I catch a pick-six in that end zone, I’m gonna jump in the kettle and throw the ball out,” he said after the Seahawks’ 21-12 victory. “It don’t matter. I was just telling them, that’s what’s going to happen. Everybody was telling me I was going to catch a pick, and it came to me. I give God the glory.”

It was Coleman’s second pick-six of the season. He had one in Week 4 against the Indianapolis Colts.

Soccer

The 25 most influential people in world football in 2017

With transfer fees rising and players taking on new initiatives, the past year has forever changed football. Here, theScore ranks the sport’s most influential people of 2017:

25. Charlie Stillitano

Armed with a Rolodex of contacts in the game – from Paolo Maldini to Sir Alex Ferguson and Pele – Charlie Stillitano has emerged as one of football’s leading fixers. The 46-year-old helped stage El Clasico in Miami last summer as part of his world-renowned International Champions Cup, which drew 140 million viewers.

24. Eniola Aluko

English international Eniola Aluko shook the Football Association to its core after sharing accounts of racism and bullying with the press. Aluko’s accusations of abuse against head coach Mark Sampson were initially met with little reaction from the FA. When the time came to dismiss Sampson, the governing body cited separate allegations as the reasoning. Regardless, Aluko’s testimony helped expose the out-of-touch FA.

23. Bradley Lowery

Six-year-old Bradley Lowery captured the hearts of millions as he bravely fought a rare form of cancer. He raised more than £1 million in donations, forged a strong relationship with former Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe, and served as a mascot for the English national team before passing away in July. Thousands attended his funeral in north England as tributes from around the world poured in.

22. Gerard Pique

Gerard Pique is now a prominent figure in both politics and sports. Despite never making his leanings clear, Pique has long been painted as a Catalan separatist. But he has always defended the people’s right to vote, and when the autonomous region held a referendum on independence earlier this year, Pique became a lightning rod for criticism.

21. Richard Scudamore

Having secured the Premier League’s current £5.12-billion television deal, chairman Richard Scudamore has the future of England’s top flight in his hands. He’ll oversee the bidding process for the next batch of TV rights and determine how much of a share England’s biggest clubs will get. Scudamore will have a narrow tightrope to navigate, as more clubs from the third and fourth tiers demand a bigger chunk of the TV pie.

20. Josep Maria Bartomeu

It wasn’t so long ago that Barcelona supporters clamoured for club president Josep Maria Bartomeu to leave. With Neymar slipping away and Lionel Messi’s contract situation unresolved, the club looked to be on the verge of collapse. Bartomeu suffered another setback in October, ignoring calls to suspend a match against Las Palmas as locals clashed with authorities.

But criticism has relented. One of his most criticised signings, Paulinho, has scored big goals, and manager Ernesto Valverde has proven to be an inspiring choice.

19. Karl-Heinz Rummenigge

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has a legacy that extends beyond the club he works for. As president of the European Club Association (ECA), the 62-year-old ensured teams would be compensated for sending players to major tournaments. And as chairman of Bayern Munich, Rummenigge has managed to keep the Bundesliga giant competitive while resisting the temptation to spend as much as its Premier League equivalents.

18. The Glazers

Manchester United’s relationship with the Glazer family is a difficult one to distinguish. Each of the late Malcolm Glazer’s six children owns a stake in the club, and supporters will cringe at the thought of them taking home a £15-million dividend each year. But Avram and Joel Glazer, who are listed as co-chairmen, have made the funds available for United to compete on the ever-growing transfer market. The Red Devils have also enjoyed record revenues under the Glazers’ watch.

17. Marina Granovskaia

With Roman Abramovich taking a less prominent role in Chelsea’s daily affairs, it’s been the job of Russian businesswoman and close advisor Marina Granovskaia to direct the club. Granovskaia has curbed Chelsea’s overall spending and resisted the temptation to enter bidding wars, resulting in a £15.3-million profit for the year. She reportedly conducted more than 500 negotiations over the summer, further highlighting her importance to the Blues and football in Greater London.

16. Juan Mata

Few footballers do as much good outside the sport as Juan Mata. The humble Spanish midfielder co-founded the Common Goal initiative earlier this year, donating 1 percent of his salary to football-related charities. It has since added more than 30 professionals to its network, including Juventus’ Giorgio Chiellini, U.S. internationals Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan, and Bayern’s Mats Hummels.

15. Florentino Perez

As president of the fifth-most valuable sports team, Florentino Perez has considerable clout. The 70-year-old isn’t so concerned with “Galactico” signings as he is with Real Madrid’s stability, and with that peace of mind Los Blancos have won consecutive Champions League titles. But the time for change is approaching. Perez will likely decide whether Cristiano Ronaldo retires in the Spanish capital, as well as who will replace the declining Karim Benzema.

14. Andrea Agnelli

Andrea Agnelli’s profile in the game has skyrocketed since he became chairman of Juventus in 2010. Agnelli has slowly rebuilt the club using a sensible business approach, cutting down on debt year after year while growing the brand and raising its budget. Now president of the ECA, the 42-year-old has a responsibility to protect and promote the priorities of Europe’s top clubs. Agnelli is also a big reason why Serie A regained a fourth Champions League berth.

13. Neymar

Neymar has become more than just a footballer. He’s now the face of Qatar’s push into sport and the biggest symbol yet of the modern game. Although he isn’t solely responsible for the price paid, his €222-million transfer to Paris Saint-Germain shifted the axis of power in European football.

On an individual level, the 25-year-old is a massive influence both inside and out of his native Brazil. He counts more than 100 million followers on Twitter and Instagram, and as his country’s best player, he’ll harbour the hopes of millions more at the 2018 World Cup.

12. Jose Mourinho

One of the most divisive personalities in world football, Jose Mourinho is always good for a quote and headline. Few managers are as combative and cantankerous with the press as the Portuguese; even fewer have won as much as he has. Mourinho often verges on hypocrisy, and his commitment to defensive football hardly wins over fans, but he continues to dominate the conversation about titles and tactics.

11. Aleksander Ceferin

If European football is to grow, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin will have something do with it. As PSG spends wads of cash and wannabe contenders try to keep up, Ceferin has focused on strengthening and enforcing Financial Fair Play rules. But the qualified lawyer also wants to limit squad sizes, restrict the number of loan moves a single club can make, shorten the transfer window, and establish a salary cap.

10. Andy Woodward

It was more than a year ago when former Crewe Alexandra defender Andy Woodward brought to light horrific accounts of sexual abuse, but the impact of his testimony is still being felt today. With 748 victims coming forward and 285 suspects identified – including a new raft of charges against convicted paedophile Barry Bennell – Woodward has inspired action. The Guardian’s Daniel Taylor helped Woodward shed the stigma through steadfast reporting and compassionate storytelling.

9. Pep Guardiola

Pep Guardiola’s effect on Manchester City is plain to see. Not only has it set a new English record for consecutive victories, City has also played some of the best football ever witnessed in the Premier League.

Guardiola has had boatloads of cash to spend, but he’s also improving each of his millionaire footballers. Kevin De Bruyne is now a threat from deeper positions, and Leroy Sane is emerging as one of the world’s most efficient wingers. Guardiola isn’t just in the business of winning, he’s one of the game’s best educators.

8. Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi had an eventful 2017. He got married to his childhood sweetheart before helping Argentina avoid the embarrassment of missing the World Cup. Now he’s a integral part of Barcelona’s 25-match unbeaten streak. The 30-year-old is always in the news.

But 2018 is perhaps his biggest year yet. The upcoming World Cup will have a huge impact on his legacy and whether he will be regarded as the greatest player of all time.

7. Mino Raiola

He may not be the richest or have the biggest list of clients, but Mino Raiola is certainly one of football’s most powerful super-agents. He nearly tempted Gianluigi Donnarumma to leave AC Milan for PSG, and brokered Romelu Lukaku’s £75-million move to United. His abrasive approach to negotiations has made him plenty of enemies, including Real Madrid president Florentino Perez and Milan sporting director Massimiliano Mirabelli.

6. Cristiano Ronaldo

Self-described as the “best player in history,” Ronaldo is sure of his place in the game. That singular focus and confidence made him the player he is today. Despite trailing Messi for quite some time, Ronaldo is now level with the Argentine on five Ballons D’Or. He continues to be one of the world’s most marketable athletes, pulling in nearly $1 billion from sponsorships over the last year.

5. Jorge Mendes

Jorge Mendes boasts an impressive stable of players, including Ronaldo, James Rodriguez, Diego Costa, Angel Di Maria, Bernardo Silva, and Falcao. His clients’ contracts are worth nearly $1 billion, according to Forbes, and he’s fostered close relationships with some of Europe’s biggest clubs.

However, Mendes’ most interesting project is happening at second-tier Wolverhampton. After facilitating Chinese conglomerate Fosun’s takeover, Mendes brokered the transfer of highly rated midfielder Ruben Neves to the club. The result? First place in the Championship.

4. Constantin Dumitrascu

The polar opposite of Raiola and Mendes is the mysterious Constantin Dumitrascu, whom Forbes listed as the most powerful sports agent of 2017. He has reportedly earned $107.8 million in commission and negotiated more than $1 billion in contracts.

“Dumitrascu prefers a business-like approach to looking after the welfare of his clients,” Forbes said. “Clubs tend to prefer quiet negotiators like Dumitrascu.”

Not much is actually known about Dumitrascu, and whether he fully represents players like Edinson Cavani, N’Golo Kante, and Philippe Coutinho.

3. Gianni Infantino

Despite professing to be an agent of change, Gianni Infantino seems to have kept the status quo as president of FIFA. His close association with Vitaly Mutko – the supposed mastermind of Russia’s state-sponsored doping ring – and the suspicious removal of members of the independent ethics committee raised yet more eyebrows. Infantino has a progressive position on a number of issues, including video technology and a 48-team World Cup, but the spectre of corruption is still hanging over FIFA.

2. Sheikh Mansour

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al Nahyan isn’t just interested in the growth of Manchester City. The deputy prime minister of the United Arab Emirates has established a portfolio of football clubs from east Manchester to New York and Australia.

La Liga side Girona is the latest to join Mansour’s growing network of clubs, with City, NYCFC, Melbourne Heart, Club Atletico Torque, and Yokohama F Marinos all under the City Football Group umbrella. Mansour’s development of the £200-million Etihad Campus has also enriched the local Manchester community, helping regenerate an area of the city that had gone to waste.

Football’s next great empire is in Mansour’s hands.

1. Nasser Al-Khelaifi

No person had a greater influence on football in 2017 than PSG chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi. By meeting Neymar’s €222-million release clause, Khelaifi forever changed the transfer market. He then went ahead and sanctioned the €180-million move for Kylian Mbappe.

More than anything else, the signings strengthened Qatar’s hold on the European market. By virtue of his close relationship with the ruling family, Al-Khelaifi used PSG to promote his country’s image. It’s no coincidence Neymar and Mbappe arrived soon after gulf nations sanctioned Qatar over accusations of state-sponsored terrorism.

“When you think about Neymar as a brand, maybe it won’t be so expensive,” Al-Khelaifi said during Neymar’s unveiling. “We’re definitely going to make more money than we spent.”

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)

NFL

WR Marshall eyes Giants return, Hall of Fame

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Wide receiver Brandon Marshall wants to return to the New York Giants next season. He thinks there are two quality years left in his 33-year-old body, and he wants to complete a résumé that will lead him to the Hall of Fame.

Marshall signed a two-year deal with the Giants last offseason. He missed the final 11 games of this season with an ankle injury that required surgery.

It hasn’t stopped him from training and rehabbing at the team facility. He has been working as if there is life after 2017.

“I’m all-in on football. I’ve rebuilt my body. I think I’m two great years away from — and I’ll say it, I want to be a Hall of Famer, and I think I got two great years to go to be mentioned with some of the greats,” Marshall said. “I’m not just playing this game just to be a guy; I want to be remembered for the product that I put out on the field.

“So these last few years have been tough, last year with the Jets, this year with the Giants. But I’m hopeful that the next couple years for me will be some amazing years and some of my best work.”

Brandon Marshall has one more year on his deal with the Giants and could earn up to $5.5 million, but he produced just 18 catches for 154 yards in five games this season before being injured. Mark LoMoglio/Icon Sportswire

Marshall is said to be progressing well in his rehab. He is already running and will be doing so without restrictions in a couple of weeks.

Newly hired general manager Dave Gettleman will have a decision to make. Marshall should be healthy and is signed for one more year. He could earn up to $5.5 million, but he produced just 18 catches for 154 yards in five games before suffering the injury and needing surgery.

Marshall understands the reality of the situation.

“You know how it is, you get to the plus side of 30, a production slip, you get injured, the business side of it, history says that you’re going to get cut or they are going to ask you to take a pay cut,” he said. “That’s the business side of it, that’s history. So I’m prepared for that. I’ve had a lot of change in my life, but one of the reasons why I came to this organization was for stability and also not to be an environment that we created this year, right? So I was looking for more stability, but I’m built for this and I’ll learn from it.”

Does that mean he would be open to a pay cut to return to the Giants?

“Well, one, it’s not about the money for me,” Marshall said. “I’ve done well, my wife and I, we’ve done a great job. So it’s not about the money. I’m good for life, my kids are good for life. But I’m back to my beast, bullish, Brandon Marshall ways. The things that you guys have seen get me in trouble Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Year 4, I’m back to that type of mentality. I want it all. It’s about respect, it’s about finishing strong, and although it’s not about the money, but I’m approaching it as whatever is for me, I want it all. If that’s $100,000, $500,000, $1 million, I want it all. Whatever I’m worth, I want it all.”

Marshall is on his fifth professional team. He has played for the Denver Broncos, Miami Dolphins and Chicago Bears, in addition to the Jets and Giants. He has 959 career catches for 12,215 yards and 82 touchdowns. He’s currently top 25 all time in catches and receiving touchdowns.

What’s noticeably missing from his potential Hall of Fame résumé is playoff production. Marshall has never appeared in a postseason game throughout his 12-year career.

He was hoping that would change with the Giants. Instead, this season was a disaster. The Giants (2-13) lost three wide receivers for the season — including Marshall and Odell Beckham Jr. — in one Week 5 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. It didn’t get much better from there.

After experiencing his share of problems throughout his career, Marshall admittedly tried to lay low with the Giants. He said it felt good not to be in the middle of the drama for once.

The veteran receiver tried to play a different role with the Giants this year. He’s one of the players embattled cornerback Eli Apple said he had conversations with throughout the season and offered advice.

Marshall is attempting to serve as a resource and mentor.

“I do have compassion for him. I talk to him and I want to spend time with him this offseason,” Marshall said.

“And I told him it’s not about football. I want to help him get through this because, from my story, I ended up in a mental institute for three months,” Marshall said, referencing his journey to a borderline personality disorder diagnosis, which led to him becoming a passionate advocate for mental health. “I was in the outpatient program because, like so many other guys, we were Atlas, you know the guy who was holding up the world. You’re holding up your family and everybody around, right? What that does to a person, especially a young kid fresh out of college with no life experiences, that can break somebody down.”

Marshall knows. He says he made it through similar experiences early in a career that he hopes has a couple of years remaining.

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