It’s been six months since Hal Robson-Kanu completed what many consider THE footballing moment of 2016. After Wales had unexpectedly leveled against a heavily favored Belgium side in the quarterfinals of Euro 2016 through Ashley Williams, Robson-Kanu dropped jaws around the planet by performing a Cruyff turn through two Belgium defenders and firing beyond Thibaut Courtois, lifting Wales into the semifinals.
For many, 2016 will be remembered as a year of loss. For all the remarkable gains, achievements and creations that sprung from 2016, it’s often the hurt derived from defeats and casualties that reverberates most poignantly. Here are 10 things we’ve lost in football over the course of 2016.
Cristiano Ronaldo has collected his fourth Ballon d’Or as the top player on the planet, according to France Football magazine, for 2016. Having led Real Madrid and Portugal to victory in the Champions League and at Euro 2016 respectively, Ronaldo now trails Lionel Messi, who has five in his collection, by only a single award.
Dubbed the "Teenage Terminator", 19-year-old Renato Sanches is a savage. The youngest player to ever win the European Championships and the Euro 2016 Young Player of the Tournament, Sanches’ 2015-16 began with the Benfica B squad but ended with a transfer to Bayern Munich that could end up costing the Bavarian side as much as €80 million.
Sanches added another accolade to his growing trophy cabinet on Monday, winning the 2016 Golden Boy award ahead of Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford and Munich teammate Kingsley Coman.
Cristiano Ronaldo has been named the UEFA Player of the Season, much to the chagrin of one Antoine Griezmann, who thought he merited the win.
Here's what Griezmann told World Soccer earlier this week:
"Without being big-headed, I think I deserve it because I had a great season with my club and with the national team. Maybe I deserve to win the award.
Hungarian goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly, famous for wearing sweatpants during Euro 2016 and therefore becoming international soccer's official Dad, has won the UEFA Save of the Season Award for denying a Kevin de Bruyne free kick during Hungary's 4-0 loss to Belgium in the round of 16.
Esta es la parada de Gabor Kiraly que se lleva el premiopic.twitter.com/ahyzpZYgCo
As recently as January 2016, Real Madrid were a club in crises. Having been defeated 4-0 by Barcelona in late November, kicked out of the Copa del Rey in the round of 32 after fielding an ineligible player and dropping points to both Villarreal and Valencia in the space of a few weeks, manager Rafa Benitez was given his marching orders on January 3rd.