My 5 Moments Of Magic - 2012, What A Year

So, it’s 2013. The last year gave us one of the best years of football we are likely to see in our lifetime with some absolutely amazing moments. There was Sergio Aguero’s last minute goal in the dying seconds to win Manchester City the Premier League against their Manchester rivals. There was Zambia, somehow managing to beat Ivory Coast on penalties in the final of the African Cup of Nations. Another country with great success was Spain, becoming perhaps the most successful side in an era ever on the international front by winning Euro 2012. How about Chelsea, fighting against all the odds to win their inaugural Champions League? There are so many great moments. Everyone can remember all of these team successes. Here, I’m talking about my personal top 5 (not in order) individual performances of the year, the players who impressed and dragged their team to success in a game.

Falcao Fires in 5 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhnVsh_6XNc

Since Fernando Morientes did it in 2002, nobody in La Liga had managed to score a total of 5 goals in a game. Then came Falcao. On the 9^th December, an in form Atletico Madrid side came up against Deportivo La Coruna. After Atletico going 1-0 up in the 23^rd minute thanks to fellow South American Diego Costa, the Colombian man, so highly courted around Europe, took the game by the scruff of its neck. Two finely placed right footed shots (1^st & 5^th), a stunning volley (2^nd) a penalty (3^rd) and a header (4^th) showed the full range of his talents – and why he’s quite possibly the most wanted man in Europe right now. No wonder he has a £50 million price tag.

Radamel Falcao celebrating one of the 5 fantastic goals
he scored against Deportivo that night.

Milito vs. Miccoli - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7wMc1-jc1U

At the start of February, Inter Milan hosted fellow Italian side Palermo in Serie A. Two of the league’s top strikers came out to play that day, with Fabricio Miccoli scoring 3 and Diego Milito scoring 4 in a thrilling match. Despite the relatively poor playing conditions, the two dominated the proceedings and showed their clinical finishing in a battle between the two. Whilst Milito scored one more than Miccoli, the game ended in a 4-4 draw. Some fantastic movement and finishing from the pair almost carried their teams through the game as two very talented stars showed just why they’re so highly valued at their respective clubs.

Pirlo’s Panenka - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltHUdQjymfA

Euro 2012 will be remembered for Spain’s exploits in winning 3 major international trophies in a row. What some people won’t remember, though, is how one of the great midfielders of our modern game inspired his country into the final. Starting the tournament as relative underdogs with an ageing squad, no one thought Italy would get very far in the competition. Then came along Andrea Pirlo. After leading Juventus to the Serie A title without losing a single game, the 35 year old was in hot form. Italy got through to the quarter finals of the Euro’s and faced perennial underachievers England. Whilst England defended valiantly, the midfield ‘battle’ was dominated by Pirlo. Everything went through him and he pulled the strings, controlling the pace, tempo and dynamics of the game at will, like a puppeteer. Italy were extremely unlucky not to win it in normal time, or extra time, and the game went to penalties. Cool as you like, Pirlo chipped (or did a panenka) down the middle to help his side advance. That one moment summed up the whole match for him, or even his career – calm, cultured and classy.

Joe Hart was left looking helpless as the ball glided into the net
from Pirlo's delicate touch

Ibra Kadabra - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pq9CoZCJH3I

The game between England and Sweden in November was expected to be nothing more than a friendly to commemorate the opening of the Swede’s new national stadium. With the season in full flow around Europe, nobody expected a thriller here. Instead, an amazing 4-2 score line to the home side occurred – mainly thanks to one man. Zlatan Ibrahimovic dominated the match from the off, scoring some fantastic goals. A toe poke, a volley, a free kick and an overhead kick – one which will go down as one of the greatest goals ever. Ibrahimovic showed just why he is a world class player all game with some clever touches and fantastic finishing, and the 4^th goal epitomises him as a player, confidence in abundance, but with the sheer talent to match it. This was without a doubt one of the top performances in 2012.

Ibrahimovic was given a standing ovation by everyone in the stadium, including the
England fans, after the game and that extraordinary goal.

Majestic Messi-ah - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cV1L3TzzdZg

In June Argentina and Brazil flew off to America to play an international friendly in front of 82,000 in New York. Two of the biggest footballing nations in the world lived up to the hype of the game, and even more, as football’s prized possession ran the show. Nothing needs to be said about Lionel Messi, the greatest player in the world right now, and possibly ever (let’s not get into that debate here). 3 brilliantly taken goals, two after intelligent runs through the Brazil defence to receive the ball and the third an amazing solo goal, showed everyone once again just why Messi is out of this world. This was one of the highlights of his incredible year, with 3 of his 91 goals for both club and country. Magic. Majestic. Messi.

And that's it!

I’m well aware there were many more superb individual performances in 2012. Special mentions go to Dider Drogba for leading Chelsea to FA Cup and Champions League glory, and Luis Suarez for his two hattricks against Norwich at Carrow Road. But as I said, this is my personal top 5 of 2012, and I’m sure you will all have many different ones too – which just goes to show how great a year it has been for football and the depth of modern day talent.

I hope you enjoyed it, and here’s to an even better 2013!