2022 was a different kind of year when it came to football.
It was a World Cup year, but it was played in the winter and not in the summer, and it was a year for players to shine and for teams to rise. We became aware of new stars, and said goodbye to some old ones.
As usual, the BabaGol team picked its best moments of the year, in our 2022 recap.
Argentina and Lionel Messi win the World Cup
The almost eternal quest of world football has been solved.
After 36 years, and more than a handful of painful disappointments, Argentina won their third World Cup.
The Albiceleste’s journey unfolded with so many football narratives within – a suffering nation cracking down under severe financial crisis, the first World Cup without Diego Maradona, around 50,000 Argentine fans making the Middle East their home for a month and, above all, Lionel Messi’s last dance.
Messi was different than in any of his previous appearances in the tournament - he was present, vocal, leading, scoring, assisting, and even confident.
The fact that the final itself was arguably the best, most dramatic final ever, just added to the whole story.
Argentina campeon del mundo! Leo Messi campeon del mundo!
Morocco make it to the semis
One of the biggest stories of 2022 was Morocco becoming the first African and Arab national team to play in a World Cup semi-final.
Morocco played inspirational, combative football. Eliminating the likes of Belgium, Spain and Portugal, giving centre stage to new heroes - Sofyan Amrabat, Azzedine Ounahi and others - while gathering all of the Arab world behind them.
In a sense, Morocco was the essence and spirit of the 2022 World Cup. The World Cup of ‘the others’.
It wasn’t just their enthusiasm and momentum, Morocco’s investment in its national academy, and entrance to the gap created in African football by the shifts in Egypt, allowed this Morocco side to rise to prominence.
Qatar disappoint at home
There is no other way to put it, the Qatari national team is probably the biggest disappointment for every Asian and Middle Eastern football fan.
The 2019 Asian Cup champions, who have been preparing for their home tournament for nearly 16 years now, arrived and, at the moment of truth, simply collapsed.
It was heartbreaking to see players like Akram Afif and Almoez Ali failing to complete a simple pass.
These players, and the next generation of Aspire graduates will need to prove the critics wrong.
Iran’s protests against the regime
There are a very few moments in football when you understand that what is taking place on the pitch is bigger than the game.
The sealed lips of Iran national team players during their country’s national anthem before the World Cup match against England, will be a moment football will remember forever.
The chants that followed from the tens of thousands of Iranian fans in the stands just made the feeling clearer.
Iran is boiling from inside with the protests following Mahsa Amini’s death, and the World Cup, as always, was a stage to express the complexity and sensitivity of things in Iran.
Team Melli’s World Cup was one of the most emotional stories of 2022.
The first Arab World Cup
Despite a range of criticisms from western media - justified or not - Qatar 2022 was massive success.
In terms of the organization, the football, the drama and the intensity, no other World Cup has come close to what this tournament was.
The fact that it was played in the Middle East attracted many fans who would never have had the chance to be at such an event in the past.
It was also a unique moment of unity in the Middle East, maybe the biggest since the Arab Spring in 2010.
It gave this World Cup a different character, making it the World Cup of those who are far away from the spotlight usually.
Morocco’s journey also made it a significant tournament for Africa and the Arab world, and that for the first time ever there were more AFC teams than Conmebol teams in the World Cup knockouts.
With a South American team winning, it sealed the message - this was the World Cup of the non-Europeans.
Senegal wins the Afcon
The story of Senegal began in 2015, when Aliou Cissé became the national team manager.
The team’s captain for the 2002 World Cup started the journey of taking the Lions of Teranga back to the main stage.
After qualifying for the 2018 World Cup, and the loss against Algeria in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, he didn’t give up.
They had a tremendous Afcon this year, which ended with a clash against Egypt in the final, and an encounter between two of Africa's top talents - Sadio Mané and Mohamed Salah.
With a decisive Mané penalty, Senegal won the title for the first time, and gave their nation hope for the next few years.
Mohamed Salah misses out twice
Mohamed Salah would like to forget 2022.
The Egyptian king, who was supposed to be the face of the first World Cup in the Middle East, didn't make it to the party.
Not only that, he also lost the Afcon final again - both losses to his ex-teammate, and direct competitor for the African best player award, Sadio Mané.
The latter has since moved to Bayern Munich, but Salah will hope to jump back and guide his Liverpool side, and the Pharaohs, to new heights next year.
Wydad Casablanca wins the CAF Champions League
The first big hint of Morocco’s explosive World Cup could have been found in the CAF Champions League.
Wydad, guided by Walid Regragui, took Africa by storm - along with their star players, centre-back Achraf Dari, winger Zouhair El Moutaraji, and forward Guy Mbenza.
Wydad is truly one of Africa’s leading clubs, part of the general progress of Moroccan football, and a kind of trend setter.
Regragui went on to guide Morocco in their historical World Cup campaign, Dari moved to Brest in Ligue 1, and also managed to mark Cristiano Ronaldo successfully while the whole world was watching.
Zamalek, the champions of Egypt
In Egypt, you’re either Al Ahly or Zamalek.
While Al Ahly is winning most of the championship titles, Zamalek is the one that keeps it competitive, while waiting for their chance to attack and take a run at the silverware.
Usually, if one wins a title, it is followed by a title for the other.
2022 was the year that Zamalek won back-to-back Egyptian league titles, something they haven’t done for nearly 20 years.
Seattle Sounders end Mexico’s dominance
For 16 consecutive seasons, a Mexican club has won the Concacaf Champions League.
In some of those seasons, both of the finalists, and sometimes even all four semi-finalists, were Mexican.
Recently, the growth of the MLS has allowed clubs from the United States and Canada to showcase some good quality of football in the tournament.
In a double-headed final this year, the Seattle Sounders became the first MLS team to win the Concacaf Champions League since 2000.
In the first leg against Pumas they came back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2. In the second leg, in front of their home crowd in Seattle, they thrashed the Mexicans 3-0.
LAFC wins their first MLS title
The MLS has drawn more and more attention these past few years.
As the Americans get ready for the 2026 World Cup, the domestic league has playedan important part in developing football culture in the country.
The sold-out 2022 MLS Cup final between LAFC and Philadelphia Union produced a match to remember.
With a 3-3 draw after extra time, including two goals after the 120th minute, a penalty shootout saw LAFC win 3-0.
Flamengo wins the Copa Libertadores
In November 2021, Flamengo missed out on winning the Copa Libertadores after conceding a goal in extra time against Palmeiras.
A year later they faced Athletico Paranaense for the Copa Libertadores final in Guayaquil, Ecuador.
For some of Flamngo’s players, that final was their chance to take back the title.
A goal from Gabriel Barbosa at the end of the first half made their dreams come true.
He was the same player to score twice in the dramatic final against River Plate in 2019, and now Flamengo have been able to celebrate winning the Copa Libertadores title for the third time.
The dramatic title race in Argentina
No one could imagine such a grand finale for a title race like Argentina produced this season.
Boca Juniors and Racing Club ran all the way to the final matchday to decide who will be the champions this season.
With only one point between the two sides before the last game, Boca Juniors had to defeat Independiente to secure the title - but failed with a 2-2 draw.
Meanwhile, Racing Club faced River Plate, Boca’s fierce rivals.
Although Racing Club took the lead first, River Plate scored twice, including a winning goal in the 95th minute.
A late River Plate goal gave Boca Juniors a reason to celebrate.
Russia-Ukraine war
The biggest political issue in the world this year didn’t look past football.
It started a few weeks after the war in Ukraine began, as Uefa and Fifa decided to ban Russia from their tournaments.
The Champions League final was moved from Saint Petersburg to Paris and, later on, Russian clubs and teams were knocked out of international competitions, including the national team that was supposed to play in the play-offs for a World Cup finals spot.
On the other hand, Ukrainian teams had to play away from home, hosting some matches in Poland, and getting support from the local fans.
Meanwhile in Ukraine, the league has resumed, with matches being interrupted due to frequent bomb alerts.
This war isn’t over yet, and nor is its impact on football.
Karim Benzena wins the Ballon d’Or
2022 was a year of circles, and stories that found their proper ending.
Karim Benzema winning the Ballon d’Or at the age of 34 was definitely one of the top stories.
Benzema has suffered his whole career as one of the most underrated footballers of our era, but this year he rose to prominence with a rare year professionally, that brought him the individual prize he desired the most, and rightfully so.
Fifty goals for Real Madrid this year, a Champions League title with Real Madrid, and a campaign that saw him as the face of one of the world’s biggest clubs.
Benzema, by a country mile, was the best player in the world for most of the year - before the World Cup came around that is.
The first-ever Europa Conference League final
When UEFA introduced the Europa Conference League for the first time, there were some that laughed.
No one could imagine the huge success the new competition has had.
It gave minor clubs a chance, and new nations were able to have the opportunity to play in European competitions. Clubs like Bodo Glimt and PAOK used it to get more experience.
In May, a few days before the Champions League final, Roma and Feyenoord played in Tirana, Albania in the first Conference League final.
The Giallorossi made the stadium their own, as they won 1-0 and celebrated.
Those who mocked the tournament were left speechless - just ask Jose Mourinho, who completed the triple crown and tattooed the Conference League trophy on his arm, next to the Champions League and Europa League silverware.
Trabzonspor wins the title in Turkey
Turkish football is known for the dominance of one city, Istanbul.
Trabzonspor won the title a few times back in the 80s, and no one thought that one day they would see another title.
With only three defeats in 34 matches, and an attacking duo based on Andreas Cornelius and Anthony Nwakaeme, no one could doubt that they would run all the way for the title.
Their 38-year wait has ended.
The summer of women’s continental championships
Women’s football got a lot more attention this year.
After a season of attendance record breaking matches all over the world, we got into a summer full of action for the national teams.
The main event was the Women’s Euros in England, as the host nation won its first ever European title in front of 87,192 fans at Wembley.
Then, on the same day, Brazil won the Copa América Femenina, and the USA won the Concacaf W Championship.
First-ever women referees at Afcon and the World Cup
In January, Rwanda’s Salima Mukansanga became the first woman to officiate a match in the Africa Cup of Nations.
Stéphanie Frappart from France made her own new peak, as she was selected to be the first female referee in the men's World Cup.
The match between Germany and Costa Rica wasn’t just her great moment, but it was also a special moment for Brazil’s Neuza Back, and Mexico’s Karen Díaz Medina, the assistant referees who completed the first all-female referee team in a men’s World Cup.
The death of Pelé
A few days before the end of the year, another legend left us - Pelé.
The Brazilian hero that most would describe as one of the best players ever to grace the game,, died at the age of 82.
He is the only player to win three World Cup titles, and has scored over 1000 goals in his career.
His legacy changed football in the 60s and 70s, and we all see a different kind of football thanks to him.
Worth Mentioning:
Champions League in Israel - After seven years without any Israeli club in the group stage, Maccabi Haifa put on a tremendous show with a win against Juventus, and impressive performances against PSG and Benfica.
First title in Oman - Al Seeb made history, becoming the first Omani club to win a continental trophy with a 3-0 win against Kuala Lumpur City in the AFC Cup final.
Endrick, the new Brazilian star - The world has been introduced to a new Brazilian star, 16-year-old Endrick, who has already won the Brasileirão with Palmeiras, and was snapped up by Real Madrid
Guangzhou FC’s relegation - The great Chinese club and twice AFC Champions League winners, formerly known as Guangzhou Evergrande, faced a horrible season ended with relegation to the second division
Saudi women’s national team debut - As part of the development of women’s football, Saudi Arabia, a religious Muslim country, began their journey on the national stage.
Siniša Mihajlović passed away - After years of fighting cancer and managing Bologna simultaneously, the former Yugoslav great died at the age of 53.
Brighton’s Latin revolution - Brighton brought a new Latin spice to the Premier League, with the signings of Julio Enciso and Pervis Estupiñán joining Moisés Caicedo - some had been discovered earlier by our very own Juan Gafas.
Heung-Min Son and Mohamed Salah top scorers - Two of the greatest scorers in the Premier League won the joint golden boot last season, as a Korean and an Egyptian doing it in the best league in the world.
Cristiano Ronaldo signs in Al-Nassr - Just before the end of the year, Cristiano Ronaldo is joining the Saudi powerhouse, what it will brings in 2023?
