With the new year days away, let’s look back on the year in soccer.
While Turkey, Colombia, and Cameroon surprisingly failed to qualify for the World Cup, Ghana, Angola, Ivory Coast, Togo, Ukraine, and Trinidad and Tobago will make their first appearance next summer.
In league play, some powerhouse clubs such as Manchester United and Real Madrid had trouble meeting high expectations, unlike Chelsea, Barcelona, Lyon and Juventus, who took home their respective leagues’ trophies. Landon Donovan’s return to MLS paid off with a championship for the L.A. Galaxy, and the Fire’s youth movement had it an offside away from playing Donovan in the finals.
And so, before soccer enters into the 2006 World Cup year, here is the best of soccer 2005: Player of the year Brazil and Barcelona forward Ronaldinho is both the European and FIFA player of the year, and with good reason. Ronaldinho, 25, led Barcelona to the Primera Liga title and has Brazil as the early favorite for next summer’s World Cup.
Runner-up: Wayne Rooney, England.
Game of the year Liverpool came back to beat AC Milan in the Champions League final.
Trailing 3-0 at halftime, Liverpool stormed back with three goals in the second half, sending the game into extra time. The match was decided in a shootout with Liverpool goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek stopping a Milan penalty kick and earning the Reds the title.
Runner-up: Chelsea won the Carling Cup over Liverpool in the extra period 3-2.
Goal of the year With three Chelsea defenders standing in his way, Barcelona’s Ronaldinho barely wound his leg back and chipped the ball over his opponents as goalie Petr Cech watched it sail into the corner of the net.
Runner up: From 25 yards out, San Jose’s Dwayne De Rosario hooked a free kick around the L.A. Galaxy wall and past goalie Kevin Hartman.
Newcomer of the year Besides leading the Argentina under-20 team to a title in July, Lionel Messi, 18, has impressed on his club, Barcelona. The 5-foot-6-inch forward can take on two or three defenders at a time and could turn a few heads (and ankles) come World Cup time.
Runner-up: Carlos Vela, Mexico.
Comeback of the year After years of battling weight and cocaine issues, retired Argentine legend Diego Maradona underwent bypass surgery and is recovering from substance abuse. He currently hosts a highly rated talk show and has even been invited to become one of the coaches on the national team.
Runner-up: Pavel Nedved, Czech Republic.
Surprise team of the year After 40 years of waiting, Ghana’s Black Stars qualified for their first World Cup thanks to star midfielder Michael Essien. According to FIFA rankings, Ghana is 2005’s most improved team, climbing 27 spots to finish the year 50th.
Runner-up: Ukraine.
Most improved player A smart player with excellent technical skills, English midfielder Frank Lampard led his country in scoring during World Cup qualifying matches with five goals. Lampard also guided Chelsea to its first Premiership title in 50 years, earning him second in the FIFA player of the year voting.
Runner-up: Robinho, Brazil.
Goal celebration of the year After each of his goals, Gabriel Pereyra’s Cruz Azul trainer runs onto the field and hands him a Mexican wrestling mask that he puts on as he parades around the field. The mask originally was given to him by Mexican wrestler “El Mistico.” Runner-up: Real Madrid’s Brazilian players imitate animals in unison, including frogs, horses and cockroaches.
