Most memorable sporting moments of 2023

The world of sports bore witness to a multitude of historic events in 2023, ranging from the Australian cricket team’s unprecedented sixth ODI World Cup triumph to the Denver Nuggets securing their maiden NBA victory.

Notably, Manchester City, under the guidance of Pep Guardiola, dominated the football scene, claiming an emphatic treble in the 2022-23 season, which culminated with a triumphant victory over Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League final.

We made history': Emotional Man City players hail treble success | Reuters — Manchester City’s Ilkay Gundogan lifts the trophy as he celebrates with teammates after winning the Champions League after defeating Inter Milan in Istanbul, Turkey, June 11. REUTERS/Molly Darlington Acquire Licensing Rights

Another seismic shift occurred when Lionel Messi, after an illustrious European career, made the unexpected move to join Major League Soccer (MLS) side Inter Miami during the summer transfer window. He also won his record 8th Ballon d’Or in November.

Lionel Messi celebrates his late winner for Inter Miami after converting a stoppage-time free-kick on his debut (Credit: Sky Sports)

Meanwhile, Spain etched their name in the annals of history by clinching their first FIFA Women’s World Cup, overcoming England 1-0 in the final, although the celebration was marred by controversial actions from Luis Rubiales, the then president of the Spanish Football Association.

Spain down England to win Women's World Cup for first time | Reuters — Football – FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023 – Final – Spain v England – Stadium Australia, Sydney, Australia – August 20, 2023 Spain players celebrate with the trophy after winning the World Cup REUTERS/Carl Recine Acquire Licensing Rights

LeBron James left an indelible mark on the NBA, becoming the league’s all-time leading scorer by surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s record during a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

LeBron James becomes NBA's all-time leading scorer, breaking Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's record — Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James tosses powder in the air prior to the team’s NBA basketball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

In tennis, Novak Djokovic not only equaled Margaret Court’s record for most singles Grand Slam titles but also surpassed Steffi Graf’s mark to become the sole player—male or female—to hold the world No. 1 ranking for an unprecedented 378 weeks, later extending it beyond 400 weeks.

Novak Djokovic surpasses Steffi Graf with record 378th week as world No. 1 | CNN — Novak Djokovic poses with the trophy after winning the Australian Open earlier in 2023. Carl Recine/Reuters

NZL 11-12 RSA: South Africa win tense final to claim fourth men's Rugby World Cup ｜ Rugby World Cup 2023 — Siya Kolisi lifts the Webb Ellis Cup as they celebrate a fourth World Cup to add to their wins in 1995, 2007 and 2019 [Benoit Tessier/Reuters]

The Rugby World Cup saw South Africa secure a historic victory by defeating New Zealand 11-12 in October, defending their men’s title for the third successive time. Golf underwent a major transformation with the merger of the PGA Tour, European Tour, and the Saudi-backed LIV Golf circuit.

Who is involved in the merger? - PGA Tour-LIV Golf merger sparks controversy; here's what you need to know about it | The Economic Times — The PGA Tour-LIV Golf merger is the agreement between the PGA Tour, the DP World Tour, and LIV Golf to combine their business operations and form a new entity.

Formula 1 witnessed the dominance of Max Verstappen, who secured a remarkable 19 victories out of 22 races in the season, with Red Bull winning 21 races overall.

Verstappen finishes dominant season in record style | Reuters — Formula One F1 – Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – November 26, 2023 Red Bull’s Max Verstappen celebrates with the trophy on the podium after winning the race REUTERS/Rula Rouhana Acquire Licensing Rights

In cricket, Australia emerged triumphant in the ODI World Cup, achieving their sixth title by outclassing hosts India in the final.

Cricket – ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 – Final – India v Australia – Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, India – November 19, 2023 Australia’s Pat Cummins celebrates with the trophy and teammates after winning the ICC Cricket World Cup REUTERS/Adnan Abidi Acquire Licensing Rights

Furthermore, Virat Kohli made history by surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s record for the most ODI centuries, reaching his 50th ton in the World Cup semi-final against New Zealand in Mumbai. As the year comes to a close, these memorable sports events of 2023 will undoubtedly leave a lasting legacy in the world of sports.