It's been an incredible year for some clubs, coaches and players, but it's been a nightmare for others
What a year 2024 has been for the sometimes not-so-beautiful game! A dispute between players' unions and FIFA over the match calendar is now likely to be settled in court, while we're still awaiting the verdict in the legal battle of the century between the Premier League and its current champions, Manchester City.
However, there have also been some beautiful success stories over the past 12 months, with the likes of Bologna and Brest qualifying for the Champions League, and Atalanta lifting the Europa League trophy after a stunning win over another terrific team in Bayer Leverkusen, who finally ended their Bundesliga hoodoo – and in record-breaking fashion too.
So, who have been the big winners and losers of 2024? GOAL breaks down the good, the bad and the ugly below…
AFPWINNER: Rodri
It might seem a little strange to make a player who suffered a serious ACL injury one of the 'winners' of 2024, but Rodri has still had a year well worth celebrating. If anything, Manchester City's slump since the Spaniard was sidelined in September has only made a mockery of those who questioned the midfielder's subsequent Ballon d'Or success.
He is, quite simply, the most influential player in the game today, the key cog in Pep Guardiola's winning machine that claimed a historic fourth consecutive Premier League title in May. Rodri also ran the show for Spain at Euro 2024 before being forced off at half-time in the final. "[He] is a perfect computer, who administers everything, the emotions, all the moments in a magisterial way," La Roja coach Luis de la Fuente said. "That’s just a great help for everyone."
In that sense, it was a delightful surprise to see such a team player win the ultimate individual accolade.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportLOSER: Kylian Mbappe
Kylian Mbappe's dream move has been something of a nightmare thus far. But perhaps we shouldn't be so surprised. Maybe we should have seen this coming.
Mbappe never looked quite right during the European Championship in Germany, where he managed just one goal in five appearances for France. He was, of course, hindered by having to wear a protective mask after breaking his nose in his nation's tournament-opener against Austria, but that still didn't fully explain his sub-standard showings in Germany, and even he conceded that the campaign had been a "failure".
What's more, several former France internationals were claiming long before Mbappe left Paris Saint-Germain on an acrimonious free transfer that he had stagnated as a player. It's become obvious over the past few months, though, that Mbappe's problems are not merely physical or tactical. For the first time in his career, he's struggling mentally right now too, as underlined by his omission from the last two France squads amid a variety of vague and contradictory explanations.
Mbappe recently stated in his first interview with the French press for almost a year that "he's very happy" in Madrid, but he also acknowledged that he's presently dealing with a number of serious issues, on and off the field. It will, therefore, be fascinating to see if the real Mbappe returns in 2025.
Getty Images SportWINNER: Lamine Yamal
Believe the hype: Lamine Yamal is the real deal. Countless other prodigies have understandably found 'The new Lionel Messi' label a burden too heavy to bear – but Yamal doesn't appear to feel pressure. The kid only turned 17 on July 13 – and yet the following day he went out and won the European Championship, teeing up Nico Williams for the opener in Spain's 2-1 win over England.
Everything we've seen from Yamal since (he's got more assists than any other player in La Liga this season) suggests he's only going to get better and better – which is just ludicrous. The kid brought homework with him to Germany is already one of the very best players in the world!
Getty Images SportLOSER: Jurgen Klopp
Jurgen Klopp will forever be a legend at Liverpool and he received a fittingly grand send-off at Anfield after sensationally stepping down as manager at the end of last season. In his subsequent public appearances, he's also looked rejuvenated, as fresh and as healthy as he's looked in years – which is hardly surprising given just how much time and effort he invested in putting the Merseysiders back on their perch.
However, the timing of Klopp's exit is now being questioned in some quarters, with the Liverpool side he constructed top of both the Premier League and the Champions League under Arne Slot, who some have suggested is actually making his predecessor look bad. That's nonsense, of course; Klopp's record with the Reds was remarkable, and he'd have undoubtedly had them flying this season too. But that's precisely why their current form might feel a little bittersweet.
Certainly, Klopp would be forgiven for privately cursing the fact that Manchester City went through their worst ever run of results under Pep Guardiola just a few months after he left Liverpool – and his spirits can hardly have been lifted by the bitter backlash at former clubs Mainz and Borussia Dortmund to his unexpected decision to take a lucrative but highly controversial job within Red Bull's footballing empire.
Klopp has explained that he simply didn't want to be a coach anymore and that tallies up, given he had already stated last season that he was running out of energy. In that sense, he couldn't have found a better gig. The Red Bull role should revitalise him and earn him an awful lot of money. But one cannot help but wonder if it'll also come with a few regrets.
