Spain's glorious third successive triumph in a major tournament and individual goalscoring brilliance from Argentine Lionel Messi will be remembered as soccer's golden hallmarks of 2012.
![The Spanish football team captured their third successive major title with their triumph in Euro 2012. RIGHT: LionelMessi was in sublime form.]( "The Spanish football team captured their third successive major title with their triumph in Euro 2012. RIGHT: LionelMessi was in sublime form.")
But the year was also marred by tragedy and death in Egypt and the Netherlands and a worrying escalation of racism in Europe. It was a year too when the soccer world shifted on its axis and finally spun away from its 19th century roots when 21st century goalline technology, officially sanctioned by world governing body FIFA, was used for the first time in December's Club World Cup finals in Japan.
That tournament Corinthians of Brazil crowned as the best club team in the world -- an accolade most people would agree rightfully belongs to Barcelona.
But in one of the great upsets of the year, Barcelona failed to win the Champions League which seemed pre-ordained for them when they somehow lost to Chelsea on aggregate in the semifinals after Messi, proving he was only human after all, missed a penalty in the second leg.
He had, however, scored 91 goals in the calendar year, beating West Germany's former striker Gerd Mueller's 40-year-old record for goals scored in a calendar year.
Chelsea, who finished sixth in the Premier League in May, went on to Munich for the Champions League final.
Written off by virtually all of Europe's media before they played Barcelona, they again confounded the critics by beating Bayern Munich on penalties in their own stadium to become the first London club to lift the European Cup in its 57-year history.
Despite also winning the FA Cup, it was not a year without huge problems for the now deposed European champions, who are owned and run by the ruthless billionaire Roman Abramovich.
Six months after leading the club to the greatest night in their 107-year history, coach Roberto Di Matteo was cast aside by the Russian -- just before Chelsea became the first defending champions to be eliminated from the group stage of the competition. Their tilt at the world club title also ended in failure when they lost to Corinthians.
Their triumphs were further blemished by racist controversies involving captain John Terry -- found guilty and banned by the English FA despite being cleared in an earlier court case.
Spain were untroubled by controversies at Euro 2012 and basked in the glory of their record 4-0 final victory over Italy on a memorable night in Kiev in July which put the "cherry on the cake" of a superb tournament, according to former UEFA technical director Andy Roxburgh. Inspired by their brilliant midfielder Andres Iniesta, Spain also strengthened their claim to be regarded among the best international teams ever after becoming the first nation to win back-to-back European Championships -- either side of their 2010 World Cup triumph.
On the domestic front, Real Madrid ended Barcelona's run of three straight La Liga titles but dreams of a first European club decider between Real and Barca ended when Real lost on penalties to Bayern the night after Barca were eliminated by Chelsea. Barca have continued to wow audiences and are well clear in La Liga this term even after talismanic but exhausted coach Pep Guardiola handed the reins to assistant Tito Vilanova in May.
The Catalans have also been hugely inspired by Messi, who at the relatively young age of 25 is fast securing his place among the greats with much of his career still ahead of him, injuries notwithstanding.
Although Barca missed out on the major prizes, their passing style enthralled millions and while Messi is adored in Catalonia, he also won over his more sceptical Argentine compatriots as he led the national team to seven wins and two draws in nine matches including World Cup qualifiers and friendlies. Among his 91 goals were 12 for his country as he equalled former striker Gabriel Batistuta's Argentina record tally in a calendar year.
And while the likes of Spain and Messi -- and his Real Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo -- can delight and inspire, football can also cause untold suffering as events in Egypt and the Netherlands proved.
The year's other big tournaments ended in a win for Zambia in January's African Nations Cup and gold medals for Mexico, shock winners over Brazil, and the United States women's team at the London Olympics. While Real Madrid recaptured the title in Spain, mega-rich Manchester City ended an even longer wait in England, winning a thrilling Premier League title race with a victory secured in the final seconds of the final match to become champions for the first time in 44 years.
But the year was also marred by tragedy and death in Egypt and the Netherlands and a worrying escalation of racism in Europe. It was a year too when the soccer world shifted on its axis and finally spun away from its 19th century roots when 21st century goalline technology, officially sanctioned by world governing body FIFA, was used for the first time in December's Club World Cup finals in Japan.That tournament Corinthians of Brazil crowned as the best club team in the world -- an accolade most people would agree rightfully belongs to Barcelona.
But in one of the great upsets of the year, Barcelona failed to win the Champions League which seemed pre-ordained for them when they somehow lost to Chelsea on aggregate in the semifinals after Messi, proving he was only human after all, missed a penalty in the second leg.
He had, however, scored 91 goals in the calendar year, beating West Germany's former striker Gerd Mueller's 40-year-old record for goals scored in a calendar year.
Chelsea, who finished sixth in the Premier League in May, went on to Munich for the Champions League final.
Written off by virtually all of Europe's media before they played Barcelona, they again confounded the critics by beating Bayern Munich on penalties in their own stadium to become the first London club to lift the European Cup in its 57-year history.
Despite also winning the FA Cup, it was not a year without huge problems for the now deposed European champions, who are owned and run by the ruthless billionaire Roman Abramovich.
Six months after leading the club to the greatest night in their 107-year history, coach Roberto Di Matteo was cast aside by the Russian -- just before Chelsea became the first defending champions to be eliminated from the group stage of the competition. Their tilt at the world club title also ended in failure when they lost to Corinthians.
Their triumphs were further blemished by racist controversies involving captain John Terry -- found guilty and banned by the English FA despite being cleared in an earlier court case.
Spain were untroubled by controversies at Euro 2012 and basked in the glory of their record 4-0 final victory over Italy on a memorable night in Kiev in July which put the "cherry on the cake" of a superb tournament, according to former UEFA technical director Andy Roxburgh. Inspired by their brilliant midfielder Andres Iniesta, Spain also strengthened their claim to be regarded among the best international teams ever after becoming the first nation to win back-to-back European Championships -- either side of their 2010 World Cup triumph.
On the domestic front, Real Madrid ended Barcelona's run of three straight La Liga titles but dreams of a first European club decider between Real and Barca ended when Real lost on penalties to Bayern the night after Barca were eliminated by Chelsea. Barca have continued to wow audiences and are well clear in La Liga this term even after talismanic but exhausted coach Pep Guardiola handed the reins to assistant Tito Vilanova in May.
The Catalans have also been hugely inspired by Messi, who at the relatively young age of 25 is fast securing his place among the greats with much of his career still ahead of him, injuries notwithstanding.
Although Barca missed out on the major prizes, their passing style enthralled millions and while Messi is adored in Catalonia, he also won over his more sceptical Argentine compatriots as he led the national team to seven wins and two draws in nine matches including World Cup qualifiers and friendlies. Among his 91 goals were 12 for his country as he equalled former striker Gabriel Batistuta's Argentina record tally in a calendar year.
And while the likes of Spain and Messi -- and his Real Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo -- can delight and inspire, football can also cause untold suffering as events in Egypt and the Netherlands proved.
The year's other big tournaments ended in a win for Zambia in January's African Nations Cup and gold medals for Mexico, shock winners over Brazil, and the United States women's team at the London Olympics. While Real Madrid recaptured the title in Spain, mega-rich Manchester City ended an even longer wait in England, winning a thrilling Premier League title race with a victory secured in the final seconds of the final match to become champions for the first time in 44 years.