2024: A pivotal year of change, history, and records

Like politics and the economy, the year 2024 was marked by significant events in the world of sports. New records were set in cricket and football, and fans celebrated both individual player achievements and team successes. This "Year in Review" highlights the major moments in the sports world of 2024.

Goodbye to two legends
The year began with the loss of two football icons. Brazil's 'Old Wolf' Mario Zagallo and Germany's football emperor, 'Kaiser' Franz Beckenbauer both bid their final farewells, marking an irreplaceable loss not just for football, but for the entire sporting world.

Mario Zagallo passed away on January 5 at the age of 92. He is remembered for his remarkable achievement of winning the World Cup both as a player and as a coach. A key member of Brazil's 1958 and 1962 World Cup-winning teams, Zagallo also coached Brazil to victory in 1970. His contribution to establishing Brazil as a football powerhouse will never be forgotten.

Two days later, on January 7, Franz Beckenbauer, the emperor of German football, passed away at the age of 78. This legendary figure led Germany to World Cup glory, winning as captain in 1974 and as coach in 1990. In club football, Beckenbauer claimed three Champions League titles with Bayern Munich. His personal achievements were equally impressive, having won the Ballon d'Or twice.

Qatar reigns supreme in Asia once again
Qatar upheld its supremacy in Asian football by securing another AFC Asian Cup title. On February 10, they triumphed over Jordan with a 3-1 victory in the final. The thrilling match at Lusail Stadium saw Qatar's Afif score a hat-trick, with all goals coming from penalty kicks. After claiming the championship in the UAE previously, Qatar elevated their dominance by winning the title on home soil.

Ivory Coast triumphs in Africa
In Africa, Ivory Coast maintained its control over continental football. The team clinched the Africa Cup of Nations title by defeating Nigeria 2-1 in the final. This victory marked their third time winning the prestigious tournament.

Australia's continued dominance
Australia maintained its supremacy in international cricket and extended its dominance to youth cricket. The Australian Under-19 cricket team claimed their fourth title by defeating India by 79 runs in the final of the Youth World Cup in Benoni, South Africa.

Fortune Barishal’s historic BPL title
On March 1, Fortune Barishal made history in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). In a thrilling final at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla Cricket Stadium, they defeated four-time champions Comilla Victorians to clinch their first-ever BPL title. Under the leadership of Tamim Iqbal, the team delivered an exceptional performance to secure the championship.

KKR clinches third IPL title
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) secured their third Indian Premier League (IPL) title on May 26, defeating Sunrisers Hyderabad by 8 wickets in the final. Mitchell Starc, the most expensive player of the season, was named the Player of the Final, while Sunil Narine from KKR earned the title of Player of the Tournament.

Real Madrid wins 15th Champions League title
On June 2, Real Madrid triumphed in the Champions League final, defeating Borussia Dortmund 2-0 at London's iconic Wembley Stadium. Goals from Dani Carvajal and Vinicius Jr. helped the Spanish giants reclaim their European supremacy, further solidifying their record as the most successful club in the competition's history.

Sri Lankan Women claim first Asia Cup title
Sri Lanka's women’s cricket team clinched their first-ever Women's Asia Cup title by defeating India. On July 28, in the final of the 9th edition, Sri Lanka triumphed over India by 8 wickets. Chasing a target of 165 runs set by India, Sri Lanka reached the goal with 8 balls remaining. India had won the Asia Cup seven times in the previous eight editions. Bangladesh also won the title once, in 2018, when they beat India.

Paris Olympics
The 33rd Paris Olympic Games were held in the French capital, featuring a grand opening along the Seine River. For the first time in history, the Olympic opening ceremony took place outside a stadium, adding a new level of excitement and innovation to the event. The Games ran from July 26 to August 11. The United States led the medal tally with 126 medals, including 40 golds. China, with an equal number of gold medals, finished second with 91 total medals, while Japan secured third place with 20 golds.

Euro title returns to Spain
Spain reclaimed the European Championship title after 12 years, defeating England 2-1 in the final. On July 15, at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin, Spain secured the victory with goals from Nico Williams and Mikel Oyarzabal, while England’s sole goal came from Cole Palmer’s shot. This marked Spain’s fourth European Championship title, a record unmatched by any other team.

Messi and Co. triumph again in Copa América
Argentina, the reigning world champions, claimed the Copa América title once again. In the final, Messi’s team defeated Colombia 1-0. After a goalless regulation time, Lautaro Martínez scored in the 112th minute of extra time to seal the victory. This was Argentina’s 16th Copa América title, setting a new record.

South Africa's latest heartbreak
South Africa has earned the nickname "chokers" in cricket due to their tendency to falter in key moments of big matches. Once again, the team lived up to this reputation. On the brink of a World Cup victory, they were defeated. In the final at Kensington Oval, South Africa required just 27 runs from the last 28 balls, with explosive batters Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller at the crease. Despite the promising position, they fell short by 7 runs, with India, led by Rohit Sharma, claiming their first T20 World Cup title since 2007.

Rodri wins Ballon d'Or:
Manchester City's Spanish midfielder Rodri claims the prestigious Ballon d'Or, edging out Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham. He becomes the first Spanish male player in 63 years, and only the third men in history, to win the award.

BD women claim 2nd consecutive SAFF title:
The Bangladesh women's football team secures back-to-back SAFF Championships by defeating hosts Nepal 2-1 in Kathmandu on October 30. This victory cements their dominance in South Asian women's football.

Hamza Choudhury to Represent Bangladesh:
Hamza Choudhury, who plays for Leicester City in the English Premier League, has received clearance in December to represent Bangladesh in international football.

In a video message, he said, "Everything is progressing well. I am eagerly looking forward to playing for Bangladesh. Hopefully, we will meet soon."

Papon era ends at BCB
On August 21, Faruk Ahmed assumed the role of the 17th president of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), becoming the first professional cricketer to hold this position. This marked the end of the 12-year reign of Nazmul Hassan Papon at the BCB, who had served as president since 2012. Following the government’s fall on August 5, Papon was no longer seen at the BCB. In addition to losing his position as Youth and Sports Minister, he resigned from the BCB presidency, submitting his resignation letter via email from abroad.

Major change at BFF, Kazi Salahuddin says goodbye
Kazi Salahuddin's long tenure as president of the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) has come to an end. After serving for several terms, Salahuddin chose not to contest the BFF elections this time. He was first elected president in 2008, defeating Amin Ahmed Chowdhury, and went on to serve additional terms in 2012, 2016, and 2020. Following Salahuddin’s departure, Tabith Awal took over as BFF president, winning the election by a large margin on October 26.

Bangladesh Cricket: A year of successes and setbacks
Bangladesh cricket saw a mix of success and disappointment in 2024. The national men's team lost a 3-match ODI series to Afghanistan 2-1 and were whitewashed by the West Indies in ODIs. They also faced whitewashes from India in both T20 and Test formats. Bangladesh team ended the year in 8th place out of 9 teams in the World Test Championship. Although they reached the Super Eight stage in the T20 World Cup, they were unable to win any of their matches there.

After the political changes on August 5, Shakib Al Hasan did not return to Bangladesh to play on home soil. Although he played for Bangladesh in India, complications arose regarding his return due to his position as a former Member of Parliament with the Awami League.

In women’s cricket, Bangladesh failed to achieve significant success in 2024. However, there was a positive end to the year. The Bangladesh Under-19 cricket team won the Asia Cup for the second consecutive year. Additionally, the national team also made history by whitewashing the two-time T20 World Cup champions, West Indies, in a 3-match series.