5 of the most emotional moments in footballing history (guaranteed to make you tear up)
- Charlie Comish
- Mar 31, 2019
- 3 min read
There aren’t many sports in the world known for its passion quite like football; be that the viscous rivalries, strong blooded tackles or the hardcore ultra-fanbases, football has an ability to bring out some of the feisty moments in life.
But there are occasions where as fans we swap the aggression, instead whipping out a box of tissues and remembering exactly why the beautiful game is in fact beautiful. Charlie Comish has taken a look back at 5 of the most emotional moments in footballing history:
5) Billy Sharp and his son
Back in 2011 Billy Sharp became a father to his first born Luey Jacob, but the new dad’s world was tragically shook two days later when his son passed away.
Instead of taking the expected mourning time away from football, Billy Sharp returned to the Doncaster Rovers team wanting to play against Middlesbrough just three days later.
Billy didn’t let the tragedy get to him however and was on the scoresheet for the match – Sharp lifted up his shirt, revealing an emotional message to his son.
The referee played his part in not booking Billy and fans from both sides of the stadium were on their feet clapping. An incredible moment of sheer sentiment.
4) Iniesta says farewell
Late in May in 2018, La Liga was coming to a close, but so was Andres Iniesta’s time in a Barcelona shirt.
It was his 670th and final game for the club, ending it where it started at the Camp Nou.
A club legend during his time in Catalonia, Iniesta won four Champions Leagues, nine Spanish cups, seven La Ligas, seven Spanish Super Cups and three UEFA Super Cups – a total of 30 honours.
Well after the full time whistle had passed, images of Iniesta just sat on the pitch on his own, taking in his final moments in the Camp Nou went viral over the internet. I’m not crying… are you?
3) Defoe’s unlikely friend
It’s not every day a little boy and a famous footballer strike a bond, but this little boy was a special little boy.
Bradley Lowery was a regular mascot at Sunderland football club and near enough every week walked out with his idol – come best friend - Jermain Defoe.
Unfortunately Bradley was diagnosed with neuroblastoma at the age of 18 months, but this didn’t stop him from living his life to the full.
Walking out every week at the Stadium of Light, travelling up and down the country meeting different teams and different players, Bradley did it all. The little lad even won goal of the month!
But it was with Jermain Defoe who Bradley Lowery admired the most, with the English strike becoming a key figure in the later years of Bradley’s life - Jermain himself referred to Bradley as his “best pal”.
When Bradley sadly passed later that year, clubs, players, managers and the entire footballing world united in showing their affection for football’s unlikely hero.
2) Villarreal’s heart of yellow
In 2014 Villarreal held a friendly to allow 13 year old Gohan to play for his favourite team.
Gohan was a huge fan of the Yellow Submarines and was currently undergoing cancer treatment with a wish to play a game for Villarreal. So Villarreal made this wish come true.
Playing in a match against Celtic, all proceeds from the match went towards a children’s cancer research charity, which helped children like Gohan try and beat cancer.
Villarreal gave Gohan the full experience: warming up with the players, getting ready in the changing room and playing the match alongside Gohan’s hero’s.
And he did not disappoint the onlooking crowd, as the thirteen year-old took the roof off the Estadio de la Cerámica when he bagged a goal in second-half.
The entire stadium erupted and Gohan was paraded around the pitch like the true hero he is.
1) One world; one game
When Brazilian club Chapecoense set off for their Sudamericana final clash in 2016, nobody could ever have imagined the devastation that would have been caused.
After running out of fuel on the descent to Medellin airport, the plane carrying the entire Chapecoense squad, staff and corresponding journalists crashed, with 71 of its passengers losing their lives.
Despite being a virtually unknown entity in Europe, the footballing world once again united in the face of a tragedy that shook the all of football.
The most poignant tribute was seen in the upcoming El Clasico match, where both Real Madrid and Barcelona players stood arms together in a show of solidarity for their Brazillian brothers and sisters .
It was the perfect example as to how rivalries can be put to bed to honour those that have lost their lives.
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