AS it is the day of love, here are some of the biggest heartbreaks in footballing history that have left fans reeling.
Fans have seen their dreams shatter on the big stages, from being knocked out from last-minute winners, penalty shootouts, not qualifying for World Cups, relegation on the last day of the season or a club falling short of a title they have been deprived of for years.
Although, the England national team could write a book on heartbreaks, England and football are always stuck in a rom-com, always full of promise but unfortunately they let you down in the end.
These 10 heartbreaks reveal the emotional rollercoaster that is football.
2021: The Little Boy From Rosario
Tears, tissues and hearts breaking across Spain.
Lionel Messi had to leave Barcelona in 2021 after Barcelona was unable to register him after agreeing a new contract due to the salary cap rule.
During his time at Barcelona, Messi won 34 trophies including 10 La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues.
Messi is Barcelona’s top goal scorer with 672 goals and he was at the club for 17 seasons.
2019 + 2021: The First Time Was So Nice I had To Do It Twice
Southampton and 9-0’s, the biggest heartbreak story that has come out in recent years.
Leicester beat Southampton in a record breaking away win and tied the record for the largest win in the Premier League. The heaven’s opened at St Mary’s and when it rains, it pours.
The Reds went down to 10 men in the first 10 minutes and Leicester scored their first goal on the 10 minute mark. The goals kept on pouring in after this, with Perez and Vardy both scored hattricks.
Then 15 months later, Saints conceded nine again, this time away to Manchester United.
Alexandre Jankewitz got a red card two minutes in on his Southampton debut and this was the only time he featured for the Saints, Jan Bednarek also got a red card in the 86th minute, but Saints were already 7-0 down.
Two red cards in a game, most people don’t even get one card on Valentine’s Day.
2019: Tottenham Starved For Silverware Again
It’s a running joke that Tottenham Hotspur need to dust their trophy cabinet, and they probably did ahead of their Champions League Final match against Liverpool.
Spurs fans hopes were in the air, but it all came crashing down just 22 seconds into the match.
Moussa Sissoko had the ball hit his arm and Liverpool were given the perfect start to their trophy hunt.
Mohammed Salah converted the penalty and Liverpool did not look back and went to win 2-0.
2019: Bury Demolished
After 125 years of being an English football club, but Bury were then expelled due to a financial collapse.
Bury was one of England’s longest serving club but in August 2019, was cut from the English pyramid after a last-gasp deal fell through for the club that would have saved them but it falling through meant they were kicked out of the EFL.
2018 World Cup: Late Heartbreak
The biggest heartbreak to England’s football team was Mario Mandzukic, when he scored in the 109th minute to take Croatia to the final of the 2018 World Cup.
This was the first time England had made it to a World Cup Semi-Final since 1990 and Croatia ensured it, infact, wasn’t coming home.
After a confident run from the Three Lions throughout the 2018 World Cup, the fans felt confident that this could finally be our time. Kieran Tripper scored a sublime free-kick to put England 1-0 up in the first five minutes – but the English fans should have known it was too early, it is England after all… England held onto the lead until the 68th minute until Ivan Perišić equalised.
England then fell to fourth after their defeat to Belgium in the third/fourth play-off final game.
2014: The Gerrard Slip
The moment Liverpool lost the 2013/14 title was on Anfield’s turf against Chelsea.
Liverpool were five points clear prior to the match, but Demba Ba made sure this was not the case after the match.
The Blues striker pounced on a moment of error from Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard, not only did he fall to ensure Chelsea won 0-2 but the Reds also fell to second place.
2013: United Lose Out On Title Due To Goal Difference
On the right side, Manchester United and on the blue side Manchester City, but who came out on top of the Premier League on the last day of the season?
They were both on the same amount of points going into the last day of the season, and City clinched the title through Aguero’s famous last minute winner to win 3-2 against QPR to win their first Premier League title since 1968 due to goal difference.
2008: Derby’s Unwanted Point Record
After getting promoted in the play-offs against West Brom to the Premier League, the following season, 2007-08 season they went straight back down with an unwanted record under their belts.
Derby went onto lose seven in a row before Christmas and six in a row before the campaign ended and they only managed to get 11 points, a woeful and forgettable season.
Southampton and bad Premier League records, first they lose 9-0 twice and now they could be on track to equal Derby’s record.
2008: John Terry Slip UCL Final
Captain. Leader. Legend. But with the highs comes the lows, defender John Terry slipped on a penalty that could have won Chelsea the Champions League but as he slipped he sent the ball wide.
English rivals, Manchester United eventually won.
John Terry’s shorts went brown but not for the same reason Gary Lineker’s did.
1999: Bayern Munich Collapse UCL Final
The German side were leading 1-0 in the Champions League final until stoppage time.
Both Roy Keane and Paul Scholes were suspended in this match after picking up their second yellow cards in the semi-final against Juventus.
Manchester United scored twice in the dying moments of the match, Sheringham 91′ and Solskjaer 93′ both went onto score to complete the unthinkable comeback.
This final win ensured Manchester United celebrated a historic treble.
