India, Dec. 28 -- As 2025 draws to a close, with the men's FIFA World Cup only six months away and a calendar year of football behind us, there is definitely a feel of a year that held its breath in anticipation of what comes next. Nevertheless, this does not mean this was a year in which nothing happened - in fact, it felt like one in which all the pieces quietly floated into place, which might come to define football worldwide in the coming years.

Controversy, triumph, heartbreak, tragedy - all of it was present in 2025, and all of it will play a role in 2026 and beyond. Here are a look at some of the key moments that will never be forgotten even as the calendar turns over.

Tottenham Hotspur winning a first trophy in 17 years, Paris S...