Soccer's Biggest Winners and Losers of 2025: Lionel Messi Ends Year On High

New Year's Eve is almost upon us, meaning 2025 is about to be consigned to the past — but how will it be remembered by the football world? It was certainly an unforgettable year for some players, coaches and clubs. Paris Saint-Germain, for example, finally got their hands on the trophy they craved above all others, the Champions League, thus vindicating a sensible change in recruitment strategy by the club's owners, who went from signing superstars to investing millions in youth.

Barcelona famously fell just short in the Champions League, upset by Inter in the greatest semi-final tie ever played, but the Catalans confirmed their re-emergence as a major power thanks to the already-great Lamine Yamal and Hansi Flick's high line. Elsewhere, Flamengo conquered both Brazil and South America, Lionel Messi mastered MLS, and England's women's team held onto their European Championship crown by pulling off one great escape after another.

Liverpool had a far easier time of it while winning a record-equalling 20th English championship and Bayern Munich emphatically reasserted their supremacy in Germany after being embarrassed by Bayer Leverkusen in 2024, while Antonio Conte worked his first-season magic once again by leading Napoli to their fourth Scudetto.

There were obviously numerous other talking points - and not all of them positive. But who were the biggest winners and losers of both the men's and women's games in 2025? GOAL breaks down the year that was...

A matter of minutes after Bayern Munich's 2024-25 Bundesliga title triumph had been confirmed on May 4, Harry Kane took to Instagram to post a trophy emoji against a black background. There was no need for words. Everyone knew what it meant: the curse had been broken.