A momentous year

There was no shortage of major sports news in 2021－here's a look back at some of the most significant stories

Djokovic dominates

The 34-year-old Novak Djokovic enjoyed a remarkable 12 months, winning five titles, including three Grand Slam trophies (Australian Open, Roland Garros and Wimbledon), one ATP Masters 1000 crown (Rolex Paris Masters), and an ATP 250 tournament in his hometown, the Belgrade Open. At the Paris Masters, Djokovic won a record-breaking 37th Masters 1000 trophy and clinched a historic seventh year-end No 1 finish, surpassing his childhood idol and role model Pete Sampras for most year-end finishes at the summit in ATP rankings history. Djokovic is now tied with Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer on the all-time Grand Slam honors list with 20 majors. The Serbian missed the chance to break the record when he lost in the US Open final to Daniil Medvedev.

Messi's mixed year

Lionel Messi claimed the Ballon d'Or for the seventh time in November after a turbulent year for the soccer superstar. The 34-year-old's performances in helping Argentina win the Copa America appeared to swing the voting in his favor, although many fans argued that runner-up Robert Lewandowski of Bayern Munich and Poland would have been a more deserving winner. In August, Messi left Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain after 21 years at the Catalan giant. Despite his relatively underwhelming start to his career in France, the jury of journalists from around the world rewarded him in particular for captaining Argentina to its first major international title since 1993. Messi also won the Ballon d'Or in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2015.

Amazing Azzuri

Italy defeated England in the final of the delayed UEFA Euro 2020 championship at Wembley in London in July. The match marked the first time England had reached a major final since its 1966 World Cup triumph, but Gareth Southgate's Three Lions ultimately lost on penalties to Roberto Mancini's men after the match finished 1-1 after extra time. Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka all failed to convert their spot-kicks for the home side in the shootout. The triumph completed a remarkable turnaround for Italy, which had failed to even qualify for the 2018 World Cup finals. Despite being a four-time finalist, it was just the second time Italy was crowned European champion, adding to its win on home soil in 1968.

Brilliant Bucks

The Milwaukee Bucks, powered by a masterpiece from Greek forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, ended their 50-year wait for a second NBA championship with a 105-98 win over the visiting Phoenix Suns in July. Antetokounmpo, aka 'the Greek Freak', was named the series 'Most Valuable Player, making him only the fifth international winner. The 27-year-old scored a playoff career-high 50 points in the clinching game to soothe the Bucks' recent history of playoff letdowns.

Jacques Rogge dies

Jacques Rogge, the former president of the International Olympic Committee, died on Aug 29. The Belgian was 79. He will be remembered for his term as IOC president as having firmly imposed his 'Mr Normal' image on the movement. Unassuming and humble, he left the role as the most powerful man in sport in 2013 having restored luster and honor to the image of the IOC and in strong financial health. He presided over the Summer Olympics in Athens (2004), Beijing (2008) and London (2012), and Winter Games in Salt Lake City (2002), Turin (2006) and Vancouver (2010).

'Unprecedented' Olympics

The Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games were successfully staged in Japan in July and August following their one-year postponement due to the pandemic. International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach declared the Tokyo Games "unprecedented" and the "most challenging Olympic journey". Over the course of the 16-day sports extravaganza, 339 medal events were staged across 33 sports, with skateboarding, surfing, sport climbing and karate making their debuts. A total of 94 countries and regions made it to the podium in Tokyo, more than at any other Games.

Tampa Tom supreme

Tom Brady cemented his status as the NFL's greatest quarterback by extending his record for Super Bowl wins to seven. At the age of 43, Brady produced a near-flawless display to lead the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a 31-9 win over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV in February. The Bucs, who Brady joined from the New England Patriots in the offseason, won their second Super Bowl and became the first team to claim the title in their home stadium. Brady won his other six Super Bowl rings with the Patriots－in 2002, 2004, 2005, 2015, 2017 and 2019.

Golden guy Dressel

In Tokyo, Caeleb Dressel made himself known far beyond the swimming community, finishing with a historic five gold-medal haul, the most golds of any athlete competing at the Olympic Games across all sports. In fact, with his performances, he joined Mark Spitz, Matt Biondi and Michael Phelps as the only swimmers to ever win five gold medals in a single edition of the Olympics. With his performances in Tokyo, Dressel brought his career Olympic medal tally to seven golds, adding to the two relay titles he won at Rio 2016.

Warholm wows

Karsten Warholm of Norway smashed his own world record on his way to winning the gold medal in the men's 400-meter hurdles in a stunning 45.94 seconds at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. The two-time world champion broke his own previous world record of 46.70 in what is now widely regarded as one of the best races in athletics history. Warholm's time of 46.70, clocked at a Diamond League meet in Oslo in July, broke the 29-year-old world record held by American Kevin Young since the Barcelona Olympics.

Fantastic F1

In a climax befitting one of the most dramatic and enthralling seasons in Formula 1 history, Red Bull's Max Verstappen won the 2021 F1 world championship after passing Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton for the lead on the last lap of a scarcely believable Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in December. Britain's Hamilton had been on course to surpass Michael Schumacher's record of seven world titles until Nicholas Latifi's crash with five laps remaining brought out the safety car for a cleanup and the race resumed with one lap remaining. Hamilton and Verstappen started side-by-side for one final trip around Yas Marina Circuit and Red Bull's Dutch driver seized his chance. The thrilling finale was the first time the title contenders were equal at the last race since 1974.