Best Sports Moments
The single greatest moments in sport — winning goals, walk-off home runs, photo-finishes, miracle comebacks, and the gestures of sportsmanship that outlasted the medal count.
A chronological documentary of 96 moments spanning 1936–2024 on Loreline.
last updated 2026-07-16
Eras
- Football — The greatest moments in football.
- Basketball — The greatest moments in basketball.
- Tennis — The greatest moments in tennis.
- Boxing — The greatest moments in boxing.
- Athletics — The greatest moments in athletics.
- Baseball — The greatest moments in baseball.
- American Football — The greatest moments in american football.
- Cricket — The greatest moments in cricket.
- Golf — The greatest moments in golf.
- Olympic Games — The greatest moments in olympic games.
- Motorsport — The greatest moments in motorsport.
- — Jesse Owens & Luz Long. August 1936. Berlin Olympics long jump. German Luz Long advises Jesse Owens to put a marker before the takeoff board. Owens makes the qualifying jump, then wins gold. The two walked arm-in-arm afterward in front of Hitler's box.
- — Shot Heard Round the World. October 3, 1951. Bobby Thomson hits a 9th-inning walk-off home run off Ralph Branca, winning the NL pennant for the Giants over the Dodgers. "The Giants win the pennant!" — Russ Hodges's call is the most replayed baseball broadcast ever.
- — Roger Bannister's Sub-4 Mile. May 6, 1954, Oxford. Roger Bannister breaks the 4-minute mile in 3:59.4 — long believed physiologically impossible. The finishing-tape photograph remains the most reproduced track-athletics image ever.
- — Ali Stands Over Liston. May 25, 1965, Lewiston, Maine. Cassius Clay (now Muhammad Ali) knocks down Sonny Liston in round 1 of their rematch. Stands over him, shouting "Get up and fight, sucker!" Neil Leifer's photograph is the most reproduced single sports image ever taken.
- — Bob Beamon’s Leap. October 18, 1968. Beamon long-jumps 8.90m in Mexico City — beating the world record by 55cm, a mark that stood for 23 years.
- — Le Mans 1969 — Closest Finish. June 15, 1969. Jacky Ickx beats Hans Herrmann by 120 metres after 24 hours — the closest finish in Le Mans history.
- — Pelé's World Cup Final Header. June 21, 1970, Maracana. Pelé heads in Brazil's first goal against Italy en route to a 4-1 win. His celebratory leap into Jairzinho's arms defined how victorious moments would be photographed in football for 50 years.
- — Frazier-Ali I — Fight of the Century. March 8, 1971, Madison Square Garden. Joe Frazier vs Muhammad Ali. 15 rounds, both undefeated champions. Frazier knocks Ali down in the 15th. Highest-grossing boxing match ever to that date.
- — The Immaculate Reception. December 23, 1972. Franco Harris scoops a deflected pass inches off the turf and runs it in — the most famous play in NFL history.
- — Hank Aaron Passes Babe Ruth. April 8, 1974. Hank Aaron hits his 715th career home run, surpassing Babe Ruth's record. Two fans run onto the field to congratulate him as he rounds the bases. The journey to 715 was shadowed by years of racist hate mail.
- — Thrilla in Manila. October 1, 1975. Ali-Frazier III. 14 rounds in 100°F heat at the Araneta Coliseum. Frazier's trainer Eddie Futch stops the fight before round 15. Both fighters say it was the closest they'd come to death.
- — Magic vs Bird — 1979 NCAA Final. March 26, 1979. Magic’s Michigan State beats Bird’s Indiana State — the most-watched college game ever and the start of the rivalry that revived the NBA.
- — Miracle on Ice. February 22, 1980. US college-age hockey team beats USSR 4-3 at Lake Placid Olympics. "Do you believe in miracles? YES!" — Al Michaels's call is the most-quoted line in American sports broadcasting.
- — USA Hockey 1980 — Buzzer. Final 30 seconds of the Miracle on Ice. "Do you believe in miracles? YES!" The build-up to the buzzer is one of the most-rewatched 30 seconds of sports footage anywhere.
- — Borg vs McEnroe — Wimbledon Tiebreak. July 5, 1980. Wimbledon final. Bjorn Borg vs John McEnroe. Fourth-set tiebreak — 18-16 to McEnroe. Borg recovers to win the match in the fifth. Most-watched tennis match of its era; defined modern tennis rivalry.
- — Botham’s Ashes — Headingley 1981. July 21, 1981. Ian Botham’s counter-attacking 149 not out hauls England back from the follow-on to win a Test no one thought possible.
- — The Catch — Montana to Clark. January 10, 1982. Joe Montana lofts it to Dwight Clark in the back of the end zone — launching the 49ers dynasty.
- — Nicklaus Wins the 1986 Masters. April 13, 1986. At 46, Jack Nicklaus charges through the back nine to win his sixth green jacket — the oldest Masters champion.
- — Miandad’s Last-Ball Six. April 18, 1986. Javed Miandad hits the final ball for six to beat India in Sharjah — the shot that defined a generation of the rivalry.
- — Maradona — Hand of God. June 22, 1986, Mexico City. Argentina vs England, World Cup quarter-final. Maradona punches the ball into the net with his fist. Six minutes later he scores the Goal of the Century. Both goals from the same game.
- — Maradona — Goal of the Century. June 22, 1986. Six minutes after the Hand of God, Maradona dribbles past 5 English defenders + the goalkeeper from his own half. Voted Goal of the Century in FIFA's 2002 poll. 10.6 seconds, 60 yards.
- — Leonard Outpoints Hagler. April 6, 1987. Sugar Ray Leonard returns from retirement and edges Marvelous Marvin Hagler in a split decision still argued today.
- — All Blacks Win First Rugby World Cup. June 20, 1987, Auckland. New Zealand beat France 29-9 to win the inaugural Rugby World Cup. Defining moment of Pacific rugby; the haka becomes the defining pre-match ritual of world rugby.
- — Mansell’s Pass on Piquet — Silverstone. July 12, 1987. Mansell’s dummy and pass on Piquet at Stowe sends the British crowd into delirium — then he runs out of fuel on the slow-down lap.
- — Flo-Jo’s 100m World Record. July 16, 1988. Florence Griffith-Joyner runs 10.49 — a women’s 100m world record that still stands decades later.
- — Jordan — The Shot Over Ehlo. May 7, 1989. Jordan rises over Craig Ehlo at the buzzer to win Game 5 and end the Cavaliers’ season — the celebration fist-pump frozen in NBA memory.
- — Buster Douglas Beats Tyson. February 11, 1990, Tokyo. James "Buster" Douglas knocks out Mike Tyson — undefeated, 37-0, the most feared man on Earth. 42-to-1 underdog. The most consequential single boxing upset of the 20th century.
- — Senna vs Prost — Suzuka 1990. October 21, 1990. Senna and Prost collide at turn one of Suzuka, settling the title — the climax of Formula 1’s fiercest rivalry.
- — Mansell vs Senna — Monaco 1992. May 31, 1992. Senna holds off a far-faster Mansell over the closing laps at Monaco — defensive driving as an art form.
- — Derek Redmond and His Father. August 3, 1992, Barcelona. Derek Redmond tears his hamstring in the 400m semi-final. His father Jim climbs out of the stands and helps him finish the race. The most replayed sportsmanship moment in Olympic history.
- — Kerri Strug Vault on One Ankle. July 23, 1996, Atlanta Olympics. Kerri Strug sticks the vault landing on a severely sprained ankle — securing US women's team gymnastics gold. Bela Karolyi carries her to the medal ceremony.
- — Tyson Bites Holyfield’s Ear. June 28, 1997. Mike Tyson bites a chunk from Evander Holyfield’s ear and is disqualified — one of boxing’s most infamous nights.
- — Jordan’s Last Shot — 1998 Finals. June 14, 1998. Jordan crosses up Bryon Russell and sinks the jumper to win his sixth title — the perfect final shot of his Bulls career.
- — McGwire & Sosa Chase Maris. September 8, 1998. Mark McGwire breaks Roger Maris's 1961 single-season home run record (61). Sammy Sosa runs the friendliest pursuit. The two's hug at the moment of McGwire's 62nd defined the summer.
- — USA Win the Women's World Cup. July 10, 1999. Brandi Chastain scores the winning penalty vs China in the FIFA Women's World Cup final at the Rose Bowl. 90,000 in attendance. Chastain's shirtless celebration is the defining image of women's soccer's breakthrough.
- — Serena Williams Wins First Slam. September 11, 1999, US Open. 17-year-old Serena Williams beats Martina Hingis for her first Grand Slam title. The Williams sisters era begins. By 2024: 23 majors.
- — Music City Miracle. January 8, 2000. The Titans’ lateral kickoff return on the final play stuns Buffalo — forever debated as a forward pass.
- — Häkkinen Passes Schumacher at Spa. August 27, 2000. Häkkinen splits Schumacher and a lapped Zonta at 200mph through Spa — one of the greatest overtakes ever.
- — Beckham's 93rd-Minute Free Kick vs Greece. October 6, 2001, Old Trafford. David Beckham's injury-time free kick equalises 2-2 vs Greece, sending England to the 2002 World Cup. Voted the greatest free kick in English football history.
- — Mickelson’s First Major. April 11, 2004. Phil Mickelson rolls in an 18-footer on the last and leaps — finally a major champion after years of near-misses.
- — Sharapova Beats Serena at 17. July 3, 2004. 17-year-old Maria Sharapova beats defending champion Serena Williams in the Wimbledon final. Youngest Wimbledon champion in 17 years. Launched a 15-year career arc.
- — Red Sox Break the Curse. October 27, 2004. Boston wins the World Series — first time in 86 years. Pitcher Keith Foulke's underhand toss to Doug Mientkiewicz at first base. Generations-long Boston catharsis in three pitches.
- — Tiger’s Chip on 16 — 2005 Masters. April 10, 2005. Tiger’s chip on the 16th hangs on the lip — Nike logo facing the camera — then drops. He goes on to win.
- — Liverpool Win in Istanbul. May 25, 2005, Atatürk Stadium. Liverpool down 3-0 to AC Milan at half-time of the UEFA Champions League final. Score three in six minutes; win on penalties. The most extraordinary comeback in modern football.
- — Edgbaston 2005 — Two Runs. August 7, 2005. England win by two runs as Steve Harmison has Kasprowicz caught behind — the closest Ashes Test ever.
- — Kobe Bryant’s 81-Point Game. January 22, 2006. Kobe pours in 81 against Toronto — the second-highest single-game total in NBA history.
- — First World T20 Final — India v Pakistan. September 24, 2007. Misbah’s scoop finds Sreesanth and India win the inaugural World T20 by five runs in a final for the ages.
- — The Helmet Catch. February 3, 2008. David Tyree pins the ball to his helmet to keep the drive alive — the Giants end New England’s perfect season.
- — Tiger Wins on a Broken Leg. June 16, 2008. Tiger Woods sinks a birdie putt to force a playoff and wins the US Open on a fractured leg and torn ACL.
- — Federer vs Nadal — Wimbledon 2008. July 6, 2008. Considered by many the greatest tennis match ever played. Nadal wins 9-7 in the fifth, his first Wimbledon title. 4 hours 48 minutes, suspended twice for rain, ended in near-darkness.
- — Phelps 7th Gold — Lezak Anchor. August 11, 2008, Beijing. Jason Lezak's impossible anchor leg in the 4×100 freestyle relay. Touched out France by 0.08 seconds; preserved Michael Phelps's 8-gold run. Considered the greatest anchor leg in Olympic swimming history.
- — Usain Bolt — Beijing 100m Win. August 16, 2008. Bolt wins Beijing Olympic 100m in 9.69 — coasting the last 20 metres. The arms-out lightning-bolt pose became the most-copied sports celebration of the 21st century.
- — Hamilton’s Last-Corner Title — Brazil 2008. November 2, 2008. Hamilton passes Glock on the final corner of the final lap to win his first title by one point as Massa’s home crowd falls silent.
- — Messi Header — Champions League 2009. May 27, 2009, Rome. Manchester United vs Barcelona, UEFA Champions League final. Messi (the shortest player on the pitch) outjumps Edwin van der Sar to head Barcelona's second goal. Defining image of his early career.
- — Tom Watson Nearly Wins at 59. July 19, 2009. A 59-year-old Tom Watson stands on the 72nd hole one putt from the Claret Jug before an agonizing playoff loss — sport’s great near-miss.
- — Usain Bolt — 9.58. August 16, 2009, Berlin World Championships. Bolt runs the 100m in 9.58 — the world record that still stands. The most-replayed athletics race of the 21st century.
- — Iniesta Scores Spain's World Cup Goal. July 11, 2010, Johannesburg. Andrés Iniesta scores in extra time of the World Cup final vs Netherlands. Spain wins their first World Cup. Iniesta's shirt: "Dani Jarque, siempre con nosotros."
- — Marshawn Lynch — Beast Quake. January 8, 2011. Marshawn Lynch breaks nine tackles on a 67-yard touchdown so loud it registered on a nearby seismometer.
- — India Wins Cricket World Cup. April 2, 2011. India beats Sri Lanka by 6 wickets in the World Cup final. MS Dhoni's six-into-the-stands six closes it. Sachin Tendulkar — playing his sixth WC — carried on teammates' shoulders.
- — Aguero 93:20. May 13, 2012. Sergio Agüero scores in the 93rd minute and 20th second of the final Premier League game to win Manchester City the title. "AGUEROOOOOOOOO!" — Martin Tyler's call is the most-quoted Premier League broadcasting moment.
- — Mo Farah’s Super Saturday Double. August 4, 2012. On London 2012’s “Super Saturday,” Mo Farah wins 10,000m gold to a deafening home roar — the first of his distance double.
- — Lin Dan vs Lee Chong Wei — Olympic Final. August 5, 2012, London. Lin Dan beats Lee Chong Wei for Olympic badminton gold. Most replayed badminton match in YouTube history; defined modern racket-sports rivalry.
- — Miracle at Medinah. September 30, 2012. Europe rallies from 10-6 down on the final day to win the Ryder Cup — the greatest comeback in the event’s history.
- — Babe Ruth's Called Shot. October 1, 1932. Babe Ruth points to centerfield at Wrigley, then homers there in the 5th inning of World Series Game 3. The most-disputed homer in baseball history — but the most retold.
- — Ray Allen’s Game 6 Three. June 18, 2013. With the Heat seconds from elimination, Ray Allen back-pedals to the corner and ties Game 6 — Miami goes on to repeat.
- — Mayweather vs Pacquiao. May 2, 2015. The richest fight in boxing history — Floyd Mayweather’s defensive mastery outpoints Manny Pacquiao over twelve rounds.
- — Leicester Win Premier League. May 2, 2016. Leicester City — 5,000-to-1 outsiders at the start — clinch the Premier League. The Riyad Mahrez–Jamie Vardy lawn-party photographs. The most improbable league title in football history.
- — Verstappen’s First Win at 18. May 15, 2016. On his Red Bull debut, an 18-year-old Max Verstappen becomes the youngest race winner in Formula 1 history.
- — LeBron Brings Cleveland a Title. June 19, 2016. Cavaliers beat Warriors 4-3 to win the NBA Finals — first major Cleveland title in 52 years. LeBron's chase-down block on Iguodala in Game 7 is the most-replayed Finals play of the modern era.
- — Phelps Death Stare at Le Clos. August 8, 2016. Rio. Michael Phelps in the ready room before the 200m butterfly final — Chad le Clos shadow-boxing in front of him. Phelps stares him down. Becomes a meme; Phelps wins the gold.
- — Cubs Win the World Series. November 2, 2016. Chicago Cubs win the World Series — first time in 108 years. Game 7, 10 innings, rain delay. Five-million-person victory parade in Chicago.
- — 28-3 — Patriots’ Super Bowl LI Comeback. February 5, 2017. New England erases a 28-3 deficit and wins the only Super Bowl ever to reach overtime.
- — Pakistan Wins Champions Trophy. June 18, 2017. Pakistan beats India by 180 runs in the ICC Champions Trophy final. The Lahore-street-celebration photographs defined Pakistani sporting joy of the late 2010s.
- — Rumble in the Jungle — Ali Beats Foreman. October 30, 1974, Kinshasa. Ali defeats George Foreman with the rope-a-dope strategy — round 8 knockout. The single most-mythologised boxing match in history.
- — Minneapolis Miracle. January 14, 2018. Stefon Diggs catches and runs untouched as time expires — sending the Vikings to the NFC Championship.
- — Philly Special — Super Bowl LII. February 4, 2018. Eagles run "Philly Special" in Super Bowl LII vs Patriots. Trick play, TD to backup QB Nick Foles. First Eagles Super Bowl ever. Doug Pederson's call became the most-discussed coaching decision in modern NFL history.
- — Jordan — The Flu Game. June 11, 1997, NBA Finals Game 5. Michael Jordan scores 38 points with severe food poisoning. End-of-game collapse into Scottie Pippen's arms is the most-replayed teammate-support moment in NBA history.
- — Naomi Osaka Beats Serena. September 8, 2018. 20-year-old Naomi Osaka beats Serena Williams in the US Open final amid a chair-umpire controversy. Osaka apologises while accepting the trophy. The reluctant champion who became Japan's biggest sports star.
- — Watson’s Chip at Pebble Beach. June 20, 1982. Tom Watson holes a near-impossible chip on the 17th to beat Nicklaus and win the US Open.
- — Tiger Woods Wins the Masters. April 14, 2019. Tiger Woods wins his 5th Masters and 15th major — 11 years after his last. The hug with his children behind the 18th green became the most-shared Masters photograph in history.
- — Liverpool 4 Barcelona 0. May 7, 2019, Anfield. Liverpool overturn a 3-0 first-leg deficit vs Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final. Origi corner-routine goal; "It's a corner..." Goes on to win Champions League final.
- — Kawhi’s Bouncing Buzzer-Beater. May 12, 2019. Kawhi Leonard’s corner shot bounces on the rim four times before falling — the first Game 7 buzzer-beater to win a series in NBA history.
- — Coco Gauff Beats Venus at 15. July 1, 2019. 15-year-old Coco Gauff beats Venus Williams (her idol) in the first round of Wimbledon. The post-match hug at the net and Coco's tears in her press conference: the launch of a generation's tennis star.
- — USA Women Win 4th World Cup. July 7, 2019. US Women beat Netherlands 2-0 in the FIFA Women's World Cup final. The Megan Rapinoe arms-out celebration became the visual symbol of women's soccer's breakthrough into mainstream global culture.
- — 2019 World Cup — Super Over. July 14, 2019. England win their first World Cup on boundary count after the final and the super over are both tied — the most dramatic ODI ever.
- — Stokes’ Headingley Miracle. August 25, 2019. Ben Stokes’ unbeaten 135 steals a one-wicket Ashes win with the last pair at the crease.
- — Springboks Win RWC 2019. November 2, 2019, Yokohama. South Africa beat England 32-12 to win their 3rd Rugby World Cup. Siya Kolisi — the first Black Springbok captain — lifts the trophy 25 years after apartheid ended.
- — Simone Biles — Bronze on Beam. August 3, 2021, Tokyo. Biles withdraws from team competition for mental health; returns to win bronze on beam. The smile at the medal ceremony — a different kind of victory.
- — Verstappen Wins Abu Dhabi. December 12, 2021. Max Verstappen passes Lewis Hamilton on the final lap of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to win his first Formula 1 World Championship. The most controversial F1 finish in 50 years.
- — Nadal Wins from Two Sets Down. January 30, 2022. Rafael Nadal comes back from two sets down to beat Daniil Medvedev in the Australian Open final — winning his record 21st Grand Slam. 5 hours 24 minutes.
- — Jackie Robinson Steps Onto Ebbets Field. April 15, 1947. Jackie Robinson takes the field as the first Black player in modern MLB. The Brooklyn Dodgers Opening Day photograph is a permanent fixture in every American civil-rights exhibit.
- — Messi Lifts the World Cup. December 18, 2022. Argentina beats France in penalties after the highest-scoring final ever. Messi raises the trophy at the seventh attempt. Most-liked Instagram post in history (75M).
- — Argentina vs France — 2022 Final. December 18, 2022. The highest-scoring World Cup final ever. Argentina 3-3 France, Argentina 4-2 on penalties. Mbappé hat-trick + Messi's coronation. The greatest single 90 minutes in World Cup history.
- — Coco Gauff Wins US Open. September 9, 2023. 19-year-old Coco Gauff beats Aryna Sabalenka to win her first Grand Slam — the US Open. The "thank you to the doubters" speech became the speech of the 2023 tennis season.
- — Curt Flood Refuses Trade. October 7, 1969. St Louis Cardinals trade Curt Flood to Philadelphia; Flood refuses, sparking the legal battle that ends baseball's reserve clause in 1975. Cost him his career; reshaped player rights forever.
- — Simone Biles — Paris Comeback. July-August 2024, Paris. Biles wins three golds and a silver — making her the most decorated American gymnast ever (11 Olympic medals). The redemption arc the world watched.
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