Football is a sport meant for joy, a rush of adrenaline, shared celebrations, a game that brings people together. But moments in this sport at an instant can turn heavy, cruel and deeply depressing in an instant. From missed penalties to last minute collapses, here are some of those moments that left players, clubs and entire football world in shock: Baggio Vs Brazil in 1994 World Cup final After carrying Italy to the final, Roberto Baggio missed the penalty that could have proved decisive in the final against Brazil. His miss became the defining moment of the match leading Brazil to the World Cup 1994 glory win. He was later interviewed at the age of 60 and said that miss still haunts him to this day. Brahim Diaz’s last-minute penalty miss Vs Senegal A controversial late penalty was awarded to Morocco, with Brahim Díaz stepping up against Senegal. Had it been converted, it would have delivered Morocco their first AFCON crown in half a century. Instead, his attempted Panenka was saved by the Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, and the Teranga Lions went on to win in extra time. The miss extended Morocco’s wait for another continental title. Brazil demolition Vs Germany, 2014 World Cup World Cup 2014 hosts Brazil faced Germany in a semi-final they still find it hard to forget. This match took a turn for the worse for the hosts conceding five goals in the first 29 minutes in Germany’s 7-1 victory. Humiliated in front of their home fans, this became arguably the biggest humiliation in Brazil’s football history. The infamous Steven Gerrard slip In 2014, Liverpool aced Chelsea in a crucial match for key points. Captain Steven Gerrard slipped, allowing the opening goal scored by Demba Ba as Jose Mourinho’s side won the crucial duel 2-0. This marked the turning point in the Kop’s season causing them to drop from the title charge and failing to win the Premier league at the expense of Manchester City. Loris Karius blunders Vs Real Madrid, UCL final 2018 Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius faced widespread criticism after making two crucial mistakes that led to their defeat 3-1 to Real Madrid. Till now, the loss stands out as one of the biggest European heartbreaks. The Tragedy of Chapecoense (2016) While most heartbreak happens on the pitch, the true tragedies happen off it. The plane crash carrying the Brazilian team Chapecoense to the Copa Sudamericana final is undoubtedly the darkest day in modern football. 71 people lost their lives. A fairytale run to a continental final ended in unimaginable horror. The football world united in grief, reminding us that while winning is important, life is precious. It remains the most devastating moment the sport has ever seen.
