Top 10 Greatest Moments in Sports History

Over the years, there have been countless events that have captured the imagination of sports fans around the world. Some of these moments have defined careers, broken records, rewritten the rule books, and even changed the course of history. We're talking about the kind of moments that give us goosebumps, that we remember vividly, no matter how many years pass.

But what are the greatest of these moments? Everyone has their favorites, shaped by personal preferences, cultural background, and often by the sports they themselves follow or play. What makes a moment great? Is it the level of skill on display, the stakes of the game, or the drama of the situation? Is it the context, the buildup, the tension, or the payoff? Maybe it's a mix of all these elements, wrapped up in a package of raw, visceral emotion.

The Top Ten

  1. Diego Maradona scores "Hand of God" goal to knock England out of the 1986 FIFA World Cup

    During the 1986 World Cup quarter-final between England and Argentina, Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona scored a controversial goal that became known as the "Hand of God." Maradona punched the ball into the net with his left hand, and the referees allowed the goal to stand despite protests from the English players. Argentina went on to win the match 2-1 and later the World Cup.

  2. USA Hockey defeats Soviet Union in the 1980 Winter Olympics ("Miracle on Ice")

    In 1980, the United States Olympic hockey team, a young and largely amateur squad, achieved the seemingly impossible by defeating the veteran Soviet Union team, who were considered the best in the world at the time. In a match now famously referred to as the "Miracle on Ice," the U.S. team overcame the Soviets in a stunning 4-3 victory during the Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York, which catapulted them into the gold medal round and cemented one of the greatest upsets in sports history.

    Best sporting moment ever for sure, especially because it was going on during the Cold War.

    The best moment to ever happen in American sports, if not international sports, history!

    Easy choice given the world's political climate.

  3. Muhammad Ali defeats George Foreman ("Rumble in the Jungle", 1974)

    In a historic boxing match held on October 30, 1974, Muhammad Ali defeated George Foreman in Kinshasa, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo). This event, famously referred to as "The Rumble in the Jungle," saw Ali deploying his "rope-a-dope" strategy, which involved absorbing punishment from Foreman before launching a powerful counter-attack. This victory allowed Ali to reclaim the heavyweight championship title he had lost seven years prior.

    Muhammad Ali was past his prime. Everybody knew that, and he had already been beaten by Joe Frazier. People thought his boxing career was over. But George Foreman was a beast. He was huge and could knock people out faster than Mike Tyson. He had whooped Joe Frazier and Ken Norton, two of the best boxers ever.

    But Ali had a plan. He knew if he stood his ground, Foreman would get tired. And holy crap, did he ever. There's a clip of Foreman shooting out four punches a second, Ali on the ropes one foot away from him. Ali was dodging every punch. Near the end of the 8th round, Foreman was off balance. Ali took the chance and sprang off the ropes, punching Foreman on the head rapidly. Finally, with a hard punch to the jaw, Foreman was down for the first time in his life. The greatest moment in sports history.

  4. Michael Jordan hits "The Shot" vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (1989)

    In Game 5 of the 1989 NBA Eastern Conference First Round, Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls made a memorable buzzer-beating jump shot over Craig Ehlo of the Cleveland Cavaliers to secure a 101-100 victory for the Bulls. Known simply as "The Shot," this moment is considered one of the greatest in Jordan's career and is emblematic of his clutch performance under pressure.

  5. South Sydney Rabbitohs break 43-year Premiership drought (2014)

    In the 2014 National Rugby League Grand Final, the South Sydney Rabbitohs ended their 43-year Premiership drought with a victory over the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. The Rabbitohs won the game 30-6, marking their twenty-first Premiership win and reinforcing their status as one of the most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history.

  6. Jesse Owens debunks Aryan myth at the 1936 Olympics

    At the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, American track and field athlete Jesse Owens debunked Adolf Hitler's "Aryan superiority" myth by winning four gold medals in front of a predominantly German crowd. Owens' victories in the 100m, 200m, long jump, and 4x100m relay events made him the most successful athlete of the Games and sent a powerful message against racial discrimination during a time of escalating racial tensions and impending global conflict.

  7. Chicago Cubs overcome 3-1 deficit to win 2016 World Series, ending 108-year drought

    In 2016, the Chicago Cubs made history by overcoming a 3-1 deficit in the World Series against the Cleveland Indians. This achievement marked the end of a 108-year championship drought, the longest in the history of Major League Baseball. The victory was clinched in an intense Game 7, which went into extra innings and was briefly delayed by rain, adding to the drama of the Cubs' triumph.

    One of the greatest comebacks in MLB history.

  8. Dwight Clark makes "The Catch" in the 1982 NFC Championship Game

    In the 1982 NFC Championship Game, San Francisco 49ers receiver Dwight Clark made a historic catch that is simply referred to as "The Catch." He caught a six-yard pass from quarterback Joe Montana in the end zone, securing a 28-27 victory over the Dallas Cowboys and propelling the 49ers to their first Super Bowl appearance. The Catch has since been commemorated with a statue outside the 49ers' Levi's Stadium.

  9. Boston Red Sox overcome 3-0 deficit in 2004 ALCS to beat Yankees

    In the 2004 American League Championship Series, the Boston Red Sox made a historic comeback from a 3-0 deficit to beat their long-standing rivals, the New York Yankees. This marked the first time in Major League Baseball history that a team had overcome such a deficit in a seven-game series. The Red Sox went on to win the World Series, ending an 86-year championship drought famously referred to as "The Curse of the Bambino".

  10. Cleveland Cavaliers overcome 3-1 deficit to win 2016 NBA Finals, ending championship drought

    In 2016, the Cleveland Cavaliers made NBA history by overcoming a 3-1 series deficit in the NBA Finals to defeat the Golden State Warriors. Led by LeBron James, the Cavaliers' victory in Game 7 marked the first NBA championship in the franchise's history and ended a 52-year professional sports championship drought for the city of Cleveland.

    11. The Newcomers
  11. ?

    New England Patriots' 28-3 comeback to beat Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI

    In Super Bowl LI, the New England Patriots executed an unprecedented comeback, overcoming a 28-3 deficit against the Atlanta Falcons. The Patriots scored 25 unanswered points to force the game into overtime, which was the first overtime in Super Bowl history, and went on to win the championship 34-28, marking one of the greatest comebacks in NFL history.

  12. ?

    David Tyree makes helmet catch in Super Bowl XLII

    David Tyree produced one of the NFL's most iconic plays when he trapped the ball against his helmet during a desperate third-and-long in Super Bowl XLII. The 32-yard reception kept the New York Giants' final drive alive against the previously undefeated New England Patriots. Tyree's improbable catch helped set up the game winning touchdown and became an enduring symbol of clutch postseason play.

    13. The Contenders

  13. Roger Bannister breaks the four-minute mile barrier (1954)

    On May 6, 1954, British middle-distance runner Roger Bannister achieved the seemingly impossible by running a mile in under four minutes. His record-breaking time of 3:59.4 at the Iffley Road Track in Oxford, England, shattered the existing record and broke the psychological barrier that had long been associated with the four-minute mile.

    Definitely one of the most surprising events for the time. He didn't have the training of some other athletes due to the time he needed to devote to his medical studies.

  14. Bill Mazeroski hits walk-off home run in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series to defeat Yankees

    In the seventh game of the 1960 World Series, Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Bill Mazeroski hit a walk-off home run to secure a 10-9 victory over the New York Yankees. Mazeroski's historic hit remains the only Game 7 walk-off home run in World Series history, cementing the Pirates' unexpected triumph over the heavily favored Yankees.

  15. Leicester City wins the Premier League (2015-16)

    In the 2015-2016 season, Leicester City Football Club, once considered an underdog, defied all odds to clinch the English Premier League title. Their victory marked one of the biggest upsets in sports history, as they began the season with 5000-1 odds of winning. Leicester's incredible performance during the season under manager Claudio Ranieri is now remembered as a classic "Cinderella" story in professional football.

    Leicester wins the EPL, and it's only 11th on this list? This is exactly why the world perceives most Americans to have low IQ and be ignorant about the rest of the world.

    How isn't this higher? Proves that just a bunch of Americans are on here.

  16. Bobby Thomson hits "Shot Heard 'Round the World" (1951)

    In 1951, New York Giants outfielder Bobby Thomson hit a game-winning home run in the bottom of the ninth inning of a tie-breaking playoff game against the Brooklyn Dodgers. This home run, called the "Shot Heard 'Round the World," gave the Giants a dramatic 5-4 victory and the National League pennant in what is often considered one of the most memorable moments in baseball history.

  17. Game 6 of the 2011 World Series

    Game 6 of the 2011 World Series was a thrilling contest between the Texas Rangers and the St. Louis Cardinals. With the Rangers leading the series 3-2 and the game 7-5, the Cardinals were down to their final strike twice in the ninth and tenth innings but managed to tie the game both times. In the eleventh inning, Cardinals third baseman David Freese hit a walk-off home run to force a Game 7, which the Cardinals won to secure the championship.

  18. Australia defeats USA in 4x100m freestyle relay at the 2000 Olympics

    In a memorable race at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, the Australian men's 4x100m freestyle relay team defeated the heavily favored U.S. team, breaking the world record in the process. The victory, marked by the exuberant celebration of the Australian team, was a major upset and a highlight of the games for the host nation.

    After 36 years, Australia solidified their gold medal by setting a world record in the men's 4x100m freestyle relay during the Sydney Summer Olympics in 2000. Ian Thorpe had been trailing USA's Gary Hall, coming into the final 50 meters, but recovered and won against the USA, while setting a new world record of 3:13.67.

  19. Brazil wins Olympic gold in soccer on penalty kick from Neymar (2016)

    At the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, Brazil's national soccer team won its first Olympic gold medal in a thrilling final against Germany. After the match ended in a 1-1 draw in regular and extra time, it went to a penalty shootout. Brazilian star Neymar converted the decisive penalty kick, securing the gold medal and giving Brazil a significant victory on home soil.

  20. New York Giants stun New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII

    In Super Bowl XLII, the New York Giants stunned the previously undefeated New England Patriots with a 17-14 victory. This upset was highlighted by the "Helmet Catch" by Giants wide receiver David Tyree, which set up the game-winning touchdown. The Giants' victory prevented the Patriots from achieving the NFL's first perfect season since 1972.

  21. Derek Redmond finishes 400m race with help from his father (1992 Olympics)

    At the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, British sprinter Derek Redmond suffered an injury during the 400m semifinals. After tearing his hamstring midway through the race, Redmond continued to hobble toward the finish line. His father rushed from the stands to help him complete the race, resulting in one of the most poignant and memorable moments in Olympic history.

  22. Villanova wins 2016 NCAA Championship on 3-point buzzer beater

    The 2016 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Game saw Villanova University win the national title in dramatic fashion. With the game tied at 74 and just a few seconds remaining on the clock, Villanova's Kris Jenkins hit a three-point buzzer beater to defeat the University of North Carolina, giving Villanova its first national championship in 31 years.

    Never been so excited about sports in my life.

  23. Italy wins the 1938 FIFA World Cup

    In the 1938 FIFA World Cup hosted by France, the Italian national football team emerged victorious, defending their title won in 1934. In the final match, Italy defeated Hungary 4-2, becoming the first team to retain the World Cup. This victory was a significant achievement and asserted Italy's dominance in international football at the time.

    Before the World Cup, Mussolini told the Italian soccer team this: "WIN OR DIE." Uruguay and Italy were up against each other in the finals, and Italy won 4-2. Eleven lives were saved just from a soccer game.

    If a team got a death threat from one of the worst people ever and yet they found a way to win, this is truly the greatest moment in sports history.

  24. Hank Aaron breaks Babe Ruth's home run record

    On April 8, 1974, Hank Aaron of the Atlanta Braves hit his 715th career home run, breaking Babe Ruth's long-standing record of 714. Aaron's historic achievement came in the fourth inning off Los Angeles Dodgers' pitcher Al Downing. The monumental home run marked a major milestone in baseball history, solidifying Aaron's place among the game's greatest players.

  25. Miracle Mets win the 1969 World Series

    The 1969 New York Mets, often referred to as the Miracle Mets, won the World Series in a remarkable upset. Despite starting the season as 100-1 long shots and having never finished better than second-to-last in their seven-year history, the Mets won 100 regular season games and defeated the heavily favored Baltimore Orioles in the World Series, completing one of the most improbable championship runs in baseball history.

  26. Jackie Robinson breaks the MLB color barrier (1947)

    In 1947, Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball when he started at first base for the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15. Robinson's MLB debut marked the end of racial segregation in professional baseball that had relegated black players to the Negro leagues since the 1880s. His career paved the way for other black athletes and is celebrated annually in MLB with Jackie Robinson Day.

    It made the world understand that it does not matter what color you are, but just how well you play.

  27. New South Wales breaks eight-year State of Origin drought (2014)

    In the 2014 State of Origin series, New South Wales rugby league team ended their eight-year losing streak against Queensland. After winning the first two games of the three-match series, NSW secured their first series victory since 2005, breaking one of the longest droughts in the history of the State of Origin competition.

    After eight years of Queensland domination, New South Wales finally broke the drought by winning the State of Origin series 2-1 in 2014.

    The first two games were dominated by New South Wales, with victories of 12-8 and 6-4, respectively. Queensland later won the final game at home, 32-8, but the shield had already been transported south to New South Wales.

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