Messi and LeBron's records, Man City finally win the Champions League. How we will remember 2023

The year 2023 is drawing to a close, bidding farewell as it enters the annals of history. It has been a year brimming with vibrant sporting moments, encapsulating several truly historic events. Dailysports sought to recollect the foremost among them in this piece.

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Novak Djokovic claimed the record for the most victories in Grand Slam tournaments

The Serbian tennis maestro, Novak Djokovic, continues to perform at the pinnacle of his craft, despite his mature age. In May, Djokovic turned 36 and has already etched numerous records. However, arguably, his paramount achievement in his career was attained this year.

In January, Djokovic triumphed at the Australian Open, equalling Rafael Nadal's tally of Grand Slam victories. Within a few months, on the clay courts in France, he emerged as the sole leader. Following this, Novak secured another triumph at the US Open, elevating his Grand Slam victories to 24. It seems unlikely that anyone in the near future will come close to this record. Djokovic rightfully earns the acclaim as the paramount tennis player of his era, notwithstanding the presence of formidable opponents such as Nadal and Federer. The Serbian stalwart has substantiated his prowess on the court.

Guardiola finally clinched the UEFA Champions League with Manchester City

Since 2016, Pep Guardiola has been at the helm of Manchester City and despite their dominance domestically, he had long been unable to boast a victory in Europe's most prestigious club tournament. The team often reached the decisive stages of the tournament but only managed to make it to the final once, where they frustratingly fell to Chelsea.

In the previous season, everything finally aligned. The "Cityzens" confidently won their group, facing opponents like Borussia Dortmund, Sevilla, and Copenhagen, and then demonstrated resilience in the knockout stages. In the Round of 16, Guardiola's proteges effortlessly brushed aside a resilient Leipzig side (8-1 on aggregate), then convincingly defeated another German club, Bayern Munich. In the semifinals, Manchester City left no chance for Real Madrid and in the final clash, thanks to Rodri's goal, narrowly defeated Inter.

This UEFA Champions League triumph marked the third in the legendary Pep's coaching career, and recently, the Spaniard led his team to their maiden FIFA Club World Cup victory. Who knows if his Manchester City will replicate something similar in the near future?

Messi extended his own record for the number of Ballon d'Or awards

One could endlessly debate how many of the eight Ballon d'Or awards Messi truly deserved, yet the fact remains steadfast. Messi has reigned atop the football Olympus for 15-17 years, facing competition only from Cristiano Ronaldo. The stars have aged and transitioned from Europe to exotic football landscapes.

Both players will likely continue scoring in secondary leagues, undoubtedly extending their careers on the football pitch for several more years. However, it can confidently be asserted that the era of the great Messi and Ronaldo has drawn to a close. Diverse opinions can be expressed, and prolonged debates about who among them is the best can persist. Each holds their viewpoint, but judging by the number of Ballon d'Or awards, the scales tip in favor of the Argentine, who led his national team to victory in the World Cup, a pivotal factor in the voting. In summary, it can be confidently stated that hardly anyone will come close to such achievements in terms of victories in this category.

LeBron James became the highest scorer in the history of NBA regular seasons

LeBron James has been among the NBA's elite for many years, with numerous experts considering him the greatest in the history of this sport.

In a few days, LeBron will turn 39, and he continues to set records and achieve personal milestones. Throughout his career, James has played for only three teams: he spent 11 years with Cleveland, 4 years with Miami, and since 2018, has been a player for the Lakers. King James is a four-time champion and the Finals MVP, holding a plethora of team and individual accolades.

He has long been the most prolific player in the playoffs, with his lead over Michael Jordan (who holds the second position) extending to over two thousand points. This year, LeBron attained a similar record but in regular-season matches. On February 7, the Lakers' leader surpassed the legendary Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who held 38,387 points, a record that stood for 34 years.

At present, James leads the Milwaukee and Lakers legend by a thousand points and shows no hurry to conclude his career. There are suspicions that LeBron's new record will endure for a very long time.

A football Super League was launched in Africa

While a serious struggle between UEFA and the European Super League continues in Europe, which has yet to commence (and it's uncertain whether it will at all), a similar tournament has already been launched in Africa. Incidentally, the initiation of this new tournament was catalyzed by FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

Initially launched as the African Super League on August 10, 2022, the tournament was supposed to feature twenty-four elite African clubs with a promotion and relegation system, but in the inaugural campaign, the number of teams was reduced to eight, and the competition was renamed the African Football League. It's noteworthy that this tournament will run concurrently with other international competitions under the auspices of CAF.

The introduction of this new tournament aims to generate substantial financial revenues, which, according to forecasts, will exceed 100 million dollars. The funds are planned to be utilized for the development and enhancement of stadiums, infrastructure, and the promotion of African football.

Moreover, the debut edition of the African Football League was won by Mamelodi Sundowns, representing South Africa. In the final, the team defeated the formidable Moroccan side Wydad. Egyptian side Al-Ahly, considered one of the continent's strongest teams, halted their campaign at the semifinal stage. Additionally, in the recently concluded FIFA Club World Cup, Al-Ahly secured the bronze medals.