Women’s football: England’s Lionesses
The image of Chloe Kelly running across the Wembley turf swinging her shirt above her head will go down in English football folklore. Kelly’s now legendary goal celebration came after she scored the extra-time winner in the Lionesses’s 2-1 victory over Germany in the Uefa Women’s Euro 2022 final. After winning their first major international trophy the England team will hope to be celebrating again at the 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup, which starts in July.
Men’s rugby union: France
Another team hoping for World Cup glory in 2023 will be France. In March Les Blues secured their first Six Nations grand slam since 2010 with victory over England. As host nation of the 2023 Rugby World Cup, the French could take some stopping.
Women’s tennis: Iga Świątek
Polish tennis star Iga Świątek, 21, has enjoyed a magnificent season. The world No.1 is now a three-time grand slam champion after winning the French Open for a second time and the US Open. This year she also won WTA titles in Doha, Indian Wells, Miami, Stuttgart, Rome and San Diego. Her remarkable 37-match winning streak came to an end after being beaten in the third round of Wimbledon by France’s Alize Cornet.
Formula 1: Max Verstappen
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen dominated the 2022 Formula 1 world championship and broke a number of records along the way. Now a two-time world champion, the 25-year-old had the most wins in a single season, 15, and accumalated a record number of points, 454, from the 22 races.
Women’s cricket: Australia
The Australian women’s cricket team are regarded as one of the best in world sport. In April they proved their quality with a comprehensive 71-run victory over England in the final of the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Snooker: Ronnie O’Sullivan
Ronnie O’Sullivan equalled Stephen Hendry’s record of seven world snooker championships with victory over Judd Trump in the Crucible final in Sheffield in May. Playing down his achievement of equalling the modern-day record tally, “The Rocket” said that Hendry is an “absolute legend of the game” and his seventh title “is just a number”. He added: “I do not get too caught up in that.”
Men’s football: Karim Benzema
Karim Benzema had had a great year – until the World Cup that is. Last season the French striker scored 44 goals in 46 games as Real Madrid lifted the La Liga, Uefa Champions League, Spanish Super Cup and Uefa Super Cup trophies. Then in October his personal achievements were also recognised as he was crowned the world’s best male footballer for the first time by being awarded the 2022 Ballon d’Or. His year ended on a low note, though, after being ruled out of the World Cup in Qatar through injury.
Women’s rugby: New Zealand’s Black Ferns
New Zealand players perform the haka following their victory over England in the women’s Rugby World Cup final in Auckland in November. The Black Ferns won their sixth World Cup with a 34-31 victory over the Red Roses at Eden Park.
Men’s cricket: England
Ben Stokes scored the winning run as England became the first men’s team in cricket history to hold both the 50-over and 20-over World Cups simultaneously. England won the ICC Twenty20 World Cup with a five-wicket victory over Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Men’s tennis: Novak Djokovic
For the most part, 2022 was a frustrating year for Novak Djokovic, with the Serbian tennis star excluded from two of the four grand slam events over his refusal to have a Covid jab. However, when he has been on court, his form has been superb. In 2022 Djokovic won Wimbledon, his 21st career grand slam title, as well as ATP events in Astana, Tel Aviv and Rome. In November he triumphed at the ATP Finals in Turin – the sixth time that Djokovic has won the year-ending title, and drawing level with Roger Federer’s record.
Wheelchair rugby league: England
With three tournaments – men’s, women’s and wheelchair – taking place concurrently, there were plenty of storylines from the Rugby League World Cup. But it was host nation England winning the wheelchair final that will long be remembered. Captain Tom Halliwell’s late try saw England beat France 28-24 to lift the trophy in Manchester.
Men’s football: Lionel Messi and Argentina
The sporting year concluded with the 2022 Fifa World Cup in Qatar – and a crowning moment for Lionel Messi. Playing in his last World Cup, Argentina’s brilliant captain finally lifted the trophy for his country after scoring two goals in an epic final against France. The 35-year-old was also awarded the golden ball for the best player in the tournament.
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