2022 has delivered some sensational football memories and 365Scores analyses two teams which stood out this past calendar year.
This will go down in history as the year in which Real Madrid conquered Europe for a record 14th time as well as the year Argentina celebrated its third world title and first since 1986.
But which team had a better year?
– Real Madrid
Real Madrid were the superior club in world football in 2022. Los Blancos began the year as they meant to go on, winning the Supercopa de España (Spanish Super Cup) as early as mid-January for what would be their first of four trophies in the span of eight months.
With arch rivals Barcelona undergoing a transitional period, Real had all the tools to present a firm title challenge following the return of manager Carlo Ancelotti. The senior Italian coach left his role at the Santiago Bernabeu in 2015, after guiding the club to ‘La Decima‘ the year prior, and reclaimed the reigns in summer 2021.
The second coming of Ancelotti got off to a promising start. In November, Real were 10 points clear of Barca and by January the only other worthwhile title challenger was Sevilla, who would soon fall away.
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With five league matches remaining Real wrapped up a record 35th title in the Spanish top flight, ending 13 points above Barcelona. Ancelotti, thus, became the first manager in history to conquer all of Europe’s top five leagues in England, France, Germany, Italy and Spain.
The odds were stacked against Real also emerging victorious in Europe and their route to the final was substantially tough. Los Blancos encountered each of Paris St-Germain, Chelsea and Manchester City before they overcame Liverpool in the final, to seize a record 14th title in the Champions League / European Cup.
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A small chunk of Real players – i.e. Karim Benzema, Luka Modrić and Dani Carvajal – are now five-time winners of the Champions League, while Ancelotti is a four-time winning manager of Europe’s top prize.
The UCL winners met the Europa League holders Eintracht Frankfurt in the UEFA Super Cup in August as the men from Madrid ran out 2-0 winners in Helsinki.
This topped off a four-trophy haul in 2022, an astonishing achievement for the mighty Real Madrid.
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Real played a total 52 [competitive] matches in 2022, ranging across five competitions (LaLiga, Copa del Rey, Supercopa de España, Champions League, and UEFA Super Cup). The Spanish giants won 36 of those, losing nine and drawing seven. They scored a total 114 goals (2,2 goals per game) and conceded 51 times – almost a goal per game.
Karim Benzema scored a total 44 goals in 46 matches for Real in the 2021/22 season, including 27 strikes in LaLiga and 15 in the Champions League – the most by any player in either competition. The striker’s contributions steered the Madrid club to a league-European double for only the second time in 64 years.
Benzema, 35, was awarded the prestigious Ballon d’Or for his stellar efforts during the 2021/22 season, becoming the first French player to scoop the accolade since Zinedine Zidane in 1998.
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He was also on the receiving end of the UCL Player of the Season and UEFA Men’s Player of the Year awards earlier this year. 10 of his 15 goals in the Champions League came in the the three knockout rounds preceding the final.
At the Ballon d’Or ceremony in October, Thibaut Courtois was voted Best Goalkeeper and Luka Modric was named in the Team of the Year.
Real Madrid are set to contest their final match of 2022, and their first since the World Cup, as they travel to Real Valladolid on Friday. Los Blancos are 2 points adrift LaLiga leaders Barcelona.
(Photo: Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
– Argentina
Argentina were undoubtedly the best of the international teams as they ended 36 years of hurt by usurping the throne of world champions France.
It is evident the camaraderie amongst the entire set-up, players and staff alike. There seems an unbreakable bond within the Argentina camp and there was a real sense of togetherness about the 26-man squad selected by manager Lionel Scaloni for Qatar 2022.
Earlier this year, the Copa América holders beat European champions Italy in La Finalissima (CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions) to capture a second international trophy within 12 months of the first.
(Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Argentina arrived at Qatar 2022 on a 36-match unbeaten run, spanning three years without defeat under Scaloni. They also entered the World Cup as champions of South America for the first time since 1994.
La Albiceleste suffered a hiccup in their World Cup opener, as they were stunned by Saudi Arabia in what has been touted the greatest upset in World Cup history.
The South Americans rallied together and bounced back to become the second nation (after Spain) to lose their opening match of the tournament and go on to claim the throne of world champions.
(Photo: Tom Weller/Getty Images)
Argentina skipper Lionel Messi completed his illustrious collection of titles and he has now won every competition he has participated in. The 35-year-old told the media he would not retire from international football, suggesting that he had intentions to continue playing as a champion.
For the second time, Messi walked away with the Golden Ball having done so in Brazil 2014. This makes him the only player in history to be the best player at two separate World Cup tournaments.
He has also made more appearances at the quadrennial event than any other player, as well as the most direct goal involvements in World Cup history.
In what was the first World Cup event since the passing of Diego Maradona, Messi followed in the footsteps of his fellow countryman and raised aloft that spectacular golden trophy.
Messi now was 42 winner’s medals to his name, with ex-teammate Dani Alves the only man with more major honours than he.
Many thought the Argentine hero would have bowed out a champion, but early signs suggest he still has fuel left in the tank.
(Cover photo: @leomessi Instagram / UEFA via Getty Images)
I believe Real Madrid accomplishments were better than Argentine’s accomplishments. Yes, Messi was special in 2022 , but as a team , Real Madrid had an edge .