Lionesses reaching World Cup final crowned most memorable sporting moment of 2023

It trumped Man City's treble, Frankie Dettori's winning final run and Ronnie O’Sullivan's UK Championship victory

Despite a heartbreaking 1-0 defeat to Spain, a poll of 2,000 sports fans voted the performance of the England women’s team in Australia as their most unforgettable event of the year.

It was some distance ahead of Man City’s men completing a historic treble by winning the FA Cup, Premier League, and Champions League – which came second.

Third spot went to Carlos Alcaraz’s shock win over Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon men's final, with England’s men’s Rugby World Cup narrow semi-final loss to South Africa coming fourth.

It also emerged 33 per cent think 2023 was a better year for sport than 2022 – a year which saw Argentina win the men’s World Cup and the Lionesses win the Euros.

Sharon McHugh, spokesperson for betting company BoyleSports, which commissioned the research, said: “The Lionesses' quest for glory rightfully stands out as a key moment.

“They may not have clinched the trophy, but their performances throughout the tournament were first class.

“The women’s game continues to grow in popularity and will surely get even bigger next year.”

Ronnie O'Sullivan book-ends the UK Championship

Other notable moments according to those polled include Ronnie O’Sullivan becoming the oldest winner of the snooker UK Championship - to add to already being the youngest.

And Mary Earps’ expletive-filled reaction to her penalty save in the World Cup finals – as a side note the goalkeeper was also voted sportsperson of the year by respondents.

Wrexham getting their Hollywood ending by winning the National League to secure promotion to League Two was popular too.

As was England’s Jonny Bairstow’s controversial stumping during the second Ashes Test at Lord’s by Australia’s Alex Carey.

While LeBron James becoming the NBA’s all-time highest scorer and Frankie Dettori's winning the Champion Stakes in his final run at Ascot both received plenty of votes.

The study found those polled watched a total 248 hours of sport on TV during 2023 and attended an average of five live events in person.

With 40 per cent placing bets on the outcome of one or more sporting occasions over the same period.

This finding may be a contributing factor as to why 77 per cent said unpredictability is one of the things they most like about sport.

All eyes on 2024

And they’re not afraid to make a call as to what sort of year 2024 will be like –the research carried out via OnePoll found 32 per cent are convinced it will be even better than 2023.

Euro 2024, which will feature both England and Scotland, is the event those polled are most excited about, followed by the summer Olympics, and the rugby Six Nations.

Sharon McHugh, spokesperson for BoyleSports added: “2023 has been an exciting year – full of sporting triumphs, shocks, and drama.

“As we reflect on the past year, we eagerly look forward to what surprises 2024 has in store for us and we’ve even started betting on it.

”It’s 7/2 England will win Euro 2024, 4/1 we’ll see The Rocket win his eighth World Snooker title, and 33/1 that Great Britain will top the medals table at the 2024 Olympics.”

Top 25 most memorable sporting moments of 2023

1. The Lionesses reaching the final of the women’s football World Cup.
2. Manchester City FC's men's team completing a historic treble (winning the FA Cup, Premier League, and Champions League).
3. Carlos Alcaraz’s shock win over Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon men's final.
4. England losing the Rugby World Cup semi-final to South Africa by one point.
5. Ronnie O’Sullivan becoming the oldest winner of the snooker UK Championship - to add to already being the youngest.
6. Frankie Dettori's winning the Champion Stakes in his final run at Ascot.
7. Mary Earps’ X-rated reaction to her World Cup final penalty save.
8. Wrexham get their Hollywood ending – winning the National League to secure promotion to League Two.
9. Everton receiving a points deduction for violating Premier League profit and sustainability rules.
10. England’s Jonny Bairstow being stumped during the second Ashes Test at Lord’s by Alex Carey.
11. Fiji’s shock defeat of Australia in the Rugby World Cup.
12. Harry Kane finally joining Bayern Munich – and breaking goalscoring records (18 goals in 12 games and first Englishman to score 18 goals in a single Bundesliga campaign).
13. Alejandro Garnacho scoring a bicycle kick for Man Utd against Everton.
14. Chelsea winning the Women's Super League for the sixth time.
15. Lionel Messi winning the Ballon d'Or for a record eighth time.
16. Jude Bellingham breaking Real Madrid’s goalscoring record previously held by Cristiano Ronaldo (scoring 14 goals in 15 games).
17. Luis Díaz’s wrongly disallowed goal for Liverpool at Tottenham.
18. Max Verstappen winning the 2023 Formula One World Drivers' Championship.
19. Tyson Fury’s ‘robbed’ victory from UFC Heavyweight and underdog, Francis Ngannou.
20. England reaching the 2023 Netball World Cup final.
21. BBC coverage of Wolves vs Liverpool being plagued by porn noises.
22. Ange Postecoglou joining Tottenham and revealing ‘Ange-Ball.’
23. LeBron James becoming the NBA’s all-time highest scorer.
24. Jack Grealish getting drunk for four days straight after Man City’s Champion’s League win.
25. Michael Smith defeating Michael van Gerwen to win the 2023 PDC World Darts Championship.

Odds for 2024

7/2 England to win Euro 2024.

4/1 Ronnie O’Sullivan to win eighth World Snooker title.

5/1 England to win the Six Nations.

9/1 GB to have more winners than Ireland at Cheltenham.

16/1 Corach Rambler to win 2nd Grand National in a row.

28/1 Matt Fitzpatrick to win the Masters.

33/1 GB to top Olympics medals table.

66/1 Emma Raducanu to win Wimbledon.

100/1 Man United to win the Premier League.