The top 10 football photographs of 2021

What a year it's been

A picture is worth a thousand words, as the saying goes. So I won't waste too many in this introduction. Below are the top 10 football photographs of the year, handpicked by Getty Images' editors, accompanied by their reasoning behind selecting them. Enjoy. Messi the draft excluder "Perhaps the greatest football player of our time - Lionel Messi - has a new task: He becomes a "sweeper" for his team and has to secure the wall during a free kick for the opposing team of Manchester City. It was a funny moment in the Champions League preliminary round match in Paris. And many could not believe their eyes. The superstar throws himself on the ground for his team and lays behind the free kick wall to secure it, where he then gets instructions from Neymar. "Disrespectful" from his teammates, some called it. Was it perhaps just a great moment in football that shows that in the end Messi can be just a footballer like any other? The interaction between Messi and Neymar makes this picture very special. And that day was anything but "humiliating" for Messi. He scored his first goal for PSG in that game and was the hero of the night." [caption id="attachment_308036" align="alignnone" width="1489"] Paris Saint-Germain's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi speaks with Paris Saint-Germain's Brazilian forward Neymar (top L) as he lies on the ground prior to a free kick during the UEFA Champions League first round group A football match between Paris Saint-Germain's (PSG) and Manchester City at The Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on September 28, 2021. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP) (Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)[/caption] Christian Eriksen's collapse "Nobody will forget the incident when Christian Eriksen collapsed lifeless during the UEFA European Championship match against Finland. Many millions of people sat in front of their TV sets that Saturday and experienced those shocking moments. For us, the question was how to deal with this moment photographically. Our colleagues on location have to depict such a tragic event in a journalistic way - that's their job. But which photos really have to be offered to the customers? And despite all journalistic duty: What respect must be shown to Christian Eriksen and his family in this situation. We have chosen this photo. It shows a moment of hope, of survival. And at the same time it reflects the impressive way in which the team handled the event from the very first moment. With this photo we were able to illustrate the story of this incident and still maintain respect and hope." [caption id="attachment_308037" align="alignnone" width="2048"] Denmark v Finland - UEFA Euro 2020: Group B COPENHAGEN, DENMARK - JUNE 12: Christian Eriksen (Hidden) of Denmark is escorted off of the field by team mates and medics on a stretcher after receiving medical treatment during the UEFA Euro 2020 Championship Group B match between Denmark and Finland on June 12, 2021 in Copenhagen, Denmark. (Photo by Friedemann Vogel - Pool/Getty Images)[/caption] It's coming to Rome "Having missed out on qualifying for the previous World Cup Finals, Italy headed into the European Championships with a point to prove.  A new manager and a young squad started the tournament with a bang, winning the opening game and maintaining their form throughout the month of the finals.  This image sums up the delight of the Italian players, while the Italian fans remained inside the stadium celebrating, the players headed down the tunnel to a small, exclusive studio set up where Michael Regan captured the immediate joy of the winning team." [caption id="attachment_308040" align="alignnone" width="2048"] Italy Champions Portraits - UEFA Euro 2020: Final LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 11: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been digitally retouched) Andrea Belotti and Jorginho of Italy pose with The Henri Delaunay Trophy during an Italy Portrait Session following their side's victory in the UEFA Euro 2020 Championship Final between Italy and England at Wembley Stadium on July 11, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Regan - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)[/caption] Leave it all on the line "Euro 2020 was the biggest football event of the year, with 24 teams across 12 venues playing out one of the most exciting tournaments for many years. For many of the players it represented a highlight of their year, and this image encapsulates this perfectly.  By the touchline, no threat to either goal, both players giving everything to win their own battles to do everything they can to push their team forwards.  The shape of the players provides a nice clean visual of the commitment shown throughout the tournament." [caption id="attachment_308042" align="alignnone" width="2048"] Netherlands v Ukraine - UEFA Euro 2020: Group C AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS - JUNE 13: Roman Yaremchuk of Ukraine is challenged by Stefan de Vrij of Netherlands during the UEFA Euro 2020 Championship Group C match between Netherlands and Ukraine at the Johan Cruijff ArenA on June 13, 2021 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Lukas Schulze - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)[/caption] All those years of hurt "In the biggest game in England for 55 years, England fell short in a penalty shoot out, and once again Gareth Southgate was involved. This time though, as manager, his man management skills came to the fore, comforting his young star Bukayo Saka following missing the final penalty, something that 25 years earlier he had done as a player in the semi-finals.  Southgate’s leadership had generated huge goodwill from the English public, and his united young squad took England further than they had ever been in a European Championship.  The almost paternal nature of Southgate’s stewardship was captured in this image, demonstrating his understanding and the close bond he had with his players." [caption id="attachment_308043" align="alignnone" width="1526"] Italy v England: UEFA Euro 2020 Final LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 11: Bukayo Saka of England is consoled by Gareth Southgate, Head Coach of England following defeat in the UEFA Euro 2020 Championship Final between Italy and England at Wembley Stadium on July 11, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)[/caption] Haaland the goal machine "The hottest property in European football, Erling Haaland has been re-writing record books in both Bundesliga and the Champions League and is set to dominate the transfer gossip columns over the next twelve months, and award ceremonies for years to come.  This image captures Haaland out on his own, his physical dominance as he scores again, he wheels away gesturing to the crowd.  Like many of the games’ other global stars, Haaland has a presence and dynamism that lends itself to great images and so is beloved by photographers." [caption id="attachment_308044" align="alignnone" width="2048"] Borussia Dortmund v TSG Hoffenheim - Bundesliga DORTMUND, GERMANY - AUGUST 27: Erling Haaland of Borussia Dortmund celebrates after scoring their side's third goal during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and TSG Hoffenheim at Signal Iduna Park on August 27, 2021 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Lukas Schulze/Getty Images)[/caption] Flower of Scotland "This image was captured within the tunnel during the vital group decider at Hampden Park between Scotland and Croatia. In their first major event finals in over thirty years Scotland knew that a win would see them qualify for the knockout stages of the tournament for the first time in their history. Shot from a position exclusive to Getty Images’ team of UEFA photographers, the image captures the importance of the moment and the passion and pride of captaining his country, the putting on of the armband and leading his team into battle." [caption id="attachment_308047" align="alignnone" width="2048"] Croatia v Scotland - UEFA Euro 2020: Group D GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - JUNE 22: Andrew Robertson of Scotland adjusts his captains armband as he leads the team out for the second half during the UEFA Euro 2020 Championship Group D match between Croatia and Scotland at Hampden Park on June 22, 2021 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Jan Kruger - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)[/caption] End of an era "The day that nobody really thought would come, one of the greatest players in the history of the game, and the greatest player in FC Barcelona’s fabled history, Lionel Messi left Camp Nou to join PSG. The result of Barcelona’s financial problems, Messi walked away from the club that had been his home since the age of 14, and when he addressed the world’s media, his emotions overcame him and he broke down in tears. The sight of the great player crying with the club badge looming large as his backdrop captures the moment perfectly." [caption id="attachment_308049" align="alignnone" width="2048"] Lionel Messi of Barcelona Press Conference BARCELONA, SPAIN - AUGUST 08: Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona faces the media during a press conference at Nou Camp on August 08, 2021 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)[/caption] Saint Marcus "The impact that Marcus Rashford has made away from the game, using his position as a Manchester United and England star to take on the fight against child poverty and tackling the government on their response to it has made him a high profile figure and a role model for many.  The mural was originally produced the celebrate his incredible work to help those less fortunate than him, but following his penalty miss in the Euro final, it became a target for racist abuse.  This image shows the huge respect and admiration for Rashford felt across the community, something mirrored across the nation, as the mural was repaired and became a focal point for tens of thousands of supporters." [caption id="attachment_308052" align="alignnone" width="2048"] Defaced Mural Of Marcus Rashford Repaired By The Artist In Manchester MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JULY 13: People look at the newly repaired mural of England footballer Marcus Rashford by the artist known as AKSE_P19, which is displayed on the wall of a cafe on Copson Street, Withington, after AKSE_P19 came to repair today it after it was defaced by vandals in the aftermath of England's Euros loss on July 13, 2021 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)[/caption] Return of the King "Cristiano Ronaldo, a truly iconic sportsman, globally recognised and always seeming to deliver in those big moments, he is without doubt a sports photographer’s dream, so dynamic on and off the ball. For over a decade Manchester United were synonymous with success, yet in more recent times have under-achieved leaving the Old Trafford faithful frustrated and demanding silverware. The big money signing of Ronaldo kick-started a new wave of positivity on the terraces and saw Old Trafford rejuvenated, with great expectations must come great pressure but Ronaldo seems to thrive where others crumble." [caption id="attachment_308054" align="alignnone" width="2048"] MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 29: Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United celebrates scoring a goal to make the 2-1 during the UEFA Champions League group F match between Manchester United and Villarreal CF at Old Trafford on September 29, 2021 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)[/caption]