The year 2025 will long be remembered as one of the most extraordinary chapters in global sporting history—a year in which seemingly unbreakable curses crumbled, years-long droughts came to an emotional end, and underdogs across continents rose to seize glory in spectacular fashion. For players, clubs, and entire fanbases, 2025 delivered the one thing sport can never guarantee: redemption.
From football to cricket, basketball to Formula One, and athletics to women’s sport, this was the year when waiting stopped, hope triumphed, and history rewrote itself. The collective narrative of 2025 was not merely about trophies—it was about emotional release, long-awaited fulfilment, and the power of resilience.
Below is a look back at the remarkable year in which sporting jinxes were shattered one after another, in what many are calling the year of the underdogs.
PSG Finally Lift the Champions League: A Billion-Euro Dream Realised
Few stories in club football have been as heavily scrutinised as Paris Saint-Germain’s quest to conquer Europe. Since their Qatari acquisition in 2011, PSG poured billions into building a super-team capable of winning the UEFA Champions League. Yet, season after season, the trophy eluded them—through late collapses, improbable turnarounds, and heartbreaks that became synonymous with their European campaigns.
But 2025 finally delivered what Paris had been waiting decades for. PSG won their first-ever Champions League title, ending a 32-year drought for French clubs in the competition. It was a moment that transcended sport—both cathartic and symbolic—signalling the culmination of years of investment, patience, and reconstruction. The night PSG finally lifted the trophy will live in French sporting folklore, celebrated as the moment the club shed its reputation for European near-misses and fulfilled its long-promised destiny.
Harry Kane Ends His Trophy Silence
Few modern athletes have carried the weight of an unwanted narrative quite like Harry Kane. Recognised globally as one of the finest strikers of his generation, Kane’s trophy cabinet remained painfully empty throughout his Premier League years. Critics mocked him, fans sympathised with him, and pundits repeatedly questioned whether his career choices would cost him silverware.
In 2025, the drought ended. Kane lifted his first major trophy when Bayern Munich won the Bundesliga, bringing relief and vindication to one of football’s most prolific goalscorers. The image of Kane celebrating with the trophy resonated across the world—a moment of personal triumph that wiped away years of cruel commentary and overshadowed jokes about his barren trophy run.
Tottenham Hotspur Break Their 17-Year Curse
If Kane’s drought had been painful, Tottenham Hotspur’s was agonisingly longer. Spurs had not laid hands on a trophy since 2008, with fans enduring heartbreaks, finals lost, and seasons filled with promises that never materialised.
But the 2025 season turned the clock. Tottenham finally lifted the Europa League, ending one of English football’s most infamous trophy droughts. For supporters who stood by their club through decades of disappointment, it felt like a rebirth—an emotional cleansing they would never forget.
Ousmane Dembélé Completes One of Football’s Great Comebacks
A career once plagued by injuries and inconsistency reached its fairytale peak in 2025 when Ousmane Dembélé won the Ballon d’Or. For a player written off multiple times, the accolade symbolised resilience, resurgence, and a triumphant rewriting of his narrative. It wasn’t just a trophy; it was a statement that talent, when preserved and nurtured, can flourish against all odds. Dembélé’s win stands as one of the most inspiring sports moments of the year.
Crystal Palace Celebrate Their First Major Trophy
In an English football landscape dominated by giants, Crystal Palace carved their own moment in history. The Eagles lifted their first major trophy by winning the FA Cup, sending shockwaves through the footballing world and delighting a fanbase long starved of silverware. Their triumph was more than a victory—it was proof that perseverance and belief can yield extraordinary results, even against the odds.
More Football Droughts That Ended in 2025
- 2025 saw numerous clubs end long, agonising waits for silverware:
- Go Ahead Eagles – 93-year drought ended
- Newcastle United – 70 years without a trophy finally broken
- Bologna – 51-year wait ends with Coppa Italia glory
- VfB Stuttgart – Lifted the DFB-Pokal
- Inter Miami – Secured major silverware in the MLS era
- Arsenal Women – Returned to trophy-winning ways after years of near misses
Never in recent memory had so many clubs, across so many countries, ended so many historical droughts within a single calendar year.
Virat Kohli and RCB Finally Lift the IPL Trophy
In India, arguably the most emotional sporting storyline of the year unfolded when Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) won their first-ever IPL title. For their fans, this was more than a championship—it was catharsis after years of heartbreak, memes, and near misses. For Virat Kohli, it was a moment of redemption. The man widely regarded as a modern great had waited 17 years to lift an IPL trophy. On 3 June 2025, RCB defeated Punjab Kings by six runs in a dramatic final, finally breaking their jinx. The celebrations were unprecedented.
South Africa Break Their ICC Curse After 27 Years
If there was one international team whose wait for a trophy felt eternal, it was South Africa. Labeled “chokers” for decades, the Proteas repeatedly faltered at crucial stages of ICC events despite fielding world-class teams. In 2025, they finally rewrote the script, winning their first ICC trophy since 1998 by claiming the World Test Championship against Australia. The victory marked a monumental breaking of a long, painful jinx and proved that the Proteas could conquer the biggest stages when it mattered.
Oklahoma City Thunder Win Their First NBA Title
In basketball, Oklahoma City Thunder produced the shock of the season by securing their first-ever NBA Championship, ending one of the NBA’s longest active trophy droughts. The victory electrified the franchise and left a lasting impression on a league accustomed to seeing superteams dominate. The Thunder’s triumph represented a transition in the NBA landscape—a moment where a young, dynamic team toppled expectations to etch their name in history.
Lando Norris Wins His First Formula One World Championship
In the world of motorsport, 2025 belonged to Lando Norris. The British driver clinched his first Formula One World Championship, marking a historic milestone for both himself and McLaren, who ended their 17-year title drought dating back to 2008. Norris’s victory was celebrated widely, as he had long been considered one of the most promising talents on the grid. His championship win validated years of growth and solidified his rise among the sport’s elite.
Hobart Hurricanes, Bologna, Newcastle and Others Taste Rare Glory
The global sporting landscape witnessed an unusual pattern of triumphs:
- Hobart Hurricanes lifted their first BBL title.
- Bologna ended a 51-year wait with their Coppa Italia triumph.
- Newcastle United, after seven decades of longing, lifted the Carabao Cup.
- Stuttgart claimed the DFB-Pokal, adding to the year’s theme of underdog ascendancy.
These victories painted a remarkable picture of sporting parity, where tradition took a back seat and long-suffering fanbases were finally rewarded.
Neeraj Chopra Breaks the 90m Barrier
Indian athletics witnessed a landmark moment when Neeraj Chopra achieved the long-awaited 90m throw, recording a personal best of 90.23m at the Doha Diamond League. It was a breakthrough years in the making. Crossing the 90m mark had become something of a mythical barrier in his career. When he finally achieved it, the moment resonated deeply—not just as an athletic achievement but as a triumph of perseverance, discipline, and unwavering ambition.
India Women’s Cricket Team Finally Win Their First World Cup
In women’s cricket, the long-standing dream finally became reality as India’s women’s team won their first Women’s World Cup trophy. After decades of coming close but falling short, the team’s historic triumph ended one of the most emotional droughts in Indian sport. Their victory represented not just sporting achievement but a cultural shift, inspiring millions across the country to believe in the growing strength of women’s cricket.
A Year of Jinxes Broken in Women’s Cricket Globally
It wasn’t just India rewriting history. South Africa’s women also reached their first-ever Women’s World Cup final, ensuring that a new champion would be crowned for the first time in 25 years. The dominance of Australia, England, and New Zealand—who together had won 11 of the first 12 World Cups—was finally challenged.