BeSoccer recaps 2023 highlights

In Xavi Hernandez's first full season in charge, Barcelona managed to win La Liga title, a competition they had not won since 2019. The defence was the key to Barcelona's La Liga triumph, with Ter Stegen also winning the Zamora. Real Madrid were 10 points behind and Atlético 11 points behind.

Leo Messi was crowned, for the eighth time in his career, the best footballer in the world. The Argentinian won his eighth Ballon d'Or in Paris thanks to winning the World Cup in Qatar in 2022. Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe finished second and third.

The Saudi League has become the main attraction in 2023. On the penultimate day of 2022, Cristiano Ronaldo signed for Al Nassr, starting the exodus that has taken place this past summer. Names such as Karim Benzema, Neymar, N'golo Kante, Bono, Brozovic, Ruben Neves and Gabri Veiga have changed the European football landscape, which has lost several of its stars.

Jude Bellingham has become the top signing for the 2023-24 season. Real Madrid paid Borussia Dortmund">Borussia Dortmund 103 million euros for a player set to dominate Europe over the next decade. What they didn't expect was that he would do so as soon as he arrived, he would become the top scorer for 'Los Blancos' and La Liga.

Manchester City completed a dream season 2022-23. They won their first Champions League, after beating Inter Milan in the final. They added another Premier League and the FA Cup to their trophy cabinet, making it the first treble in their history. They finished the year by winning the Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia.

Sadly, Sir Bobby Charlton, the greatest English player to have ever walked on the pitch, passed away on 21st October at the age of 86. England mourned a legend and one of the survivors of the Munich disaster. Gone is the person, gone is the memory.

The Spanish Women's National Team conquered the world on 20th August 2023. The team then coached by Jorge Vilda beat England in the final with a goal by Olga Carmona and, in their third appearance, won their first star embroidered on their chest. In the end, it was all marred by Luis Rubiales' kiss with Jennifer Hermoso.

Two months before Spain won their first Women's World Cup, the men's team also enjoyed success. Led by Luis de la Fuente, who took over from Luis Enrique, 'La Roja' beat Italy in the semi-finals and Croatia on penalties in the final to win their first Nations League.