Sven Ulreich and other very sad footballers
- Published
Where are all the crying emojis when you need them?
Bayern Munich were knocked out of the the Champions League this week by Real Madrid, who took full advantage after a slip-up from Bayern’s goalkeeper Sven Ulreich.
Just moments into the second half, what seemed to be a simple backpass to the German goalkeeper turned into his worst nightmare.
Unsure whether to catch it or kick it, Ulreich ended up doing neither, allowing Karim Benzema to roll the ball into an open goal, giving Real a 2-1 lead on the night and a 4-2 lead on aggregate.
Bayern pulled a goal back but Ulreich's error was crucial, as Bayern's European hopes ended in the semi-finals for the fourth time in five years.
Ulreich was consoled by team-mates at the final whistle, but after most of the downbeat Bayern players had trudged back to the dressing room, the goalkeeper remained alone on the grass, absolutely gutted.
Team-mates James Rodriguez, Jerome Boateng and Javi Martinez reached out with messages of support online.
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“Win as a team, lose as team,” Bayern wrote on their social media.
Still, Ulreich’s brooding, lonely figure at the Bernabeu was a sad sight to see, but it's not the first time a sad moment from the beautiful game has been caught on camera. Prepare to have something in your eye...
Roberto Baggio
Baggio was dubbed ‘the saviour of Italy’ on their journey to the 1994 World Cup final.
'The Divine Ponytail' had scored five times en route to the final, and was tasked with taking the decisive spot-kick in the penalty shootout after a goalless 120 minutes against Brazil.
But Baggio blasted the ball sky high over the crossbar, breaking Italian hearts with one of the most memorable misses in football history.
"I always dreamed of playing in a World Cup final since I was a little boy, but I never thought it could end like that,” Baggio said.
The image of Roberto hanging his head while Brazil celebrated their fourth World Cup win was heartbreaking for anyone who watched Baggio light up the tournament.
David Beckham
The England legend helped define football for a generation of fans, and it was always going to be a sad day when he finally decided to hang up his boots.
Becks took us on an emotional rollercoaster throughout the years - whether it was his famous halfway-line goal, his infamous red card against Argentina in 1998, or his redemption in 2002 - things were never dull with Goldenballs.
After whipping in crosses in Manchester, Madrid, Milan and Los Angeles, Beckham’s 21-year career came to an end after a short stint with Paris St-Germain.
When manager Carlo Ancelotti subbed him off to a standing ovation in his last game as a professional player, Beckham exited the pitch, hugging nearly every player on his way to the subs bench.
"It's been very special to finish my career here. It could not have been any more special," he said.
The end of an era, for sure.
Zinedine Zidane
The 2006 World Cup final was supposed to be Zinedine Zidane’s crowning glory.
He'd been the stand-out player at the tournament, almost single-handedly carrying an ageing France team to the final, knocking out Spain and Brazil along the way.
Zidane had been immense and the final against Italy would be his last-ever game - it would have been a fairytale ending for him to lift the trophy for a second time.
With the scores tied at 1-1 in extra time - Zidane had scored France's goal, obviously - France were in the ascendancy. That was until, after an unpleasant exchange with Marco Materazzi, Zidane launched an inexplicable headbutt into the Italian defender's chest.
The former Real Madrid and Juventus midfielder was shown a red card and time seemed to stand still when he made the long walk off the pitch, past the World Cup trophy, and into the sunset.
"Zinedine Zidane will feel like the loneliest man in the world,” Alan Hansen said.
Gianluigi Buffon
Gianluigi Buffon has been a rock between Italy’s goalposts for 21 years and he’s given us some incredible memories.
Buffon has been a stand-out goalkeeper at every World Cup since 2002, and won it in 2006, which leaves us with a cold, dark, empty feeling knowing that he won't be at this year’s competition in Russia.
Italy were beaten by Sweden in a qualification play-off meaning they would miss out on a World Cup for the first time since 1958.
As a result, Gigi's last-ever game for the Azzurri came not at the World Cup, as many has hoped, but in a moment of national humiliation. The first leg had seen Sweden win 1-0. Many fancied Italy to turn it around in the second leg (held in Milan's San Siro stadium), but the game ended goalless. Gianluigi was devastated and shortly after retired from international duty.
Rui Costa
Greece pulled off one of the biggest shocks in football when they beat hosts Portugal in the final of the 2004 European Championships.
The Greeks beat a team that boasted a teenage Cristiano Ronaldo, legends Luis Figo and Rui Costa and a number of players who had won the Champions League with FC Porto two months earlier.
Costa was one of several Portuguese players seen crying after the game and the image of him hanging his head whilst glitter fell around him illustrated the stark contrast between winning and losing.
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