Football matches are often unpredictable. A team leading by several goals can be overturned. That’s what makes football interesting. No one is out until the referee blows the final whistle. To honor this, bestsoccertips.com has compiled a list of the top 10 greatest comeback in football history, considering various factors such as the tournament, the teams involved, and the context.
Top 10 Greatest Comebacks in Football History
10. Belgium vs Japan – FIFA World Cup (2018)
To say this was a special game would be an understatement. Belgium was clearly the higher-rated team, but then Japan scored their first goal almost as soon as the second half began. Surprisingly, a second goal quickly followed just four minutes later.
With that, it seemed like Belgium was in serious trouble. It took nearly 20 minutes for Belgium to equalize. Similarly to Japan, the first goal was quickly followed by a second.
With both teams level as extra time approached, it seemed the match would have to go into extra time. However, an excellent counter-attack by Belgium helped them score the winning goal in the final minutes of the game.
9. Tottenham vs Ajax – UEFA Champions League (2019)
In the UEFA Champions League 2018-19 season, Tottenham Hotspur and AFC Ajax emerged as two of the dark horses of the tournament. No one really expected either team to make it to the semi-finals.
Tottenham had an incredible performance against fellow countrymen Manchester City in the quarter-finals. Ajax played beautiful football on their way to the match, eliminating both Real Madrid and Juventus.
Overall, heading into the match, the Dutch side appeared more confident and played better football. Few could argue this when Ajax won the first leg 1-0 in London. So, they had an advantage heading into the return leg.
Things started off well for Ajax; they led 1-0 in the fifth minute. They then scored a second goal in the 35th minute. In an amazing 20-minute stretch, it seemed Ajax was heading to the final for the first time in 24 years.
But Tottenham winger Lucas Moura had something to say about that. With two quick goals in the 55th and 59th minutes, he brought Spurs back into the game. For the next two hours, both teams were deadlocked, but in the final minutes of injury time, Tottenham’s hero of the night, Moura, scored the decisive goal to secure victory for his team.
8. Deportivo La Coruña vs AC Milan – UEFA Champions League (2004)
From 2002 to 2004, AC Milan was one of the biggest teams in Europe. They had won the Champions League in the 2002–03 season with a squad featuring some of the best players of that time, including players like Kaká, Seedorf, Gattuso, and Maldini. So, when the Spanish team Deportivo La Coruña was drawn to face them in the 2003-04 Champions League season, they were up against a tough challenge.
In the first leg of this tie, AC Milan had won 4-1 at San Siro. Needless to say, the Italian side had a fairly comfortable advantage. However, in the return leg, Deportivo started the game strongly. By halftime and to everyone’s surprise, they were leading with a scoreline of 3-0.
With this score, they progressed to the next round on away goals. But three goals were not enough for them so they scored a fourth. The result of this match was surprising as Milan had a very large advantage. They also had a much stronger lineup and were the defending champions. The match was evidence that anything can happen in football.
7. West Germany vs France – FIFA World Cup (1982)
In the semi-finals of the 1982 World Cup, France faced West Germany. Both teams seemed strong, and most fans knew it would be an exciting match. Both teams tried hard, but after regular time, they were deadlocked at 1-1, meaning the match had to go to extra time.
In the first 10 minutes of extra time, France scored two goals and it seemed they had sealed the victory. However, West Germany didn’t give up, and they also scored two goals, leading to the match going to a penalty shootout.
So, after the dramatic 3-3 match, with 4 goals scored in extra time, West Germany defeated France 5-4 in the penalty shootout. Needless to say, this was one of the most dramatic and tense World Cup matches we’ve ever seen.
6. Real Madrid vs Borussia Monchengladbach – UEFA Europa League (1985)
In the 1985-1986 season of the UEFA Europa League, the clash between Real Madrid and Borussia Monchengladbach in the round of 16 was marked by a dramatic and unexpected match. The first match at the German team’s home saw Borussia Monchengladbach dominate as they defeated Real Madrid with an unbelievable scoreline of 5-1, causing a major shock in the football world.
However, Real Madrid didn’t give up and showcased their strength in the return leg. At the Bernabeu, they played with determination and strong team spirit, ultimately securing an impressive 4-0 victory over Borussia Monchengladbach. This not only helped Real Madrid advance to the quarter-finals but also served as a lesson in patience, determination, and the ability to turn the tables for a top-tier football team.
5. AS Roma vs FC Barcelona – UEFA Champions League (2018)
Before this match, Barcelona was considered one of the strongest teams in football history. Naturally, they asserted this idea by demolishing AS Roma 4-1 at Camp Nou in the first leg of this Champions League quarter-final. No one thought the team was capable of losing a 3-goal lead to Roma.
Though Roma wasn’t a weak team, Barcelona looked much stronger. However, this second-leg quarter-final match turned into a nightmare for the Spanish team. It all started with a quick goal by Edin Dzeko in the 6th minute.
The second goal came after the referee awarded Roma a penalty in the second half. Roma’s third goal saw Barcelona knocked out of the Champions League in the 82nd minute. This match is remembered as one of Barcelona’s worst performances in modern history.
4. AS Monaco vs Real Madrid – UEFA Champions League (2004)
In the early 2000s, the Real Madrid lineup was known as the “Galacticos” due to the presence of many outstanding players, including Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo, Raul, Roberto Carlos, and Luis Figo.
On paper, they were one of the best teams in football history. Naturally, many football fans believed they would easily defeat any team they played against. So, when they were drawn to play against AS Monaco in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals of the 2003-04 season, people thought the outcome would be too predictable. In the first leg, Real Madrid won 4-2, proving most football fans right. It seemed like their ticket to the semi-finals was already stamped.
The second leg started the way many experts thought it would. Real Madrid scored the first goal, meaning Monaco had to score 3 goals to advance. It took Monaco some time to get into the game. They scored a goal just before halftime, and then another shortly after halftime. The double saw them come alive, and they scored a third and final goal in the 66th minute. Monaco held their ground to secure the scoreline and defeat the Galacticos.
Many football fans couldn’t believe that Real Madrid had been knocked out by a French team that finished only 15th in Ligue 1 two years prior. For this reason, it remains one of the greatest comebacks we’ve ever seen.
3. Barcelona vs PSG – UEFA Champions League (2017)
This relatively recent match is considered a crazy comeback for many reasons. In the first leg held at Le Parc des Princes in Paris, Barcelona suffered a humiliating 0-4 defeat. PSG clearly dominated the game, and Barcelona needed to score at least 4 goals to push the match into extra time. The second leg at Camp Nou started favorably for Barcelona as Luis Suarez scored in the third minute.
Before halftime, Barcelona scored another goal, meaning they were only two goals away from qualifying! In the 50th minute, Barcelona scored the third goal, and the comeback seemed more possible than ever! But the team’s hopes were almost shattered when PSG scored an equalizer. A successful counter-attack almost put an end to the game.
This goal meant Barcelona needed to score three more goals (again!) almost as if starting from scratch. By the 87th minute, the score was still 3-1. However, in the last seven minutes of the game, Barcelona scored three goals in one of the craziest performances in European football. The only reason this comeback isn’t ranked higher is because Barcelona didn’t win the Champions League that year. Additionally, there were some controversial refereeing decisions.
2. Liverpool vs Barcelona – UEFA Champions League (2019)
Once again, we see Barcelona on this list. This time, they’re not the heroes of the story. Instead, they’re on the losing end of the famous comeback in the Champions League semi-final against Liverpool. The first leg took place at Camp Nou. It was a strange match as Barcelona didn’t control the game but somehow still won 3-0, with one goal coming from a beautiful free-kick by Messi.
In the second leg, Liverpool scored a goal before halftime. Wijnaldum scored two more goals, meaning they were only one goal away from qualifying! In the final goal, Trent Alexander-Arnold surprised the defense by taking a quick corner kick. This helped Origi lose his marker in the box and score the goal that helped Liverpool advance. Liverpool would win overall after this match. Therefore, this match was crucial in determining the tournament’s champion.
1. Liverpool vs AC Milan – UEFA Champions League Final (2005)
The context of this match is what makes it the greatest comeback ever. AC Milan had started the final in a way that teams can only dream of by scoring the first goal just one minute into the match! By halftime, they were leading 3-0. This meant Liverpool needed three goals to ensure the match went into extra time. Rafael Benítez must have been a highly motivating speaker because whatever he said to his team during these crucial moments had an effect.
Within six minutes of the second half starting, Liverpool scored three goals! Though there was still 30 minutes left in the match, the score was now level. No more goals were scored in regular time or extra time. This meant this final would be decided by penalties. Liverpool won on penalties, meaning they were crowned Champions League winners despite being 3-0 down at halftime!
Conclusion
In the annals of football history, the tale of the greatest comeback stands as a beacon of resilience and determination. It serves as a reminder that against all odds, triumph can emerge from adversity, captivating fans with its gripping narrative and unforgettable moments of sheer brilliance on the pitch. This remarkable feat not only immortalizes the spirit of the sport but also inspires generations to come, demonstrating that with unwavering resolve, anything is possible in the beautiful game of football.
See more: Learn about the best finisher in football in history
