Top 10 biggest what Ifs in sports history that shaped the game

One of the most fascinating things about sports is the theories about the past – moments, decisions, or events that could have completely changed history if they had gone differently. These “biggest what ifs in sports history” always excite the imagination of fans, making them wonder what would have happened if a team hadn’t missed a golden opportunity, if a superstar hadn’t gotten injured, or if a legend hadn’t left his team. These stories are not only entertaining, but also show the importance of each decision in sports. Here are some of the most notable situations that Kingsoccertips.com has compiled. Moments that could have changed the course of sports forever.

The biggest what ifs in sports history

1. What if Cristiano Ronaldo hadn’t left united?

This sort of question—surely asked by fans of countless clubs at countless points throughout a season—is a classic fan dilemma. And in the case of Cristiano Ronaldo, what if he hadn’t left Manchester United to join Real Madrid at the age of 24?

For starters, United would probably have gone on to win their seventh consecutive Premier League title. They almost certainly wouldn’t have lost last year’s title on goal difference, and they would also have picked up the pair of points they needed in 2010 to finish above Chelsea.

Ronaldo, meanwhile, would never have entered the media’s ridiculous, fabricated rivalry with Lionel Messi. If he had stayed in England, his achievements would have been seen in a completely different light, and there might have been some more individual accolades.

2. What if Italy had beaten Spain on penalties at Euro 2008?

Going into the 2008 European Championships, Greece were the kings of the continent and Italy were the world champions. Spain—well, they still hadn’t shaken off their reputation for being suffocating on the big stage. That changed in Austria and Switzerland, where Spain beat Russia, Sweden and Greece (conceding in all three) before facing the Azzurri in the quarterfinals.

After 120 scoreless minutes, the teams went to penalties, where Daniele De Rossi and Antonio Di Natale missed for Italy while only Daniel Guiza failed to score for Spain. Cesc Fabregas converted the decisive spot-kick and Spain went on to win the tournament, ushering in an unprecedented era of international dominance. But what if David Villa had missed his spot-kick? Or Santi Cazorla? The Spanish dynasty may never rise again.

3. What if Pele had played in Europe?

Pele is widely regarded as the greatest footballer to ever play the game (although Lionel Messi has claimed that he deserves that title), but what people outside of South America often fail to realize is that they are making this claim—and it is a serious one—based on 14 games.

Fourteen. That’s how many times Pele appeared in World Cup matches, which means that’s how many times fans, players, and pundits from Europe got to see him. His games for Santos weren’t easily televised, which begs the question—what if he had moved to Europe at some point in his career?

Would he have excelled at a big club in Spain, Italy, or England the way he excelled at Santos and Brazil in international competition? We’ll never know. But it’s certainly an interesting question.

4. What if John Terry hadn’t missed his penalty in Moscow?

Search YouTube for “John Terry penalty” and you’ll find countless homemade videos mocking the Chelsea captain’s disastrous penalty attempt in the 2008 Champions League final in Moscow.

But what if he hadn’t missed?

The obvious answer is that Chelsea would have been crowned European champions, but while Avram Grant may have been replaced, there would have been some more serious consequences for Manchester United, who went on to win the final.

The dominant group of players in English football at the time—Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tevez and Cristiano Ronaldo—would not have won a Champions League winner’s medal in addition to the Premier League title, and Sir Alex Ferguson would still have had just one European Cup to his name.

5. What if Roberto Baggio hadn’t taken that penalty at the Rose Bowl?

Roberto Baggio scored more than 20 goals in a season six times during an exceptional club career that took him to some of Italy’s biggest clubs. But despite being one of the world’s top players in the mid-1990s, the striker is best remembered for his penalty kick that sailed over the bar in the 1994 World Cup final against Brazil. Had he scored, we would remember him differently than we do now. And of course, Italy might have won their fourth World Cup—temporarily surpassing Brazil for all-time titles.

6. What if Johan Cruyff had played in the 1978 World Cup?

After helping the Netherlands qualify for the 1978 World Cup, Johan Cruyff retired from international football. It was initially rumoured that he was unhappy with the military dictatorship in Argentina – the host nation of the World Cup – but he later admitted that his family had been the target of a kidnapping plot in Barcelona, ​​and that the ordeal had forced him to retire. In any case, the Netherlands reached the 1978 final, where they lost to Argentina in extra time. But had Cruyff been there? The Dutch might have won their first World Cup.

7. What if Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ goal had been ruled out?

Diego Maradona scored twice against England in Argentina’s 1986 World Cup quarter – final win at the Azteca in Mexico City. The first, the opener early in the second half, came after he used his hand to push the ball past England goalkeeper Peter Shilton – the infamous ‘Hand of God’ goal. But what if it hadn’t counted? What if referee Ali Bin Nasser or one of his assistants had waved it off?

As much as England fans didn’t want to hear it, the result could have been the same. Four minutes after the opener, Maradona was alone against half the England team – sneaking past white shirts before slotting the ball into the net. He would have surely found a way to score again if his first goal had been disallowed. It was his tournament, after all.

8. What if Michael Owen hadn’t joined Real Madrid?

Michael Owen hasn’t been the same since returning to England after a year of mostly guest appearances at Real Madrid. He scored 19 goals for Liverpool last season and 28 in each of the previous campaigns. Had he stayed at Anfield, he would almost certainly have been part of the Champions League-winning team next year, and who knows, his career might not have declined as quickly as it did when he returned to the Premier League.

9. What if Superga hadn’t happened?

On May 4, 1949, a plane carrying one of the world’s greatest football teams crashed into the Superga hill above Turin, killing all 31 people on board.

Eighteen of the passengers were members of Torino AC, also known as “Il Grande Torino.” The club had won four Serie A titles in the seven years before the disaster, and although their squad was wiped out in the crash, they still won the 1948-49 Scudetto thanks to the efforts of their youth team.

Had the Superga tragedy not occurred, Torino would surely have won many more titles, and the group of 10 Italian internationals would have been strong contenders in the first few years of European competition.

10. What if the Busby players had not stopped to refuel in Munich?

After a European Cup tie away to Red Star Belgrade, Manchester United’s Airspeed Ambassador stopped in Munich to refuel. On take-off (it took three attempts), the plane crashed through a fence and into a house, and 23 passengers on board died in the wreckage or in hospital after the crash.

Widely known as the Munich Air Disaster, the 1958 crash claimed the lives of eight Manchester United players (including club staff, journalists, crew and other passengers), including England prospect Duncan Edwards.

Had the tragedy never occurred, United would almost certainly have beaten Bolton Wanderers to win the FA Cup. Sir Matt Busby would not have needed seven years of rebuilding to rebuild his devastated squad, and Edwards could have gone on to become one of the greatest England players of all time.

What’s Next?

The “biggest what ifs in sports history” are not only interesting theories but also reflect the fragility of sporting glory. An injury, a bad decision or a fateful moment can completely change an athlete’s career or the course of an entire tournament. Although what happened cannot be changed, these stories are always a hot topic of discussion among fans. They remind us that sports are not only based on talent but also on timing, luck and decisive choices. It is these unprecedented things that add to the appeal of sports, making us always wonder: What if…?

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