Rory McIlroy seals legendary standing, Luke Littler ranges above, Lions and Lionesses roar: Sport’s greatest tales in 2025 outlined sport in 2025

As 2025 attracts to an in depth, Sky Sports activities seems to be again on the sporting tales that outlined the 12 months, together with Rory McIlroy discovering the lacking piece to the puzzle, Luke Littler’s unrelenting ascent, Lions and Lionesses roaring, and a lot extra.

Rory completes profession Grand Slam on emotional Sunday at Augusta

Given Rory McIlroy posted 21 top-10 finishes in majors with out profitable throughout a decade of near-misses and disappointments, it was becoming that the elusive victory and Grand Slam-clinching success got here in such dramatic vogue.

McIlroy took a two-shot lead into the ultimate day of The Masters and recovered from a sluggish begin to discover himself 4 clear with eight holes to play at Augusta Nationwide, solely to look in peril of one other main collapse after dropping 4 photographs over the subsequent 4 holes.

A topsy-turvy Sunday noticed him add two late birdies however dramatically bogey the final to drop in a play-off with Ryder Cup teammate Justin Rose, the place a birdie on the primary further gap noticed him develop into simply the sixth male in historical past – and first since Tiger Woods – to finish the profession Grand Slam.

Premier League glory put into perspective by Diogo Jota tragedy

Liverpool broke Manchester Metropolis’s four-year stranglehold on the Premier League title to emerge as kings of English soccer in 2025.

It noticed Arne Slot, in his first season as successor to Jurgen Klopp, develop into the fourth Liverpool supervisor to win the title in his first season in cost – and first within the Premier League period.

Along with drawing stage with rivals Manchester United, Liverpool’s record-equalling twentieth title triumph was made even sweeter by the very fact followers have been there to observe it unfold, a luxurious they have been denied by the Covid pandemic in 2019/20.

However these celebrations many had waited a lifetime for at Anfield have been reduce quick six weeks later by the tragic information that striker Diogo Jota had died in a automobile crash together with his brother, Andre Silva.

Because the soccer world mourned the tragic lack of the Portugal worldwide, Liverpool in some way tried to come back to phrases with the unthinkable tragedy, grieve the lack of a good friend and team-mate, all whereas making an attempt to defend the title he performed an instrumental position in delivering.

Littler scales new heights in stellar 2025

Luke Littler’s rise has been exceptional, however his 2025 season has taken him to new heights.

At simply 18, he turned the youngest PDC world No 1, breaking Michael van Gerwen’s lengthy‑standing document.

His 12 months started with a maiden world title at Alexandra Palace, setting the tone for a dominant marketing campaign. He added main victories on the World Matchplay, World Grand Prix, and UK Open, together with titles in Australia, New Zealand, Belgium and Flanders.

Littler then defended his Grand Slam of Darts crown in opposition to Luke Humphries and capped the 12 months with Gamers Championship Finals glory as he reached world No 1.

Norris topped king of F1

An exciting three-way battle for the Components 1 drivers’ title went right down to the wire on the season finale in Abu Dhabi.

Lando Norris had fought again from an unconvincing first half of the 12 months to place himself in place to seal a maiden title, with the Brit needing a podium end on the remaining race to make sure he stayed forward of his McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri and four-time reigning champion Max Verstappen.

The Purple Bull driver piled the stress on by taking pole, however Norris drove a mature race with some nerveless overtakes to carry on by two factors, cueing emotional celebrations, and setting the Components 1 panorama completely for the upcoming regulation reset in 2026.

Lionesses previous and new reign in Europe once more

England’s Lionesses remained European soccer’s dominant power however had a nation on tenterhooks with a dramatic defence of their crown at Euro 2025.

Sarina Wiegman blended expertise with youthful exuberance and England wanted each in equal measure as they pulled themselves again from the brink of elimination on a number of events.

2022 heroine Chloe Kelly stole the headlines as soon as once more as her last-gasp winner within the semi-final in opposition to Italy and the decisive penalty within the nail-biting penalty shootout in opposition to Spain within the remaining led England to glory.

However the foundations have been laid by breakthrough star Michelle Agyemang, whose essential objectives rescued the Lionesses from the brink of quarter-final and semi-final elimination by the hands of Sweden and Italy, and goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, whose 4 saves throughout two shootouts proved equally as essential.

Lions roar to sequence victory in Australia

4 years of anticipation – and lifetimes of preparation – got here to a crescendo in seven thrilling weeks of motion, culminating within the British and Irish Lions storming to sequence victory in Australia – their first profitable tour in 12 years.

Defeat to Argentina in Dublin centered minds inside Andy Farrell’s squad earlier than that they had even jetted off Down Beneath, however their arrival in Australia marked the beginning of a five-game profitable run by means of to the primary Check in Brisbane, the place the Wallabies have been blown away.

The MCG – certainly one of sport’s biggest cathedrals – performed host to what turned out to be a thriller sequence decider. Australia mounted a rousing response to their Brisbane no-show, blasting out of the traps and right into a 23-5 first-half lead.

However in entrance of a document Lions crowd of over 90,000, the vacationers roared again, with Hugo Keenan’s last-minute strive offering the series-clinching second that may stay endlessly within the reminiscence.

Purple Roses flower on residence soil

A heart-breaking 34-31 loss within the 2021 Rugby World Cup for England after dropping a participant on account of a crimson card, arrange the right redemption story – lastly profitable it once more, however this time on residence soil.

The Purple Roses had received each sport since their loss to New Zealand within the final RWC remaining, so it was very a lot anticipated that they might take the win this time.

That they did, dismissing a formidable Canadian facet 33-13 to point out their dominance and win in entrance of a sold-out Twickenham crowd of 81,885 spectators – a world document for a ladies’s rugby union sport.

Canada might have discovered the strive line first, however England shortly snapped again and pulled forward with tries from Ellie Kildunne, Amy Cokayne, and Alex Matthews within the first half.

The second half was a lot the identical with one other strive from Matthews and Abbie Ward additionally scoring a strive, whereas Zoe Harrison transformed all however one.

Cowboy hats, TikTok dances, a sold-out Twickenham and an entire technology impressed by the Purple Roses, it had all of it.

Europe rise above hostility as Donald defends Ryder Cup

McIlroy stated after Workforce Europe’s 2023 Ryder Cup success they might win on away soil within the subsequent contest, with Luke Donald turning that dream right into a actuality by captaining them to victory in New York.

Donald retained 11 of his line-up from the win in Rome two years earlier, with Europe overcoming a hostile residence crowd at Bethpage Black to construct up a record-breaking benefit heading into the Sunday singles.

Hopes of a European win by a document margin changed into a nervy wait to shut out victory, with Shane Lowry incomes the half-point that assured Europe retained the trophy earlier than Tyrrell Hatton ensured they have been the primary facet – from both staff – to win on away soil since 2012.

Boxing mourns as Hatton laid to relaxation

Simply because it did all through his unforgettable profession within the ring, ‘There’s just one Ricky Hatton’ was the mantra that echoed by means of the streets as Manchester – and the world of boxing – stated goodbye to certainly one of their very own.

The loss of life of ‘Hitman’ Hatton, aged 46 in September rocked the world of sport. A key determine in getting the British public to fall in love with boxing once more, Hatton took his loyal followers around the globe for gigantic fights with Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.

All the time candid about his psychological well being struggles, Hatton’s down-to-earth manner endeared him to not solely combat followers however the British public, who got here out to pay their respects as his funeral cortege travelled by means of Manchester on an emotional day.

England and India serve up epic Check sequence

An epic conclusion to some of the dramatic Check sequence in historical past – England and India had all of it.

Similar to the Ashes summer season of 2005, the summer season of 2025 can be remembered for one of many best Check sequence of a technology – and a benchmark for simply how thrilling the format will be.

Regardless of the heroics of one-armed Chris Woakes, England fell agonisingly quick – by simply six runs – as India clinched the fifth Check at The Kia Oval to stage the sequence 2-2 in a gripping remaining act of one of many biggest contests of all time.

It was a sequence for the ages – every Check going all the best way to the ultimate day, punctuated with iconic moments that may stand in Check cricket historical past.

Alcaraz vs Sinner – generation-defining rivalry blossoms

Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have been the unstoppable power and immovable object in males’s tennis this 12 months – sharing all 4 Grand Slam titles.

Over the course of their rivalry they’ve performed 3,302 factors in opposition to one another – with each profitable 1,651! You possibly can’t make it up. The top-to-head seems to be a contact lopsided with the Spaniard main 10-6 and 4-2 in 2025, with all six of these conferences coming in finals.

The fantastic thing about this rivalry is that they proceed to push one another to new heights. Alcaraz beat Sinner in a fifth-set tie-breaker in an epic French Open remaining which lasted 5 hours and 29 minutes.

The Italian bought revenge at Wimbledon earlier than Alcaraz received once more on the US Open. Sinner stated he needed to be much less predictable by including extra selection to his sport. He defended his ATP Finals title in entrance his residence followers in Turin… in opposition to his nemesis.

Eagles soar as Chiefs’ dynasty crumbles

Caesars Superdome in New Orleans offered the stage. Twenty‑two‑time Grammy Award‑profitable rapper Kendrick Lamar offered the soundtrack. And the Philadelphia Eagles delivered a clinic.

Two years after dropping the Lombardi Trophy to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, the Eagles lastly dethroned the NFL’s kings in ruthless, unrelenting vogue.

They did not simply beat the Chiefs – they embarrassed them, piling on 40 factors to extinguish their hopes of a historic Tremendous Bowl three‑peat.

They left Patrick Mahomes – sure, Patrick Mahomes – working for his life, because the talismanic quarterback was sacked six occasions and intercepted twice in a defeat that continues to reverberate across the NFL.

Hull KR happen at rugby league’s high desk

Tremendous League champions, Problem Cup winners, homeowners of the League Leaders’ Protect.

2025 in rugby league belonged to Hull KR, who received all of it in a historic treble-winning season.

Talisman Mikey Lewis took centre stage, kicking the profitable conversion within the dying seconds within the Problem Cup remaining at Wembley to defeat Warrington.

Lewis then produced a man-of-the-match efficiency as Wigan have been dethroned within the Tremendous League Grand Ultimate at Outdated Trafford.

The victory noticed Hull KR be part of Wigan Warriors, St Helens, Leeds Rhinos and Bradford Bulls in an elite membership of 5 to have ever received a Grand Ultimate, including additional significance to a season that may stay endlessly within the reminiscence.

India break duck in watershed Girls’s Cricket World Cup

India lastly ended their await a Girls’s Cricket World Cup title, profitable their maiden 50‑over crown on residence soil in a landmark second for the game.

Lengthy seen as a powerhouse with out a international trophy, the staff’s breakthrough mirrored years of funding and the rise of the WPL coming to fruition.

Mumbai offered the right backdrop as India beat South Africa in a event that captured the nation’s creativeness, with tens of millions tuning in to observe Harmanpreet Kaur, Deepti Sharma, Jemima Rodrigues and others shine.

A bought‑out DY Patil Stadium was gripped as historical past unfolded in entrance of their eyes. With the suspense and pressure palpable, 21-year-old Shafali Verma, having been drafted in as a late damage alternative, struck a masterful 87 off 78 balls to steer India to a historic victory.

Horner’s acrimonious Purple Bull exit

The most important shock of the 2025 Components 1 season got here when Christian Horner was sacked as Purple Bull staff principal after greater than 20 years answerable for the Milton Keynes squad.

Whereas efficiency had taken a relative dip throughout his remaining 12 months in cost, the very fact he was dismissed simply seven months after Max Verstappen had received a fourth successive drivers’ title for Purple Bull made it clear that this was a call extra about off-track politics than outcomes on the monitor.

Sky Sports activities Information obtained footage of Horner’s emotional farewell speech on the staff’s manufacturing facility, by which he battled by means of tears as he admitted the choice had come as a “shock” to him.

Eubank vs Benn – household feud reignites

The trash speaking, the controversial rehydration clause, the astronomical nice for lacking weight, or the very fact it reignited a grudge battle between two households steeped in British boxing historical past, Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn had all of it – and that was even earlier than a punch was thrown.

The wheels have been set in movement the second Eubank Jr struck Benn within the face with an egg, and from there a household feud unravelled that gripped the nation.

What it lacked in real boxing jeopardy, it greater than made up for in drama, intrigue and suspense, maybe finest encapsulated by the enduring second Chris Eubank Snr buried the hatchet together with his son to accompany him into Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

As soon as within the ring, the 2 fighters slugged out a combat‑of‑the‑12 months contender that Eubank Jr received on factors – however with the British public begging for extra, Benn got here out on high within the rematch.

Fleetwood conquers America finally

There was a time that Tommy Fleetwood had extra success on the PGA Tour than some other winless participant, however the Englishman saved his breakthrough success for one of many greatest doable.

In a 12 months the place Fleetwood registered a runner-up end on the Vacationers Championship – his sixth on the PGA Tour – and high 4 finishes within the first two legs of the FedExCup Playoffs, he made his maiden win the season-ending Tour Championship at East Lake.

A 3-shot victory over Patrick Cantlay and Russell Henley noticed Fleetwood topped FedExCup champion and win a $10million first prize, together with his subsequent look in America seeing him high rating for Workforce Europe within the Ryder Cup.

Draper proves credentials to sit down at tennis’s high desk

The British No 1 has a sport to bother the easiest and he proved it by profitable the most important event of his profession in March – the ATP Masters 1000 of Indian Wells, California, typically described because the ‘fifth slam’ – when he famously sealed a straight-sets victory over Holger Rune.

The street to victory included an distinctive victory over Carlos Alcaraz within the semi-finals.

Subsequent got here a run to the Madrid Open remaining at the beginning of Might, which noticed him leapfrog Novak Djokovic and enter the world’s high 5 for the primary time.

The 6ft 4in left-hander from Sutton turned the primary British male to succeed in the US Open semi-final since Andy Murray in 2012 final 12 months, however accidents stunted his progress with an arm damage placing pay to his Wimbledon and US Open hopes earlier than calling time on his season.

Hamilton struggles

The dream marriage of Components 1’s hottest driver and most well-known staff in some way turned a “nightmare”.

That was Lewis Hamilton’s verdict in the direction of the top of a primary marketing campaign in Ferrari crimson that started brightly when he received the Dash on the second spherical of the season in China, however quickly turned bitter.

Hamilton would fail to attain a grand prix podium throughout a season for the primary time in his profession, with the 40-year-old struggling to familiarize yourself with a massively underperforming automobile that Ferrari had anticipated to contend for titles.

He would wrestle to comprise his frustration throughout a very testing finish to the 12 months, admitting to Sky Sports activities F1 that he was feeling an “unbearable amount of anger and rage”.

Trophy droughts snapped

Trophy droughts have been vanquished in a 12 months when Premier League golf equipment related to birds soared.

First, Newcastle United ended their 56-year await a trophy, as native lad Dan Burn and striker Alexander Isak fired the Magpies to victory over Liverpool in March’s Carabao Cup remaining at Wembley.

Crystal Palace savoured a historic day at Wembley in Might as Eberechi Eze’s winner secured FA Cup remaining victory over Manchester Metropolis as Oliver Galsner delivered the Eagles’ first trophy within the membership’s 120-year historical past.

Tottenham’s 17-year trophy drought had been used as a persist with beat the membership with, however Ange Postecoglou delivered a memorable parting reward in what turned out to be his remaining sport in cost. 1000’s descended on Bilbao for the Europa League remaining in opposition to Manchester United as Brennan Johnson’s objective secured Spurs their first piece of silverware since 2008.

England reborn underneath Borthwick

Contemporary expertise was unearthed, and a newfound means to shut out video games noticed England ship probably the most encouraging 12 months of Steve Borthwick’s tenure.

England bounced again from an abject 2024 with 11 wins in 12 Check matches in 2025, as a second‑place Six Nations end, a Check sequence victory in Argentina with out senior British and Irish Lions, and a flawless autumn capped by victory over the All Blacks underscored their improvement.

South Africa stay rugby’s dominant power, however England are firmly among the many chasing pack. The extent to which they’ll bridge the hole to the Springboks over the subsequent 12 months stays to be seen, however Borthwick has laid the constructing blocks.

Japan lastly welcomes the athletics world

Athletics returned to Tokyo in September for the primary time because the Covid-overshadowed Olympics in 2021, and the locals bought a present nicely well worth the wait.

We now have nearly come to anticipate a world document from Mondo Duplantis, a stress that appears considerably unfair, however the Swedish icon retains residing as much as expectations – he edged over the bar breaking his personal world document for the fourth time this 12 months and 14th time in whole.

He might have been the one world document breaker, however it was not in need of motion; as Melissa Jefferson-Wood turned the primary American to win the dash double, and underdog Indirect Seville put Jamaica on high of the 100m for the primary time since Usain Bolt in 2015.

However the championships additionally gave us a few of the smallest gaps between medallists now we have ever seen! The gold and silver within the males’s 3000m steeplechase have been separated by simply 0.07s; whereas the identical medals within the males’s 10k and girls’s 100m hurdles have been parted by 0.06s and 0.05s respectively.

However most remarkably, the lads’s marathon got here right down to a dash end between Tanzania’s Alphonce Felix Simbu and Germany’s Amanal Petros with the previous profitable by 0.03s after 26.2 miles!

Jannik Sinner’s drug ban, controversy

The Italian served a controversial three-month ban from tennis after reaching an settlement with the World Anti-Doping Company (WADA) following two constructive drug assessments for the anabolic steroid clostebol in 2024.

Sinner accepted a interval of ineligibility that suspended him from enjoying from February 9 till Might 4, that means he returned to motion in time for the French Open, though he “didn’t agree completely” when accepting the ban.

Former Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios stated the perceived leniency of the settlement confirmed that “fairness in tennis does not exist”, whereas former British No 1 Tim Henman felt it appeared “a little bit too convenient” and left a “pretty sour taste for the sport”.

Novak Djokovic stated the vast majority of the gamers he spoke to felt the lenient ban was unfair and believed there was favouritism for the larger names within the sport, including later that the doping ban will “hang over him like a cloud”.

Sinner retained the Australian Open at the beginning of the 12 months and beat Carlos Alcaraz within the Wimbledon remaining.

Golds elude Workforce GB however silver linings aplenty

The primary half of the championships have been barely painful for British followers as we didn’t get a medal till day 5 when the lads’s 1500m lastly arrived.

With the favorite, Jakob Ingebrigtsen, having didn’t make it by means of the qualifiers, British eyes have been extensive and longing for Josh Kerr and Jake Wightman – the 2 most up-to-date world champions.

However catastrophe struck for Kerr as he pulled up injured, all whereas Wightman was in a position to combat by means of a packed area to seize a dramatic silver.

The subsequent British medal was the ladies’s 200m which can have been stacked, however Cambridge graduate Amy Hunt stormed to silver, beating the second quickest girl ever over the space, Shericka Jackson.

British eyes have been ready for the final day have been Olympic Champion Keely Hodgkinson was in motion over 800m, however the 23-year-old dropped to 3rd as her coaching companion Georgia Hunter-Bell pipped her for silver.

Katarina Johnson-Thompson bought revenge after Tokyo, the place she injured her calf in 2021, by striding to an unimaginable bronze within the ladies’s heptathlon.

Remarkably, she needed to share the bronze, as after two days and 7 occasions, she had scored the very same factors as American Taliyah Brooks – the primary time a medal was shared on the World Championships on this occasion.