A season that began back in August has come to an end in June, a long 11 months which were filled with enthralling action in the football world.
After the European club season concluded with the Champions League final, the players had to conjure last bit of strength in their legs for the Nations League (UEFA and CONCACAF), Euro qualifiers, Africa Cup of Nations qualification matches and international friendlies.
The latest trophies of the season were won by Spain and USA and their triumphs perhaps elicited different emotions in the respective camps.
For the Spaniards it was more relief than anything else as they ended a 11-year drought after clinching Euro 2012.
The La Roja also overcame their losing streak in the penalty shootout as they beat Croatia in the tie-breaker in the grand finale after coming up short in three consecutive major tournaments (Morocco in 2022 World Cup last 16, Italy in Euros semi-final and Russia in 2018 World Cup round of 16).
While for the Americans, the victory was one of vindication of them being the No 1 side in the CONCACAF region (North, Central America and Caribbean).
The CONCACAF Nations League has only ever been held twice and the USA bagged both editions.
Canada were bested by their illustrious neighbors twice in a season as they conceded defeat in the Nations League final earlier this week and also finished bottom of Group F in the Qatar World Cup while the Americans secured a last 16 berth having concluded the Group B fixtures in second place.
Euro, Afcon qualifiers
The Euro 2024 qualifiers are almost at the halfway stage and as things stand, England, France and Portugal appear the most impressive of the lot.
Alongside Scotland, these trio of teams have a 100% record ahead of the next matchday in September, and barring any terrible loss of form are all set to sail into Germany for the finals.
Despite his uncertain Paris Saint Germain future, Kylian Mbappe has continued to put in one assured performance after another for Les Bleus while Cristiano Ronaldo is still going strong for Portugal despite joining Al Nassr in the lesser known Saudi Pro League.
Meanwhile, Euro finalists England, desperate to make up for their heartbreak in 2021, are hitting all the right notes so far with Gareth Southgate's attacking options bursting at the seams.
Further south, 15 teams have qualified for the Afcon, scheduled for January-February next year, including record seven-time champions Egypt, three-time winners Nigeria, two-time victors Ivory Coast and Algeria (only side with 100% record), holders Senegal and 2022 World Cup's feel-good story Morocco.
The nine remaining spots will be confirmed on the last matchday in September where powerhouses Cameroon and Ghana will be eyeing to seal their places.
So too will Gambia who made their Afcon debut in 2021 and admirably advanced to the quarter-finals under well travelled coach Tom Saintfiet, the former Bangladesh coach.
Season to remember for Argentina, Manchester City
This season well and truly belongs to Argentina and Man City.
The Albiceleste brought to an end their 36-year wait for the World Cup, inspired by the late Diego Maradona's rightful successor, Lionel Messi, while coach Lionel Scaloni was the chief architect with his thoughtful innovations and tactics.
In what was supposedly his last dance on the biggest stage of them all, Messi finally fulfilled his lifelong dream of winning the golden trophy.
And with seven goals and three assists, the little genius deservedly notched the Golden Ball award.
The poetic Peter Drury best described the events that transpired on the eventful night of December 18: “Messi will be sainted…Messi has conquered his final peak. Messi has shaken hands with paradise. The little boy from Rosario, Santa Fe has just pitched up in heaven. He climbs into a galaxy of his own. He has his crowning moment…The greatest player of his age finally, has the greatest accolade football can afford him.”
Spare a thought too for Golden Boot winner Mbappe, who scored a World Cup final hat-trick, and lost.
Fast forward half a year and Pep Guardiola too ended his long wait, for a third Champions League crown as manager as City achieved the European Treble, driven by Erling Haaland's goal-scoring exploits.
For the blue half of Manchester, the European Cup was the sweetest of the three as it was their maiden Champions League success, after some near and agonizing misses in the last few years.
Alongside the Champions League, the other two trophies will also give Guardiola immense satisfaction as the FA Cup was secured against city rivals Manchester United while the Premier League was achieved after Arsenal led the standings for a record 248 days.
Brilliant Barca, Bundesliga battle, PSG predicament and nifty Napoli
Inter Milan became the third Italian side to lose an European final this season after Roma suffered a defeat against Sevilla in the Europa League (read Sevilla League) and Fiorentina conceded a last-gasp loss to West Ham United in the Conference League.
Along with Inter's march to the final, the biggest story that emerged from Italian football this season was the breath of fresh air that was Napoli.
The Neapolitans, led by Khvicha “Kvaradona” Kvaratskhelia and Victor Osimhen, not only ended the 21-year league dominance of the two Milans (Inter and AC) and Juventus, but also their 33-year Serie A drought in the process.
Besides Napoli, the football romantics were also rooting for Borussia Dortmund to land the German league title, and snatch Bayern Munich's decade-long hold on the Meisterschale (Bundesliga plate).
Dortmund led the standings four times this season but were unable to keep their composure on each occasion, and ultimately blew their chances on the final matchday too as Bayern had the last laugh.
Barcelona made no such mistake as they held onto the lead and registered their first LaLiga crown since 2019 with several weeks of the season remaining.
Known for their attacking prowess, the Catalans' success this time was built upon a solid defence and their best player of the season, goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, as Barca won 13 games by just one goal.
Last but not least, PSG claimed Ligue 1 despite a whopping seven defeats in 2023, but all is not well at the Parisian club.
Not only did the club, owned by Qatar Sports Investments, fail to win the much coveted Champions League in recent years but seemed to have gone backwards in the continental tournament.
In many ways their main man, Mbappe is apparently unwilling to extend his deal beyond 2024 while Neymar's persistent injury problems remain.
To add to that, after a somewhat bitter ending Messi has already left the club for Major League Soccer outfit, David Beckham's Inter Miami.
And so, in the upcoming season, European football – both domestic and cup competitions – will have a Messi- and Ronaldo-shaped hole in a long, long time.
Who would have thought that at the start of this season?
But the show must go on and someone else will take up the baton.
Step forward, Mbappe and Haaland.
