Copa América

Top 10 stories of 2016 around Planet Fútbol

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 12:14 p.m. ET

Sports Illustrated, SI.com Staff/Sports Illustrated via Planet Futbol

As 2016 comes to an end, we're left looking back at another memorable year in the world of soccer.

Between Copa America Centenario, Euro 2016, the Olympics and all of the leagues around the world, we were treated to a memorable year of performances, results, breakout stars, plot lines, trends and pure theater, and within that we've drummed up our top 10 stories of the year.

Of course, on a limited list, not everything will make the cut, but that shouldn't reduce the significance of the so-called "snubs." We saw a number of familiar champions reign around Europe, with Barcelona (La Liga), Juventus (Serie A), PSG (Ligue 1) and Bayern Munich (Bundesliga) adding more silverware to their loaded cabinets. There were new champions, as well. Brazil finally won Olympic gold on the men's side, thanks in large part to Neymar's heroics on home soil, while Germany's women emerged victorious in Rio for their first gold. In MLS, the Seattle Sounders outlasted Toronto FC in penalties for their first MLS Cup, while the Western New York Flash shocked the Washington Spirit for a first NWSL title with a dramatic equalizer before also winning in PKs.

All of that said, here are the 10 stories (counting down over the course of the week) that resonated the most with Planet Fútbol in 2016: