The year 2025 has etched itself into the annals of sporting history as a transformative period where the traditional hierarchies of football were dismantled. For Bangladesh, it was the year the “sleeping giant” finally stirred. The national team’s trajectory was fundamentally altered on 25 March, when Hamza Choudhury, the Leicester City midfielder, donned the red and green jersey for the first time. His arrival, alongside fellow diaspora talents like Samit Som and Zayed Ahmed, sparked a fever pitch of “football mania” across the country. Tickets for home matches became the most sought-after commodity in Dhaka, as a rejuvenated squad proved they could compete at a higher technical level.
This resurgence was not confined to the men’s game. The women’s national team scripted their own odyssey, defying internal friction to secure a historic place in the 2026 Asian Cup. Following a tense investigation into a player revolt in January, the team showed remarkable resilience. On 2 July, they confirmed their qualification for the continent’s most prestigious tournament, a feat that saw them leapfrog 24 places in the FIFA World Rankings. The success was mirrored by the Under-20 women’s side in Laos, signaling a bright future for the next generation of female athletes.
A Year of Record-Breaking Triumphs
| Entity | Milestone | Historical Context |
| Bangladesh National Team | 1-0 Victory vs India | First win over rivals in 22 years |
| Mohammedan SC | BPL Champions | Ended 23-year league title drought |
| Paris Saint-Germain | Champions League Winners | First title in club history |
| Crystal Palace | Major Trophy Winner | First major silverware in 119 years |
| Ousmane Dembélé | Ballon d’Or Winner | First player to win after the “Big Three” era |
| Tottenham Hotspur | Europa League Champions | Ended a 17-year wait for a trophy |
Domestically, the romanticism of the sport returned to Dhaka’s club circuit as Mohammedan Sporting Club reclaimed the Premier League title for the first time since 2002. Their dominant run, secured in just 15 matches, revitalised a historic rivalry with Bashundhara Kings and Abahani Limited. International duty also saw a landmark moment on 18 November, when Shekh Morsalin’s decisive goal against India ended a two-decade-long wait for a victory over their neighbours, sending the National Stadium into raptures.
On the global stage, 2025 was defined by the underdog and the redemption arc. Ousmane Dembélé, once considered a “fragile” talent, swept the individual awards after leading PSG to their maiden Champions League trophy with a 5-0 thrashing of Inter Milan. Meanwhile, in England, the narrative of “the perennial bridesmaid” was extinguished as Newcastle United, Tottenham, and most notably Crystal Palace—winning their first major trophy in over a century—all secured silverware. As the world prepares for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the sport has never looked more vibrant or unpredictable.