2025 has become an extraordinary year for sports as a historic number of long-standing trophy droughts were finally broken, many by domestic clubs and athletes long burdened by expectations.
And the year is only halfway through.
On March 16, Premier League’s Newcastle United ended a 70-year wait for silverware by defeating Liverpool 2-1 in the EFL Cup Final, their first major title since 1955.
Just over a month later, on April 21, Dutch side Go Ahead Eagles stunned fans by clinching the KNVB Cup, their first trophy in 94 years after beating AZ Alkmaar in the final.
In Germany, English striker Harry Kane finally broke his personal trophy curse on May 12, helping Bayern Munich secure the Bundesliga title, marking the first major honour of his professional career.
On May 15, Italy’s Bologna FC lifted the Coppa Italia, winning their first trophy in 51 years with a surprise 1-0 win over AC Milan.
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The surprises kept on coming. On May 17, Premier League club Crystal Palace shocked Manchester City to win the FA Cup, ending a 119-year wait for a major title, by far one of the longest droughts in football history.
Just five days later, Tottenham Hotspur clinched the UEFA Europa League title with a win over Manchester United, ending a 17-year drought. While Spurs had previously won the League Cup, this European silverware was psychologically a big one.
On June 1, French club Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) finally conquered Europe after thrashing Inter Milan 5-0 to claim their first-ever UEFA Champions League title.
In cricket, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) finally secured their maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) title after 18 seasons, putting an end to a legacy of near-misses and heartbreaks.
So far, 2025 has continued this pattern of redemption across other major sports and leagues.
In the Big Bash League, the Hobart Hurricanes won their first-ever BBL championship, completing a long-awaited triumph for Tasmanian fans.
In Belgium, USG (Union Saint-Gilloise), one of the country’s most historic clubs, won the Belgian Pro League, marking their first top-flight title in 88 years.
In the NBA, a unique final is underway between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers. Neither franchise has ever won an NBA Championship, meaning the 2025 Finals are guaranteed to end with a first-time champion.
With still half a year left, 2025 is shaping up to be the ultimate redemption arc in global sports, a year of broken curses, flipped narratives, and some boring finals.
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