Football Comebacks: The 10 Of The Greatest In Soccer History

In football, there’s a magic that unfolds when the underdogs refuse to be tamed, when the script is torn to shreds, and the scoreboard becomes a canvas for the extraordinary.

These are the moments that define the essence of the sport, the moments of the greatest football comebacks.

Football comebacks are more than just matches; they are epic sagas of resilience, courage, and the unwavering belief that anything is possible.

They remind us that the beautiful game is a stage where heroes emerge from the unlikeliest of circumstances, where the roar of the crowd becomes the chorus to a story of triumph against all odds.

In football, you’ll witness the miraculous, the improbable, and the unforgettable.

From unforgettable goals in the dying seconds to monumental rallies that rewrite history, these football comebacks have left a solid print on the game and the hearts of fans.

Today, CheapGoals brings you 10 of the greatest football comebacks in history

AC Milan 3-3 Liverpool – Champions League, 2005

Liverpool’s “Miracle of Istanbul” is like a plot from a Hollywood blockbuster that you’d think was too far-fetched in a Champions League final.

It was a night when Liverpool rewrote the script of their own history.

They went toe-to-toe with an AC Milan squad that read like a who’s who of football legends – Cafu, Kaka, Andrea Pirlo, Clarence Seedorf, and the evergreen Paolo Maldini, who wasted no time and scored in the very first minute.

At halftime, Liverpool was trailing 3-0 against an AC Milan team that seemed to have brought their A-game.

The odds of a comeback were as slim as a gossamer thread. But then, it was like a spell was cast.

In a six-minute whirlwind, they managed to level the score. It was akin to a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat.

With players like Djimi Traore and Milan Baros in the mix, a comeback from 1-0 down, let alone 3-0, seemed about as likely as finding a needle in a haystack.

Yet, Steven Gerrard played as if he had the heart of a lion, Vladimir Smicer hit the bullseye, and Xabi Alonso capitalized on a rebound after his penalty was saved.

Liverpool printed their name in football sands of time that night, turning the tables against one of Europe’s footballing giants.

They went on to clinch their 5th Champions League trophy in a dramatic penalty shootout, sealing one of the greatest comebacks in football history.

Manchester City 3-2 QPR – Premier League, 2012

This wasn’t just a game; it was a heart-stopping rollercoaster ride with a Hollywood ending.

At stake was the Premier League title, and with minutes ticking away, it seemed as though City’s dreams were about to go up in smoke. QPR had surprisingly taken a 2-1 lead, leaving City fans teetering on the edge of despair.

But then, as the clock wound down, it was as if the footballing fates conspired to craft an unforgettable narrative. Edin Džeko, in a moment that would make the Bard proud, equalized in the 92nd minute, injecting a dose of hope into City’s veins.

With the seconds ticking away, Sergio Agüero, the hero of the hour, took center stage. With the poise of a seasoned clinical striker, he delivered a blistering strike, sealing City’s destiny.

The Etihad Stadium erupted, and Manchester City secured their first Premier League title in over four decades.

It was a tale every soccer-loving kid would want to hear before going to bed, proving once again that in football, as in life, the most dramatic and unexpected twists can lead to the sweetest triumphs.

Liverpool 4-0 Barcelona – Champions League, 2019

The Liverpool 4-0 Barcelona match in the 2019 Champions League was a footballing tale that will be recounted for generations. It was a night when the stars aligned, and Liverpool summoned the spirit of legends.

Facing the mighty Barcelona, having the likes of Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez and a host of brilliant players, and a 3-0 aggregate lead from the first leg, Liverpool’s chances seemed as slim as a drunk walking straight.

Yet, the Anfield faithful believed.

They created a wall of sound that could be heard in the farthest reaches of Merseyside. The players responded to this deafening chorus.

Divock Origi opened the scoring, setting the stage for the miracle.

The mighty Trent Alexander-Arnold, with a flicker of genius, took a quick corner that caught Barcelona napping, and Georginio Wijnaldum netted two quickfire goals. The score was level at 3-3 on aggregate.

But the final blow was yet to come.

Trent Alexander-Arnold, now a sorcerer in his own right, delivered another inch-perfect corner that found the head of an unmarked Divock Origi. Anfield erupted, and Liverpool took the lead.

On a night where the Kop seemed to touch the stars, Liverpool advanced to the Champions League final with a 4-0 win.

The comeback defied belief and made even the most stoic football fans believe in magic. It was more than just a match; it was a chapter in the epic saga of Liverpool Football Club.

Barcelona 6-1 PSG – Champions League, 2017

This recent match is akin to a wild comeback tale, and for good reasons.

In the first leg at Le Parc des Princes in Paris, Barcelona suffered a humiliating defeat, losing 4-0.

PSG completely dominated the match, and Barcelona found themselves in a position where they had to score at least four goals in the second leg to force extra time. The second leg at Camp Nou started favorably for Barcelona.

‘La Remontada,’ which translates to ‘the comeback,’ felt like an impossible dream when Edison Cavani netted a goal in the 62nd minute, leaving Barcelona 3-1 ahead but needing three more goals to advance.

It appeared even more far-fetched in the 87th minute when they hadn’t scored a single goal.

But then came Neymar, who smashed in a free-kick, converted a controversial penalty, and set the stage for Sergi Roberto to score in the fifth minute of extra time, unleashing wild celebrations throughout the city.

And, against all odds, they pulled off the miraculous feat, scoring three goals in the final seven minutes, winning 6-1, and securing their spot in the quarter-finals.

This match epitomizes the age-old saying, “It’s not over until it’s over.”

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West Germany 3-2 Hungary – World Cup, 1954

You know a game was truly remarkable when it earned its own nickname ‘The Miracle of Bern.

That’s exactly what happened with the final of the 1954 Switzerland World Cup, one of the most legendary matches in history.

The Mighty Magyars, the formidable Hungarian team featuring stars like Ferenc Puskas, Sandor Kocsis, Nandor Hidegkuti, and Zoltan Czibor, all superstars of their era, had previously thrashed West Germany 8-3 in the same tournament.

They were unbeaten in 31 matches, making many believe that their game at the Wankdorf Stadium (no snickering in the back!) was a sure thing.

When Hungary found themselves 2-0 ahead after just eight minutes, thanks to goals by Puskas and Czibor after some chaotic defending, it seemed like a done deal.

Yet, a goal by Max Morlock appeared to be merely a consolation until Helmut Rahn found the net in the 18th minute, offering West Germany a ray of hope.

But it wasn’t until the 84th minute that either team made a move, and it was Rahn who once again found the net, scoring the winner for the West German side. It remains one of the greatest World Cup comebacks in history.

Angola 4-4 Mali – Africa Cup of Nations, 2010

When you’re playing against the host nation, there’s a certain level of courtesy expected. It’s especially important when you’re the visiting team in the opening game of the Africa Cup of Nations, on a night filled with joy and celebration in Angola.

It’s only polite not to deflate the party spirit by turning a 4-0 deficit into a thriller. But well, Mali had other plans.

In the 74th minute, former Manchester United player Manucho decided to add a little more spice to the Angolan fiesta with a penalty that made it 4-0.

The perfect night was on the horizon in Luanda, and some fans couldn’t resist the early exit to continue the celebration outside the stadium.

But Seydou Keita had a different plot in mind, sneaking in a goal.

Fredi Kanoute joined the party with a second, and just when everyone thought it couldn’t get wilder, Keita struck again three minutes into injury time.

The pièce de résistance came a minute later when substitute Mustapha Yatabare slotted one home from close range, sealing the most dramatic comeback in the tournament’s history.

Angola might have provided the stage, but Mali brought the fireworks.

Newcastle United 4-4 Arsenal – Premier League, 2011

Newcastle’s showdown with Arsenal in February 2011 was more than just a football match; it was a Shakespearean drama played out on the St. James’ Park turf.

The Magpies did something that hadn’t been done in the history of the Premier League – they clawed back from a four-goal deficit to snatch a point from the jaws of the Gunners.

Arsenal wasted no time making their intentions clear, with Theo Walcott finding the net just 44 seconds into the game.

Two more goals in the next two minutes had the Toon Army scratching their heads in disbelief. In less time than it takes to brew a pot of tea, Arsenal was up by four goals, and the party in North London seemed well underway.

This was happening while Newcastle was dealing with the departure of Andy Carroll to Liverpool and an injury to Shola Ameobi, making their odds of a comeback seem as likely as discovering buried treasure in your backyard.

Not even the sending off of Abou Diaby just after half-time or conceding a penalty in the 68th minute seemed to faze Arsenal too much.

But then, the unlikely script started to unfold. Leon Best fired one in with just fifteen minutes left, and Joey Barton added another from the penalty spot eight minutes later.

However, the real showstopper was the moment when Cheick Tiote unleashed a thunderous strike that found the bottom corner.

It was like a fairytale ending to a Shakespearean tragedy, an unexpected twist that left everyone in shock. Newcastle’s comeback was nothing short of a top-tier legend, a tale to be told for generations to come.

Germany 4-4 Sweden – World Cup Qualifier, 2012

Germany, riding high after their Euro 2012 semi-final run, embarked on their Brazil 2014 qualification campaign with the grace of a racehorse.

They even started it by handing the Republic of Ireland a resounding 6-1 shellacking in Dublin.

So, when they found themselves four goals up against Sweden in Berlin, you’d be forgiven for thinking the game was about as dramatic as a game of chess between two grandmasters.

But, hold onto your lederhosen, because here’s where the plot thickens.

Sweden, seemingly out of nowhere, pulled off a spectacular comeback. Zlatan Ibrahimovic led the charge with a dazzling header. Then, in a twist of fate, Mikael Lustig decided it was his turn to add to the suspense by slotting a snapshot that somehow evaded Manuel Neuer’s grasp.

The game had transformed into an edge-of-your-seat thriller.

Johan Elmander cranked up the tension with Sweden’s third, and the pendulum swung wildly.

Toni Kroos nearly cracked the sound barrier with a rocket of a shot against the post, Mesut Ozil skimmed the bar with a near-miss, and Tobias Sana had an open goal but couldn’t find his shooting boots.

As the seconds ticked away, Germany must have thought they’d dodged a bullet. But just as the referee was ready to call it a night, Rasmus Elm appeared, volleying the ball into the bottom corner.

The stakes might not have been as high as in a World Cup final, but this was the night that would forever echo in Swedish footballing history.

Reading 5–7 Arsenal – League Cup, 2012

This game was a remarkable comeback that could rival any comeback. It had all the ingredients of a thrilling soccer drama.

Arsenal, the London giants, traveled to the Madejski Stadium, and what transpired would become the stuff of legend.

Reading stunned Arsenal by racing to a 4-0 lead. The game seemed done and dusted, and Arsenal’s pride was hanging by a thread.

But, in the spirit of true underdog tales, Arsenal mounted a stunning fightback.

They scored an incredible five goals in just 35 minutes, defying all odds and logic. Theo Walcott, Olivier Giroud, and Laurent Koscielny all played big roles in this epic turnaround.

The final score read 7-5 in favor of Arsenal, and the match went down in history as one of the greatest comebacks in English football.

It was a rollercoaster of emotions, proving that in the world of sports, miracles can happen when you least expect them.

This was more than a match; it was a testament to the unyielding spirit of football and its capacity to surprise and enthrall.

AS Roma 3-0 Barcelona – Champions League, 2018