Soccer in '09: Historic victories, tragic losses

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With one of the most anticipated World Cups ever to look forward to next year, 2009 was always going to be the calm before the storm, right?

Perhaps not. While 2010 does offer some tantalizing possibilities for spectacular soccer and stunning storylines, this year provided more than its fair share of big moments for those who follow the beautiful game.

Whether it was World Cup draw drama, the ongoing saga of the world's two best players or THAT handball, here are the moments that got soccer buzzing in 2009.

10. Marta comes to WPS

The second coming of a women's pro league in the United States needed a figurehead star to help build its brand in Season One. Women's Professional Soccer got it with Marta, the brilliant 23-year-old Brazilian who signed for the Los Angeles Sol.

Marta's Sol lost to Sky Blue FC in the inaugural title game, but her level of play over the course of the season set a new standard for women's soccer.

9. Robert Enke's death

Enke was a world-class goalkeeper for Hannover and Germany who was still in his prime at the age of 32. Tragically, he was also a secret sufferer of clinical depression and took his own life by laying in front of a train on Nov. 10.

8. Lionel Messi sparks Barcelona treble

Messi's rise to prominence as the finest player on the planet was not a huge story, largely because it was so inevitable.

The Barcelona superstar was the driving force behind his club's historic triple championships in La Liga, Champions League and Copa del Rey. Messi also added individual honors to his mantelpiece with the Ballon d'Or (as Europe's top club performer) and FIFA World Footballer of the Year.

7. Maradona grabs the spotlight

Diego Maradona might be a living legend in Argentina but that didn't stop him from coming under heavy criticism after nearly failing to take the national team to the World Cup finals.

Argentina finally clinched a spot in South Africa in its final qualifying game, after which Maradona embarked upon a vitriolic rant against the media that included clutching his private parts and screaming lewd insults to incur a two-month ban by FIFA.

6. Ivory Coast stadium tragedy

At least 22 soccer fans lost their lives on March 29 when rioting took place before the Ivory Coast's World Cup qualifier against Malawi. A wall at the stadium collapsed, causing a horrendous crush and leading to the ninth African stadium disaster in recent times.

5. USA's Confederations Cup miracle

The summer tournament in South Africa featuring all six confederation champions promised to give the United States an indication of where it stood on the world stage – and a few days in the prognosis was decidedly gloomy.

Dismal performances against Italy and Brazil put the team on the verge of an embarrassing early exit, before, against all the odds, the most remarkable of revivals took place with an impressive victory over Egypt and a quirk of mathematics put the USA into the semifinals, where the Americans incredibly cut down European champion Spain 2-0 to snap its 35-game unbeaten streak.

A two-goal lead against Brazil in the final went begging, but the competition was a significant breakthrough for Bob Bradley's men and captured the imagination of the North American sports public.

4. The Beckham Experiment

David Beckham returned to the Los Angeles Galaxy following his loan spell with AC Milan only to be greeted with turmoil. "The Beckham Experiment," a book in which teammate Landon Donovan voiced public criticism of the England midfielder, looked set to plunge the club into deeper crisis.

But Beckham quickly patched things up with Donovan, and the pair combined to take the team on a dramatic run that culminated with a place in the MLS Cup final. Unfortunately for the Galaxy, Donovan's wild miss led to a heartbreaking penalty shootout defeat against Real Salt Lake.

3. Cristiano Ronaldo's record-breaking move

This was a story in the making for nearly two years before Real Madrid finally got its man by shelling out a world record $131 million to snatch Ronaldo away from Manchester United. Turns out, Ronaldo had announced his desire to move to the Bernabeu a year earlier, but United dug in its heels, a tactic that bumped up the price dramatically.

Real wasn't content with securing the services of the reigning World Foootballer of the Year, though. It also opened the checkbook to sign Kaka and Karim Benzema to complete a trio of transfers that rekindled memories of the old Galacticos era.

2. USA gets drawn with England

U.S. head coach Bob Bradley doesn't smile much but he could barely suppress a grin after the World Cup dates with destiny were laid down at the draw in Cape Town.

Being paired with Algeria and Slovenia was a huge plus for the USA (especially with Portugal and Ivory Coast as possible alternatives), but it is the clash with England in Rustenburg on June 12 that has ramped up interest even six months ahead of the tournament. With several members of the U.S. team plying their trade in the English Premier League and David Beckham joining MLS, perhaps no other head-to-head matchup could have got the juices flowing more than this one.

1. The Hand of Henry

WIth a couple of taps on the ball with his left hand, Thierry Henry generated more conjecture and argument than anything he did with his feet all year.

Henry's double handball led to France's decisive goal in its World Cup playoff with the Republic of Ireland and created a storm of controversy, with many critics (including plenty in France) calling for the Barcelona striker to be banned from the tournament in South Africa. FIFA did nothing and Ireland was left with shattered dreams. But the debate still rages on.