Against all football odds: The greatest upsets in history
Football is an unpredictable sport. Each game is full of surprises, shining with moments that leave the world, fans, and experts speechless. Over the years, a handful of clubs have dominated the leagues, but that isn’t always the case.
Underdogs are now toppling giants, proving that anything is possible. But these aren't just about winning a match, as each win is a sign of resilience and passion. Relive some of the biggest upsets in football history—the stories that defied logic, silenced haters, and became iconic.
Leicester City’s 2015-16 EPL miracle
The Premier League is one of the toughest football leagues in the world. It’s a battlefield for giants like Chelsea, Arsenal, and Manchester United. Yet, in the 2015–16 season, Leicester City—one of the least likely contenders—defied all odds. They finished top of the league, winning their first-ever Premier League title in their 132-year history.
At the start of the season, the Foxes had 5,000:1 odds to win the title. Instead of giving in to doubt, they used it as fuel to go further. Under Claudio Ranieri, their solid defence and deadly counterattacks became their strengths. Star player Jamie Vardy led the charge for the Foxes, headlined by an EPL record of scoring goals in 11 straight matches, while Riyad Mahrez's creativity on the wings also stood out. It was a magical season that led to one of football's greatest miracles.
Greece’s Euro 2004 victory
Before Euro 2004, Greece had never won any major football trophy. They had only qualified twice in the Euro 1980 and the 1994 World Cup, which is why no one expected them to bid for the title, let alone win it.
They shocked France in the quarterfinals, edged past the Czech Republic in the semis, and beat a Cristiano Ronaldo-led Portugal 1-0 in the Final with an Angelos Charisteas winner. The Greeks' win proved that strategy and teamwork can exceed expectations.
Uruguay’s 1950 World Cup final win over Brazil
Brazil saw the 1950 World Cup as its crowning moment. As the final host and a dominating club across the season, Uruguay just had to step in. The championship was at the Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, where about 173,850 fans expected a Brazilian triumph.
Brazil scored first, but Uruguay fought back. Goals from Juan Alberto Schiaffino and Alcides Ghiggia stunned the crowd, and Uruguay won 2-1. The match remains one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history. Fans even call it the ‘El Maracanazo’ or ‘The Maracanã Smash’ to describe the tragedy Brazil faced in the season.
Wimbledon’s 1988 FA Cup win against Liverpool
Liverpool was English football’s most successful team in the 1980s. They had won several major trophies during that decade, so everyone expected they would win the 1988 FA Cup Final by crushing Wimbledon, who only finished in seventh place in the 1987–88 First Division season.
As classic as this Cinderella story gets, the underdogs turned the odds in their favour. Thanks to Lawrie Sanchez’s only goal of the match and a nerve-wracking penalty save by captain Dave Beasant, the Crazy Gang secured a 1-0 win.
Bradford City’s 2015 FA Cup upset over Chelsea
Chelsea FC was on fire under José Mourinho for the 2015 FA Cup. They were Premier League leaders at the time, filled with top-notch players. Chelsea were favourites to win the FA Cup title as well until the ‘giant killers’ arrived.
Bradford City was only a third-tier team from League One, and when Chelsea took a 2-0 lead in the fourth-round match, their winning bid seemed over. However, a historic comeback unfolded at Stamford Bridge when Jon Stead, Filipe Morais, Andy Halliday, and Mark Yeates sealed Bradford’s 4-2 triumph.
The upset became one of the biggest FA Cup shockers, where Bradford earned the nickname giant killers for knocking Chelsea over.
Saudi Arabia’s 2022 World Cup victory against Argentina
Argentina was a tournament favourite in the 2022 World Cup. The iconic Lionel Messi captained a confident and talented Argentina team. They wanted to start the World Cup with a win, but Saudi Arabia pulled off one of the World Cup’s biggest shocks.
The Green Falcons, who barely made it past the group stage, could have been done in the match when Messi slotted a penalty goal just 10 minutes into the match. Yet, the team never backed down. By the second half, Saleh Al-Shehri and Salem Al-Dawsari scored two goals for Saudi Arabia, leading the team to a shock 2-1 victory over Argentina.
Saudi Arabia was the first Asian team to ever beat Argentina in the history of the FIFA World Cup. They were also the first non-European team to defeat said country since Cameroon in 1990.
Slovakia’s massive upset over Belgium in Euro 2024
Belgium’s attacking power made them one of Euro 2024’s top contenders, but Slovakia just launched their perfect game plan. In the opening Group E match, no one expected the 45th-ranked Slovakia to even score a goal, they proved everyone wrong by scoring one anyway.
Ivan Schranz's goal was Slovakia’s quickest of the competition, scoring seven minutes into the match. Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku thought he had equalised in the 86th minute of the second half, but the VAR ruled it out for a handball by teammate Loïs Openda in the build-up.
Despite Belgium’s high possession control, Slovakia held their ground and secured a 1-0 win. The Slovakians' upset win surprised Group E wide open, whereas Belgium faced another bitter loss after their surprise exit from the 2022 World Cup group stage.
Defying the football odds
These iconic upsets are the biggest reminder of why football is so thrilling. No matter the odds, a team’s passion, belief, and teamwork can turn their dreams into history. A small club can lift a trophy, and a single goal can rewrite football history.
