Hi all, welcome to All Football's On This Day! Let's find out what happened today (February 24th) in football history. If you have more stories and news that happened on this day in history, feel free to post them in the comment area and share them with AFers!
On This Day in 2018 - Yes, Messi Made History Again...
FC Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi was in fine form on 24th February 2018 against Girona, scoring twice – including a cheeky free-kick – and breaking two LaLiga records held by Real Madrid players along the way.
The Argentine assisted Luis Suarez's first goal in the Blaugrana's 6-1 drubbing of Catalan rivals Girona, before adding two strikes himself.
A brace from Suarez and Philippe Coutinho's first LaLiga goal for Barcelona rounded off the scoreline, but it was Messi who once again wrote all the headlines.
His assist for the Uruguayan's first strike was his 148th in Spain's top flight, breaking the league's all-time record held by former Real player Michel, as confirmed by LaLiga.
In addition, Messi also scored his first ever goal against Girona, scratching them off his list of teams he has never scored against.
Girona became the 36th LaLiga side Messi has found the back of the net against, writing his name in the league's record books once more.
On This Day in 2001 - Cristiano Ronaldo Wore Portugal Shirt For First Time
It was 24 February 18 years ago when the 16-year-old Ronaldo made his debut for Portugal against a South African youth side at an international tournament in Rio Major (Portugal).
Portugal’s U15 side beat South Africa 2-1 on that day and the five-time FIFA Ballon d’Or winner scored his side’s second goal.
Ronaldo had a "very positive impact on his teammates," recalled then U15 coach Franciso Silveira Ramos - as quoted by Marca.
The "incredible competitiveness" of the young Ronaldo and his "huge motivation to train and play" at "an incredible speed" came as a pleasant surprise, Portugal’s current National Technical Director explains.
Ronaldo didn’t make his national team debut at an earlier age, because he was overlooked due to his racing heart condition, which was corrected when he was 15.
However, Sporting, his club at the time, informed Silveira Ramos of “an interesting youngster” and the rest is history.
It’s just a strange coincidence, but definitely something not many people knew, that one of the world’s best players in the world played his first international game against Mzansi’s finest young guns (at the time).
On This Day in 2004 - I Can Do One Of Those In 140 Seconds (It's Not The Hat-Trick)
On 24 February 2004, Bournemouth substitute forward James Hayter set a Football League record when he scored a hat-trick in just 2 minutes and 20 seconds. And it wasn't even his biggest event of the week.
Hayter had been with the Cherries since 1996 and had already tied a club record when he scored four against Bury in October 2000. But that was a relativiely minor accomplishment when compared to his performance against Wrexham in February 2004.
Bournemouth were already up 3-0 when Hayter came on in the 84th minute, but scored twice in the 86th minute then once more in the 88th minute. With all three goals coming in the span on 140 seconds, it was the fastest hat-trick in English league history, beating the previous record of 150 seconds set by Gillingham's Jimmy Scarth in 1952. Unfortunately for Hayter, his parents did not see his record accomplishment, having left early when they thought he wasn't going to play.
Despite the record hat-trick, the most memorable event of Hayter's week actually occurred three days earlier with the birth of his son. lol.
On This Day in 2004 - Much Edu About Something
On 24 February 2004, Arsenal beat Celta Vigo 2-3 in the Champions League with players named Edu scoring for both sides.
The meeting came in the Round of 16, with Celta hosting the first leg. Although Arsenal were in the midst of an unbeaten league season, they had never won a game in Spain under manager Arsène Wenger. They took an early lead, however, when their Brazilian midfielder Edu scored in the 18th minute.
The lead lasted only nine minutes, though, as Celta's own Brazilian Edu brought the hosts level. Then, in the 58th minute, Arsenal's Edu struck again to restore the lead, followed by another quick equalizer, this time by Celta Vigo midfielder José Ignacio in the 64th minute. The visitors finally captured the lead for good with an 80th-minute strike from Robert Pirès.
Neither Edu scored in the second leg, which the Gunners won 2-0 to advance 2-5 on aggregate. They went on to lose to Chelsea in the quarterfinals, but consoled themselves by winning the league.
On This Day in 1993 - Bobby Moore No More
On 24 February 1993, 51-year old England and West Ham United legend Bobby Moore died from bowel cancer.
Moore began his professional career in 1958 with West Ham, where he would stay for just over 15 seasons. Despite having fairly average physical talents, he was gifted with an uncanny ability to read the game and anticipate where the ball was going. That, combined with his impeccable timing, made him one of England's top defenders. He earned his first cap for England at 21, and at 22, became the youngest person to captain the English senior side.
He got his first silverware in 1964, when he led the Hammers to the FA Cup trophy, also earning personal accolades as the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year. He followed by helping West Ham to the 1965 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup with a 2-0 win over 1860 Munich. But he is best remembered for captaining England to the World Cup title in 1966, where Moore set up two of England's goals in the 4-2 win over West Germany in the Final. He would go on to make 108 appearances for England, making him England's most-capped player at the time, though Peter Shilton (125) and David Beckham (currently at 115) would later go on to surpass Moore's total.
Moore left West Ham in 1974 for London rivals Fulham, then in the Second Division. In his first season with Fulham, they met West Ham twice, beating them in the League Cup, but losing to the Hammers in the 1975 FA Cup Final. He also spent some time in the US during the English off-season, playing for the San Antonio Thunder and Seattle Sounders before retiring in 1978.
Afterward, Moore spent a brief period in management before moving on to work as a commentator. He made his last public appearance in the commentators' booth for England's match against San Marino on 17 February 1993, one week before his death.
On This Day in 2008 - Tottenham's latest trophy...
On 24th February 2008, Tottenham came from a goal down to beat Chelsea at Wembley and win the Carling Cup after extra-time.
Jonathan Woodgate won it when Petr Cech disastrously punched the ball on to his head from Jermaine Jenas's free-kick.
Pascal Chimbonda had hit the bar for Spurs, before Didier Drogba's 20-yard free-kick gave Chelsea the lead with Paul Robinson badly out of position.
Spurs levelled when Wayne Bridge handled in the box and Dimitar Berbatov coolly rolled in the resulting penalty.
And, absolutely it was their last trophy...
