Dominating a league season is one thing—finishing the job is another. Over the years, several football clubs have found themselves on the brink of glory, only to see it unravel in heartbreaking fashion. Whether due to nerves, poor form, or sheer bad luck, these collapses have become iconic moments in the sport’s history. From Real Madrid’s Galácticos to Ajax’s recent Eredivisie disaster, here are the most shocking title meltdowns of the modern era.
Real Madrid – 2003/04
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Real Madrid’s Galácticos, featuring legends like Zidane, Ronaldo, Figo, and Beckham, held a 12-point lead with 12 games remaining. Despite their star-studded lineup, the team imploded in spectacular fashion, losing six of their final seven matches. A shock defeat to relegated Murcia highlighted the meltdown, and they ultimately finished fourth as Valencia claimed the title. It was a collapse that left lasting scars in Madrid.
Botafogo – 2023
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Botafogo led Brazil’s Série A from the opening rounds and were 13 points clear with just 11 matches left. The championship seemed inevitable—until it wasn’t. The club failed to win a single game in the final stretch, drawing six and losing five. They plummeted to fifth place, while Palmeiras surged past them to become champions. It was the most infamous implosion in Brazilian league history.
Kevin Keegan’s thrilling Newcastle United side captured the hearts of neutral fans and held a 12-point advantage over Manchester United in January. But the title challenge unraveled during the spring, with Newcastle dropping crucial points. A chaotic 4-3 loss to Liverpool and Keegan’s unforgettable “I will love it” rant summed up the collapse. Manchester United overtook them and secured the championship, leaving Newcastle empty-handed.
Liverpool were five points clear with three games to play and looked destined to end their long title drought. But everything changed when captain Steven Gerrard slipped against Chelsea, leading to a 2-0 defeat. Days later, they blew a 3-0 lead at Crystal Palace to draw 3-3, and Manchester City took full advantage to win the league. Gerrard’s fall became the defining image of a season that slipped through their fingers.
Arsenal – 2007/08
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Having sold Thierry Henry, Arsenal reemerged as title contenders with a vibrant, youthful team that went five points clear with 12 matches to go. But a brutal injury to Eduardo and William Gallas’ bizarre on-field meltdown in a 2-2 draw at Birmingham City derailed their momentum. Arsenal only won once in their next eight games and ended the season in third. What looked like a golden chance ended in bitter disappointment.
Manchester United – 1997/98
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Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United appeared in control as they built a 12-point cushion over Arsenal by March. But Arsenal had games in hand and found unstoppable form, winning 10 straight matches. A key defeat to the Gunners at Old Trafford shifted the momentum, and by the time United played their final home game, the title was already out of reach. Arsenal’s late charge turned the tide and left United stunned.
Ajax – 2024/25
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Ajax sat nine points clear at the top of the Eredivisie with only five games left and seemed certain to reclaim the Dutch title. But a disastrous run—including heavy defeats to Sparta Rotterdam and NEC, and a 99th-minute equalizer by 10-man Groningen—saw their lead evaporate. PSV overtook them on the final day to win the championship. According to Opta, it was the most dramatic collapse in European league history.
Leverkusen were five points ahead with just three Bundesliga rounds remaining and looked set for a historic treble. Instead, they lost two of those matches and handed the title to Borussia Dortmund. As if that weren’t painful enough, they went on to lose both the DFB-Pokal final and the Champions League final to Real Madrid. Three trophies slipped through their hands in just a few weeks, earning them the nickname “Neverkusen.”
Inter – 2001/02
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Inter were two points ahead of Juventus going into the final day of the Serie A season. With Ronaldo leading the line, they needed just a win over Lazio to clinch the title. But they collapsed spectacularly, losing 4-2 as Ronaldo left the pitch in tears. Juventus claimed the title while Inter fell to third. It remains one of the most painful endings to a title race in Italian football.
