Ronaldo record, unbeaten Italy, and a monkey off Messi´s back – football in 2021 in numbers

As football concludes for 2021, you d be forgiven for wondering if the past year even happened at all.

COVID-19 cases are skyrocketing, the climate crisis continues unabated, Donald Trump is crying election fraud and everyone is talking about cryptocurrency without really knowing why. If Bill Murray appeared on television to tell you we re stuck in a 2020 time loop, you d barely even blink.

Well, 2021 really did happen, and we have the data to prove it. Here, Stats Perform presents a selection of the biggest footballing moments of the year, and the numbers that help to make them unforgettable – even if you can t remember what day it is

Tuchel your fancy

Expectations are pretty high for Chelsea coaches, but winning the Champions League before you ve be…