15 best soccer moments of 2016

13. Brazil and Germany win gold in Rio

Olympic men’s soccer doesn’t usually draw much attention because the tournament is limited to players under the age of 23 (with three exceptions). But when the Olympics are in Brazil — only a year after the country were embarrassed against Germany in the World Cup semifinal — and Neymar is on the pitch, it’s hard not to pay attention.

Brazilian fans were almost disappointed when the men’s team only managed draws in their opening games against South Africa and Iraq. They turned on the style in their last game, though, defeating Denmark 4-0 to top their group. Brazil then comfortably beat Colombia 2-0 in the quarterfinals and destroyed Honduras in the semis to set up a showdown with, you guessed it, Germany. In a closely contested final, Brazil managed to overcome the Germans in a penalty shootout, with Neymar scoring the winning penalty.

The women’s soccer tournament also drew great interest, with the world’s best women’s soccer stars and teams on show. The most surprising moment saw the USWNT dumped out by Sweden in the quarterfinals, after a penalty shootout in which Hope Solo made the headlines for trying, and failing, to psych out Sweden’s final penalty taker. The US goalkeeper delayed the final penalty until she could change her gloves. Lisa Dahlkvist scored anyway to send the favorites packing and Solo into a post-match rage that eventually saw her banned from the USWNT for six months.

Sweden went on to the final but were beaten by Germany in an exciting gold-medal match. It was the Germans first ever Olympic gold to go along with bronze medals in 2000, 2004 and 2008.