From the fallen Chapecoense heroes, to the legends we lost this year; 2016 has been brutal to the beautiful game.

The end of 2016 will see one of the most eventful years in football wrap up. It was one full of highs, the unexpected – both good and bad – and awful lows.

In the same year in which Leicester City won the most remarkable Premier League title in recent years, a team from Brazil that no one will forget sadly lost most of their team. Here we take a look at the most disappointing football headlines in 2016.

4. The several international retirements

It is always a hard choice for a football player, deciding when is the right time to hang up his boots. Waving goodbye to your country can be the hardest, as fans found it difficult bidding farewell to two particular players: Bastian Schweinsteiger and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

The Swedish talisman revealed that he would be retiring after Euro 2016. Having guided the Scandinavian nation to France, fans were hoping for an unforgettable last tournament from the striker. Unfortunately, he exited in the group stage without even scoring, but he’ll have a statue in Sweden to help him forget all about that disappointing last few games.

Zlatan claps for the fans in his final game for Sweden

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Sweden, Belgium, UEFA Euro 2016

Schweinsteiger enjoyed a more memorable Euro 2016, although his role for the national side was smaller than Zlatan’s. Nonetheless, he helped die Mannschaft make the semi-final only to lose to hosts France. Soon after Germany’s elimination, their then captain made his retirement official.

Other notable international retirements

Lionel Messi from Argentine – although it was short, it was still scary.

Yaya Toure from Ivory Coast

Petr Cech from Czech Republic.

3. Terrorist attacks claim the lives of fans

Long have terrorist attacks been a plague to this world, and in 2016, it became even worse for football fans. The world was reminded of this in this month – December – when a twin bomb attack occurred in Turkey.

The explosions which happened outside Besiktas’ stadium claimed the lives of 38 and left 160 injured. However, that sadly wasn’t the only fatal incident this year. 

In May, 16 Real Madrid fans were killed at a supporters club by ISIS. In South Sudan, a gunman opened fire on fans watching a Premier League game, leaving 11 dead and 16 injured (as per the BBC).

2. The legends we lost

Johann Cruyff (April 1947 - March 2016)

Johan Cruyff, Netherlands, Barcelona 

Carlos Alberto (July 1944 - October 2016)

Carlos Alberto, Brazil, FIFA World Cup 

Stephen Keshi (January 1962 - June 2016)

Stephen Keshi, Nigeria, African Cup of Nations 

1. The fallen Chapecoense heroes that will never be forgotten

In 2016, a club in Brazil that many had never heard off was suddenly on the minds of every football fan for saddest of reasons. Chapecoense, five days after booking their spot in the Copa Sudamericana final, lost almost their entire team.

A plane carrying the players to the first leg of the final in Colombia unfortunately crashed, with all but three losing their lives. World-wide tribute soon poured in, as the football world woke up to the tragic news.

A lot followed next: #ForceChape trended on Twitter, clubs and players joined together to honor the deceased, some teams offered the Brazilian side players to cope with their loss, and Chapecoense were named the 2016 Copa Sudamericana winners upon request from their opponents Atletico Nacional.

Chapecoense, Atletico Nacional, Copa Sudamericana