Inspired by Leicester City's incredible Premier League success, underdogs also shone on the international stage in 2016 as Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal stunned hosts France to the European Championship title in a tournament also lit up by debutants Wales and Iceland.
Ronaldo capped his stellar career with a first international trophy as Portugal took advantage of the new 24-team format to emerge victorious despite winning just one match in 90 minutes.
A tournament dogged by fears over terrorism thankfully passed off peacefully, bar skirmishes that marked the opening weekend between England and Russian fans.
That was to be far from the only embarrassment in France for England.
Coach Roy Hodgson resigned immediately after a sensational 2-1 defeat to Iceland in the last-16 sent the Three Lions for another early major tournament exit.
The Nordic island with a population of just over 300,000 captivated on and off the field with tens of thousands of fans setting the trend in the stands too with their Viking thunder clap chant.
Iceland’s dreams were finally ended in ruthless fashion by France, who also saw off old enemies Germany.
Wales reached the semi-finals on their first tournament appearance since 1958. Their run was finally halted as Ronaldo came out on top in a battle of Real Madrid superstars with Gareth Bale.
Ronaldo left the field in tears after just 25 minutes of the final after suffering knee ligament damage.
Yet, even without the four-time World Player of the Year, Portugal upstaged the hosts when Eder proved the unlikely hero with the only goal in extra time.
England's annus horribilis continued as Hodgson's successor Sam Allardyce lasted just one game and 67 days in charge before being ousted over controversial comments made to undercover reporters in September.
Gareth Southgate became the third England boss in six months when he was confirmed in the role after a four-game trial period.
In contrast to Ronaldo's moment in the sun there was more heartbreak for Lionel Messi's Argentina as they lost a major final for the third consecutive year in the Copa America Centenario on penalties to Chile.
So devastated was Messi at missing a spot-kick in the shootout that he temporarily announced his decision to retire from international football.
The Barcelona star quickly changed his mind, but Argentina still face a battle to qualify for the World Cup in Russia next year as they lie fifth in South American qualifying.
Brazil were eliminated at the group stages in the Copa America, but inspired by Neymar were rejuvenated by sealing a first football Olympic gold on home soil.
On the European scene at club level it was another year dominated by Spanish clubs.
Real Madrid edged out neighbours Atletico Madrid in the second all-Spanish capital Champions League final in three seasons on penalties as Ronaldo hit the winning spot-kick in Milan.
Ronaldo’s dream year was rounded off by winning a fourth Ballon d’Or.
In the Club World Cup final in December another underdog – Japan’s Kashima Antlers – gave European champions Real a fright before a Ronaldo hat-trick saw them come from behind to win 4-2 in extra-time in Yokohama.
Sevilla claimed a third successive Europa League to temporarily halt the Jurgen Klopp revolution at Liverpool.
However, Barcelona remained on top domestically in Spain with a second consecutive La Liga and Copa del Rey double.
Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain continued to dominate in Germany and France respectively with their fourth consecutive titles, whilst Juventus made it five-in-a-row in Italy's Serie A.
Celtic also won their fifth straight title in Scotland, but that still wasn't enough to save Ronny Deila's job as the Norwegian coach was replaced by Brendan Rodgers.
Atletico Nacional became the first Colombian winners of the Copa Libertadores for 12 years.
They also reached the final of the Copa Sudamericana where they were due to play the unheralded Chapecoense of Brazil.
Sadly, the final was never played as 71 people were killed when a plane carrying Chapeocense players and staff to the first leg in Medellin crashed.
*Agence France-Presse
Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE
Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport
Safety 'top priority' for rival hyperloop company
The chief operating officer of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, Andres de Leon, said his company's hyperloop technology is “ready” and safe.
He said the company prioritised safety throughout its development and, last year, Munich Re, one of the world's largest reinsurance companies, announced it was ready to insure their technology.
“Our levitation, propulsion, and vacuum technology have all been developed [...] over several decades and have been deployed and tested at full scale,” he said in a statement to The National.
“Only once the system has been certified and approved will it move people,” he said.
HyperloopTT has begun designing and engineering processes for its Abu Dhabi projects and hopes to break ground soon.
With no delivery date yet announced, Mr de Leon said timelines had to be considered carefully, as government approval, permits, and regulations could create necessary delays.
EMILY%20IN%20PARIS%3A%20SEASON%203
%3Cp%3ECreated%20by%3A%20Darren%20Star%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Lily%20Collins%2C%20Philippine%20Leroy-Beaulieu%2C%20Ashley%20Park%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%202.75%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
THE DRAFT
The final phase of player recruitment for the T10 League has taken place, with UAE and Indian players being drafted to each of the eight teams.
Bengal Tigers
UAE players: Chirag Suri, Mohammed Usman
Indian: Zaheer Khan
Karachians
UAE players: Ahmed Raza, Ghulam Shabber
Indian: Pravin Tambe
Kerala Kings
UAE players: Mohammed Naveed, Abdul Shakoor
Indian: RS Sodhi
Maratha Arabians
UAE players: Zahoor Khan, Amir Hayat
Indian: S Badrinath
Northern Warriors
UAE players: Imran Haider, Rahul Bhatia
Indian: Amitoze Singh
Pakhtoons
UAE players: Hafiz Kaleem, Sheer Walli
Indian: RP Singh
Punjabi Legends
UAE players: Shaiman Anwar, Sandy Singh
Indian: Praveen Kumar
Rajputs
UAE players: Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed
Indian: Munaf Patel
MATCH INFO
Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Ajax v Juventus, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Match on BeIN Sports
Copa del Rey
Barcelona v Real Madrid
Semi-final, first leg
Wednesday (midnight UAE)
Match info
Uefa Champions League Group C
Liverpool v Napoli, midnight
Multitasking pays off for money goals
Tackling money goals one at a time cost financial literacy expert Barbara O'Neill at least $1 million.
That's how much Ms O'Neill, a distinguished professor at Rutgers University in the US, figures she lost by starting saving for retirement only after she had created an emergency fund, bought a car with cash and purchased a home.
"I tell students that eventually, 30 years later, I hit the million-dollar mark, but I could've had $2 million," Ms O'Neill says.
Too often, financial experts say, people want to attack their money goals one at a time: "As soon as I pay off my credit card debt, then I'll start saving for a home," or, "As soon as I pay off my student loan debt, then I'll start saving for retirement"."
People do not realise how costly the words "as soon as" can be. Paying off debt is a worthy goal, but it should not come at the expense of other goals, particularly saving for retirement. The sooner money is contributed, the longer it can benefit from compounded returns. Compounded returns are when your investment gains earn their own gains, which can dramatically increase your balances over time.
"By putting off saving for the future, you are really inhibiting yourself from benefiting from that wonderful magic," says Kimberly Zimmerman Rand , an accredited financial counsellor and principal at Dragonfly Financial Solutions in Boston. "If you can start saving today ... you are going to have a lot more five years from now than if you decide to pay off debt for three years and start saving in year four."
Zayed Sustainability Prize
UAE Rugby finals day
Games being played at The Sevens, Dubai
2pm, UAE Conference final
Dubai Tigers v Al Ain Amblers
4pm, UAE Premiership final
Abu Dhabi Harlequins v Jebel Ali Dragons
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Your rights as an employee
The government has taken an increasingly tough line against companies that fail to pay employees on time. Three years ago, the Cabinet passed a decree allowing the government to halt the granting of work permits to companies with wage backlogs.
The new measures passed by the Cabinet in 2016 were an update to the Wage Protection System, which is in place to track whether a company pays its employees on time or not.
If wages are 10 days late, the new measures kick in and the company is alerted it is in breach of labour rules. If wages remain unpaid for a total of 16 days, the authorities can cancel work permits, effectively shutting off operations. Fines of up to Dh5,000 per unpaid employee follow after 60 days.
Despite those measures, late payments remain an issue, particularly in the construction sector. Smaller contractors, such as electrical, plumbing and fit-out businesses, often blame the bigger companies that hire them for wages being late.
The authorities have urged employees to report their companies at the labour ministry or Tawafuq service centres — there are 15 in Abu Dhabi.
The Travel Diaries of Albert Einstein The Far East, Palestine, and Spain, 1922 – 1923
Editor Ze’ev Rosenkranz
Princeton
Zimbabwe v UAE, ODI series
All matches at the Harare Sports Club:
1st ODI, Wednesday, April 10
2nd ODI, Friday, April 12
3rd ODI, Sunday, April 14
4th ODI, Tuesday, April 16
UAE squad: Mohammed Naveed (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Shaiman Anwar, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Chirag Suri, Mohammed Boota, Ghulam Shabber, Sultan Ahmed, Imran Haider, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed
The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Biggest%20applause
%3Cp%3EAsked%20to%20rate%20Boris%20Johnson's%20leadership%20out%20of%2010%2C%20Mr%20Sunak%20awarded%20a%20full%2010%20for%20delivering%20Brexit%20%E2%80%94%20remarks%20that%20earned%20him%20his%20biggest%20round%20of%20applause%20of%20the%20night.%20%22My%20views%20are%20clear%2C%20when%20he%20was%20great%20he%20was%20great%20and%20it%20got%20to%20a%20point%20where%20we%20need%20to%20move%20forward.%20In%20delivering%20a%20solution%20to%20Brexit%20and%20winning%20an%20election%20that's%20a%2010%2F10%20-%20you've%20got%20to%20give%20the%20guy%20credit%20for%20that%2C%20no-one%20else%20could%20probably%20have%20done%20that.%22%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
