Sport has always been full of surprises, where the line separating victory and defeat can be very thin. While victories are celebrated, it’s in those moments when teams or athletes fight their way from almost certain defeat that stay longest. These comebacks highlight the resilience, skill and determination that make competition so exciting. They remind us through different eras and sports why we watch and remember these moments long after they are over.
1953 FA Cup Final: Blackpool FC Vs Bolton Wanderers
With 20 minutes remaining in the final, Bolton led 3-1 and was seemingly on its way to victory. Nat Lofthouse gave Bolton the early lead, but Stan Mortensen drew even. The Trotters went ahead again with two more goals to make it 3-1. What followed became one of football’s most legendary comebacks.
Mortensen struck twice more to level the score and sent the match towards what looked like extra time. Then, in the 92nd minute, Stanley Matthews weaved his way into the box from the right and laid the ball off to Bill Perry as he arrived just in time to sweep it home. Blackpool had completed a remarkable turnaround, etching the match into footballing history.
1974 French Open: Bjorn Borg Vs Manuel Orantes
On June 16, 1974, the 18-year-old Bjorn Borg from Sweden came back from two sets down and defeated Manuel Orantes of Spain in five sets, 2-6, 6-7, 6-0, 6-1, 6-1, to win his first Roland-Garros title. Borg became the youngest player to win the French Open at that time. It also was the first of Borg’s 11 major titles between 1974 and 1981. Beyond his on-court talent, Borg became tennis’s first global superstar.
1974 ‘Rumble In The Jungle’: Muhammad Ali Vs George Foreman
One of the most historic fights in boxing history occurred between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman, in Kinshasa, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo). Foreman dominated the first few rounds, landing powerful blows.
Ali turned the tide with his “rope-a-dope” strategy, where he leaned on the ropes, absorbed most of the attacks from Foreman and let the opponent tire himself out. In the eighth round, Ali launched a counterattack and was declared the winner by knockout.
2001: India Vs Australia, Second Test, Eden Gardens
On March 14 and 15, 2001, Indian cricket saw its greatest comeback at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata, when the team overcame a tough Australian side by 171 runs. Asked to follow on by Australia, defeat looked inevitable.
The match turned out to be one of the greatest spectacles in history, due to an outstanding partnership between VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid. They stitched together 376 runs that took India out of danger. Laxman and Dravid batted throughout the day against the best bowling attack in the world at that time. India completed one of the greatest comebacks, ending Australia’s 16-match winning streak. It was only the second instance in Test history of a side winning after following on.
2004 American League Championship Series: Boston Red Sox Vs New York Yankees
No team in baseball history had overcome a 0-3 playoff-series deficit, and the Boston Red Sox did not seem likely to be the first. After being blown out 19-8 in Game 3 by the New York Yankees, the task seemed insurmountable. Trailing 4-3 in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 4, with the Yankees’ ace reliever Mariano Rivera on the mound, Boston rallied for a remarkable comeback. A well-timed steal and some clutch hitting paved the way for a 6-4 Red Sox win in 12 innings that jump-started an unprecedented comeback. They won the next three games to capture the American League Championship Series.
2005 Champions League Final: Liverpool Vs AC Milan, ‘The Miracle Of Istanbul’
Liverpool entered the UEFA Champions League final in Istanbul against a dominant AC Milan. Milan justified their favourites’ tag early, as Paolo Maldini scored in the opening minute, followed by two goals from Hernan Crespo, giving them a commanding 3-0 lead by half-time. Yet Liverpool mounted one of football’s most remarkable comebacks. Within just six minutes of the second half, Steven Gerrard, Vladimir Smicer and Xabi Alonso struck to level the match at 3-3, sending shockwaves through Milan and their supporters. The game ultimately went to penalties, where Liverpool won, thus completing what has since been celebrated as “the Miracle of Istanbul.”
2013 America’s Cup, Sailing: Oracle Team USA Vs Emirates Team New Zealand
In the America’s Cup finals, Oracle Team USA was down 8-1 in the first-to-nine series, with almost certain defeat. Against all odds, the American-backed team won eight consecutive races to win 9-8 in the first-to-nine series, completing one of the most astonishing comebacks in sailing history.
2017 Super Bowl: New England Patriots Vs Atlanta Falcons
Even Tom Brady might have thought his New England Patriots had no hope for a win when they were down 28-3 to the Atlanta Falcons in the third quarter of Super Bowl LI. The legend engineered perhaps the finest comeback in NFL history, as he led his team to an astonishing 34-28 victory in overtime. This was not only the first Super Bowl that was decided in an additional period but also the biggest comeback ever seen in the history of the championship. It sealed Brady’s status among the all-time great quarterbacks.
These turnarounds show that sport’s greatest moments are not only about dominance but about defiance. From football pitches to boxing rings and sailing waters, these comebacks remind us how far determination and belief can go.