Final Day Fumbles: The Biggest Slip-Ups Across World Football

In football, the final day of the season guarentees drama and shattered dreams: a place where heroes are made—or hearts broken. While the glare of the spotlight tends to fall on title races and relegation battles in Europe’s top leagues, the pressure of a season defining game isn't for everyone.

From elite clubs falling at the final hurdle to historic teams slipping into obscurity, here are some of the most dramatic final-day fumbles across world football.

Borussia Dortmund – Bundesliga Heartbreak (2022–23)

Few final days in recent history have been as gut-wrenching as Borussia Dortmund’s collapse at the end of the 2022–23 Bundesliga season. Going into the final matchday, Dortmund sat top of the table, two points ahead of Bayern Munich and needing only a win at home to Mainz to secure their first league title in 11 years.

But the pressure told early. Mainz scored twice within 24 minutes, and Dortmund missed a penalty in between. Though they clawed back to 2–2 in the dying minutes, it wasn’t enough. Simultaneously, Bayern snatched a late 2–1 win over Köln thanks to an 89th-minute strike by Jamal Musiala—robbing Dortmund of the title on goal difference. The Westfalenstadion crowd, dressed for a party, instead watched their dream unravel in real time.

Official: Bayern Munich are Bundesliga champions for the 11th year running! 🔴🏆

Jamal Musiala wins the game against FC Koln 2-1 in the 89th minute, while Borussia Dortmund stumble with a 2-2 draw against Mainz.

Elation for Bayern, heartbreak for Dortmund.#TheGoalpostNews pic.twitter.com/NTbPcwZs1u
— The Goalpost (@TGoalpost) May 27, 2023

Sheffield United – Premier League Relegation (2006–07)

In the 2006–07 Premier League season, Sheffield United found themselves in a precarious position going into the final day. Sitting just outside the relegation zone, they needed at least a draw at home against fellow strugglers Wigan Athletic to ensure survival.

In a cruel twist, it was a former Sheffield United player—David Unsworth—who would seal their fate. His penalty in the first half gave Wigan a 2–1 win. At the same time, West Ham shocked champions Manchester United with a 1–0 win at Old Trafford. The combination of results meant Sheffield United were relegated on goal difference, despite being outside the bottom three before kick-off.

This remains one of the most painful examples of a club being sucked into relegation by the narrowest of margins.

2 - Sheffield United are the first team in Premier League history to score two own goals in the same game after the 75th minute. The two own goals were scored four minutes and 34 seconds apart. Self-inflicted. pic.twitter.com/4eKt5pn0tV
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 26, 2023

Celta Vigo – Narrow Escape in La Liga (2019–20)

In Spain, the 2019–20 season saw Celta Vigo desperately trying to avoid the drop on the final matchday. Facing already-relegated Espanyol, Celta had their destiny in their own hands: a win would secure safety.

However, they faltered under pressure, a tense game that ended 0–0 left their future uncertain. Their fate ultimately hinged on Leganés, who were facing newly crowned champions Real Madrid. Leganés fought bravely and held Madrid to a 2–2 draw—just one goal away from survival. That result ensured Celta clung onto their top-flight status by a single point.

Though they survived, Celta’s inability to take care of business against a side with nothing to play for nearly cost them everything.

All the goals as Leganes drew with Real Madrid 👇pic.twitter.com/1ZovQ2f12q
— GOAL (@goal) July 19, 2020

Dinamo București – A Historic Relegation (2021–22)

One of Romanian football’s most iconic clubs, Dinamo București, had never been relegated from the top division in their 74-year history. That changed in devastating fashion in 2022.

After finishing near the bottom of Liga I, Dinamo faced Universitatea Cluj in a two-legged relegation play-off. The first leg ended in a damaging 2–0 defeat for Dinamo. Needing a comeback at home, they managed only a 1–1 draw, sending them down 3–1 on aggregate.

It was more than just a sporting failure—it marked a symbolic fall from grace for one of the country's most decorated clubs, rocked by years of financial instability.

Universitario de Sucre – Bolivian Breakdown (2016–17)

In Bolivia’s 2016–17 season, Universitario de Sucre were battling to avoid the relegation playoff going into the final matchday. They faced Sport Boys Warnes, a mid-table side with little at stake.

Needing at least a draw to keep themselves out of danger, Sucre were dismantled 5–2 in a shock collapse. The defeat dropped them into the dreaded relegation playoff, where they failed to recover. Their following loss meant relegation to Bolivia’s second division—ending their run in the top flight.

The club’s failure to rise to the occasion in a must-win game against unmotivated opposition shows how pressure can derail even experienced squads.

Lille OSC – Missed European Qualification (2012–13)

The 2012–13 Ligue 1 season saw Lille OSC and Saint-Étienne meet on the final day, with European football at stake. Both sides were in the hunt for a Europa League spot, and the equation was simple: the winner would likely claim fourth place and a ticket to continental competition.

Salomon Kalou gave Lille a first-half lead, but Romain Hamouma equalised for Saint-Étienne in the 59th minute. The match ended 1–1—an anti-climactic finish that benefitted neither team. Nice capitalised by winning their final match, leapfrogging both to secure the final European spot.

For Lille, who had dreams of returning to the European stage just two seasons after winning the title, it was a particularly bitter pill to swallow.

🏆 PSG (2013)
🏆 PSG (2014)
🏆 PSG (2015)
🏆 PSG (2016)
🏆 PSG (2017)
🏆 PSG (2018)
🏆 PSG (2019)
🏆 PSG (2020)
🏆 Lille (2021)

Lille win the Trophée des Champions for the first time in their history, ending PSG's eight year reign. pic.twitter.com/UoFC53aZTP
— Squawka (@Squawka) August 1, 2021