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Messianic Grealish leads Treble celebrations
“Hang it in the Louvre,” suggested the subject of this instantly iconic photo from Manchester City’s treble-winning trophy parade. Jack Grealish certainly has a point, and boy does he know how to have fun. Not since the Ashes victory bunfight, AKA the Pietersen and Flintoff parade, have we seen such an, er, intoxicating atmosphere. Caught in a quasi-religious pose, Grealish soaks up every drop of the adulation such a feat deserves. And why not?
Lexy Ilsley (Getty Images)
The great outdoors
There’s always something special about watching sporting events in the great outdoors, away from stadiums. This beautiful image taken of the peloton cycling down the Coll de la Creueta during Stage 3 of the 102nd Volta Ciclista a Catalunya in La Molina, Spain, is a fine example. You can almost feel the relief as the riders head down hill after battling through the landscape captured behind them.
(David Ramos/Getty Images)
Broad bows out in style
What a way to bow out. When batting in England’s second innings in the fifth Ashes Test, Broad turned down singles from the first five balls of Starc’s over; the sixth was smashed over square leg for six. It would prove the final ball of Broad’s batting career, but last ball of his bowling career proved just as pivotal. After capturing his 603rd wicket two overs before, Broad powered in to take the final wicket of Australia’s second innings to win the Test and draw the series with his 604th and last wicket for England.
Gareth Copley (Getty Images)
Agony and ecstasy
The pleasure and the pain. Alexis Holmes of the United States celebrates after she anchored her team to the gold medal, as Femke Bol of the Netherlands fell agonisingly short of the finish in the final of the 4x400-metres mixed relay during the World Athletics Championships in Budapest. Bol would, however, finish the games with two gold medals.
Petr David Josek (AP)
Technical excellence
In photography, we often speak about light, colour and composition – all of which come together in this image of Coco Gauff, serving during a third-round singles match against Bernarda Pera at the 2023 Australian Open. An equally compelling component, of which this is a great example, is form – how we perceive three-dimensional objects within a two-dimensional photograph. It is about the art of perspective, the study of light and the mastery of shadows. It brings a picture closer to reality – you may not see the details in the shadows here, but it is more real than in many images where you can.
(Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
Garnacho does a Rooney
Much of the impact of this goal was the sheer unexpected nature of it. Manchester United have not had the best of seasons and they were facing an angry and energised Everton courtesy of a 10-point deduction for breaking Premier League financial rules. Alejandro Garnacho silenced the fiery home faithful at Goodison Park with his incredible third-minute effort, taking a couple of steps back before leaping to convert Diogo Dalot’s cross with an unstoppable bicycle kick that hoisted the ball over Jordan Pickford and into the net. It was one of the greatest of its genre. The feat was captured by Telegraph regular Jon Super who, as it happens, also captured something similar a few years ago – Wayne Rooney’s 2011 stunner against Manchester City.
Jon Super (AP)
The brutality of ‘sweet science’
Finland’s Robert Helenius lands a left hook on the side of British heavyweight Anthony Joshua in an image that perfectly captured the violence and brutality of the sport often referred to as ‘the sweet science’. Joshua would go on to win with a spectacular one-punch knock-out in the seventh round at London’s O2 Arena, although he was jeered by fans during the bout as he landed nothing of note until the huge right that ended the contest. After outclassing Otto Wallin in December, former unified champion Joshua should get another title shot in 2024, against Filip Hrgovic for the IBF belt, or perhaps even Tyson Fury or Oleksandr Usyk for the other titles.
Andrew Couldridge (Reuters)
Snyman defies the odds
Outnumbered and hunted by the pack – but, on this occasion, to no avail. South African lock RG Snyman runs towards the line to score the only try of the match during the Springboks’ World Cup semi-final victory England.
Thomas Samson (Getty Images)
Rubiales sparks fury
Technically not the best photograph, but in terms of narrative, news value and impact, this is THE sports picture of the year. Jenni Hermoso is kissed by Luis Rubiales, the president of the Spanish Football Association, after Spain beat England in the World Cup final: cue ferocious recriminations, an international scandal, national soul-searching in Spain, lost jobs, a hunger strike and a court case.
Noe Llamas (Shutterstock)
Earps dives in vain
Remote cameras have recently come to the fore, particularly in football where they can cover angles photographers cannot reach. Here, England goalkeeper Mary Earps dives in vain as Sam Kerr of Australia scores her team’s first goal during the World Cup semi-final, which the Lionesses went on to win 3-1 against the hosts in Sydney. Much of the power of this picture comes from the connection the viewer gets from Mary’s longing look at the ball as it heads into the unseen net.
(Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Verstappen gets a soaking
A traditional F1 celebration that’s become something of a routine for Max Verstappen. Here we see him celebrating with champagne on the podium after winning the Monaco Grand Prix. What sets this particular image apart are the details captured in such a close-up. Bubbles anyone?
Stephane Mahe (Reuters)
Fleetwood’s relief
Tommy Fleetwood shows us a very different side to victory: the sheer relief and exhaustion that are captured so well in his facial expression as it is bathed in late afternoon sunlight after winning his singles match on the final day of the Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf Club, as Europe saw off the Americans.
Andrew Medichini (AP)
Packer powers through
Grit, determination and relief are all captured here as England’s Marlie Packer scores a try during the Women’s Six Nations match against Scotland at Kingston Park. Packer scored a hat-trick of tries in the Red Roses 58-0 win.
Will Matthews (PA)
Frankie’s farewell (kind of)
It is fitting that we finish with another major retirement and, by way of symmetry, another arms-outstretched, looking-to-the-heavens picture. Frankie Dettori, here with groom Chetan Singh after The Qipco 2000 Guineas Stakes, has clocked up 3,345 wins in his 35-year career, including 23 classics. Not bad. Not bad at all. He will actually continue to race in the US – and some believe he could even return for Ascot next year – but this year was his official, long-trumpeted European farewell.
Steven Cargill (Racingfotos.com)