6-1 comeback against PSG in running for Laureus Award

Barça fans will need no reminding about what happened on the magical night of 8 March 2017. It was the night that the impossible came true. Trailing 4-0 to Paris Saint Germain from the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie, only a comeback of epic proportions could keep the Catalans in the competition.

Leading 3-0 at half-time, Barça looked like they might just be able to pull off the miracle, but the challenge went from difficult to seemingly impossible when the French side pulled a goal back. Barça now needed six. And they did it.

Sergi Roberto’s extraordinary last second goal to set the Camp Nou and the football world ablaze is one of the most memorable moments in living sporting memory. And so it comes as no surprise to learn that it’s one of the nominees for this year’s Laureus Best Sporting Moment Of The Year Award.

It is, of course, an accolade that the club is very familiar with after winning the first edition in recognition of Sergi Milà’s U14 side’s wonderful gesture at the World Challenge Cup in Japan, consoling their defeated opponents.

New voting system

The organisers have decided to change the system for the 2018 edition, and for each month between now and December they will be presenting six nominees for online voting by the general public. The five monthly winners will then go into a final round of voting to decide on the overall best sporting moment of the year.

As well as Barça’s famous win against PSG, the other five contenders in August are Afghan skiiers Sajjad Husaini and Ali Shah Farhang competing in the World Championships, Kathrine Switzer running again in the Boston Marathon 50 years after defying the organisers to appear in the men-only event, Jamarion Styles with a buzzer-beating score for his school despite having lost both his arms when he was just eight months old, Francesco Totti’s emotional departure from AS Roma and Formula One driver Kimi Raikkonen meeting a tearful fan after his final race.