The Year of the Underdog: Why 2016 was the most incredible year in sports history

As the majority of seasons have finished in 2023, it's easy to forget just how good some seasons have been in years gone by.

However, the year 2016 won't be forgotten by many sports fans in their lifetimes, remembering the mighty success of teams and individuals in that year.

Everybody loves an underdog story, but 2016 was different, with teams from multiple sports defying the odds and ending years of hurt.

Here are the greatest moments from 2016!

The Chicago Cubs versus the Cleveland Indians rounded up 2016 in supreme style, with The Cubs ending a 108-year wait for a World Series title.

The longest drought in American sports history could only be finished in the most dramatic style, with the Cubs turning around a 3-1 deficit to win the best of seven series 4-3.

2016 was also the year of the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in Brazil, hosting swimming and sporting icon Michael Phelps' last-ever Olympic Games.

In true Phelps style, the swimmer went out as a winner, securing five gold medals and taking his total to 28 medals across his career, becoming the most decorated Olympic athlete.

The late, great Kobe Bryant, one of the NBA's most incredible talents, laced his sneakers up for the final time in 2016 after a 20-year career, winning five NBA Championships and 18 all-star selections.

If there were any doubts Bryant could still produce on an NBA court in his final year, they were quickly wiped away, scoring an absurd 60 points against the Utah Jazz, with every celebrity they're in attendance at the Staples Center.

After 18 seasons in the NFL, five NFL MVPs, and 14 Pro Bowls, quarterback Peyton Manning called it quits on his career by winning Super Bowl 50.

Manning finished the game with 13 of 23 passes for 141 yards with one interception. The game ended 24-10 to the Denver Broncos, with Manning picking up his second Super Bowl.

LeBron James made a promise to the Cleveland Cavalier faithful when he returned in 2014; a championship will be in the hands of James and his Cleveland teammates.

James and The Cavs were 3-1 down against the 73-9 Golden State Warriors, miraculously they became the first team in NBA history to overturn a 3-1 deficit, beating the NBA best-ever team in seven games to bring Cleveland its first sports title in over 50 years.

The story of the year was Leicester City's unthinkable rise to the summit of the Premier League after narrowly surviving the season before.

After their troubled year the season before, Leicester was 5000/1 to win the league, but thanks to manager Claudio Ranieri and special seasons from Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez, Leicester secured the title with 81 points, ten clear of second place.