Top Sporting Headlines of 2023 by CNN Sport

CNN Sport has selected the essential stories from the past year, including the Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, the Saudi Pro League, and the seemingly impossible Barkley Marathon.

Photo Illustration by Alberto Mier/CNN/Getty

READ: Saudi Arabia is trying to disrupt soccers world order. The reasons why might surprise you

Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal's reported $1.1 billion bid to sign French soccer superstar Kylian Mbappé, which included offering $332 million to his club Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and an astonishing $775 million salary packet to the World Cup winner for just one year, was criticized by many as sportswashing.

During a record-breaking transfer window, Saudi Pro League (SPL) clubs spent nearly $1 billion to acquire 94 overseas players from Europe's major leagues, including France's Ligue 1, Spain's La Liga, Italy's Serie A, Germany's Bundesliga, and the English Premier League, according to Deloitte.

Despite the poor human rights record of the Arab nations, Saudi Arabia's ambitious spending spree to transform its domestic soccer league into a star-studded, legitimate competition demonstrates the seriousness of its ambition.

Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds, owners of Wrexham celebrate as the club wins the Vanarama National League and is promoted to the English Football League on April 22, 2023.

Jan Kruger/Getty Images

Wrexham: A captivating story of Hollywood allure and athletic love.

"It's a classic underdog tale," remarks Gene Warman, an Ohio native, as he sits in a bar with his son in a city that neither had even heard of just a year ago. "It's truly remarkable."

Warman and his 22-year-old son Andrew are embarking on a four-day trip from the US to see their newfound passion, Wrexham AFC. After flying into London, they endured a four-hour, 183-mile drive to the northeast of Wales. They cannot afford to let jetlag ruin this sacred journey.

In a world that can often be harsh and unforgiving, the recent revival of Wrexham, both the city and its soccer club, brings a sense of hope. Visitors light up when asked about their impressions of this small industrial city near the English-Welsh border, now in the spotlight thanks to the club's owners, actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

Leah Abucayan

Some of the top players in the game will be missing from the 2023 Women's World Cup due to injuries. In 2022, Simone Magill had high hopes as she represented Northern Ireland in the Women's Euros, showcasing her talent on the world stage.

During Northern Ireland's opening match against Norway, disaster struck as Magill went down in agony, leaving Northern Ireland fans holding their breath. She had suffered a dreaded anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.

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READ: These young female athletes died by suicide. They all had head injuries in common

Kelly Catlin and Ellie Soutter, although never having met, shared many similarities. Both were remarkable athletes: Catlin, an accomplished US track cyclist with three world championships and an Olympic silver medal, while Soutter, a talented snowboarder, was considered one of Team Great Britain's top prospects for the 2022 Winter Olympics, after already securing a bronze medal at the 2017 European Youth Olympic Festival.

The two women almost appeared superhuman at times. Despite only three weeks of formal training and a broken wrist, Soutter became the British Champion with her arm in a cast in 2013. Meanwhile, Catlin rode 80 miles through sleet and snow to speak to a grade school about her Olympic experience, showing her tenderness for children.

Unfortunately, both women's lives were tragically cut short after sustaining serious head injuries while pursuing sporting greatness, leading them to take their own lives. Catlin was 23 when she died, while Soutter died by suicide on her 18th birthday.

leah abucayan/getty

Vinícius Jr. has been the target of racial abuse during LaLiga matches. It is concerning that no action has been taken against those responsible. Despite this, Vinícius Jr. has proven himself as a standout player, contributing to Real Madrid's success in the European Cup and Champions League.

The 22-year-old player, widely recognized as one of the best in the world, has scored six goals in seven European matches and eight in LaLiga. However, he has also been the target of "hate crimes" in Spain, as reported by a players union. Prior to the derby against Atlético Madrid in January, an effigy of Vinícius was hung from a bridge in Madrid. Additionally, racist slurs have been captured on camera during Real's matches at Osasuna, Mallorca, Real Valladolid, and Atlético.

Aurelien Sanchez runs in the Barkley Marathon.

Alexandre Ricaud

READ: Few people have ever finished the Barkley Marathons. Thanks to cheeseburgers and a power nap, Aurélien Sanchez became one of them

Days have passed since Aurélien Sanchez hauled his exhausted body across the finish line of the Barkley Marathons, an accomplishment achieved by only 17 people. Even now, he is plagued by memories of the grueling race, held in the dense forests of eastern Tennessee, known for its daunting terrain and the infamous history of its former maximum-security prison. Many consider the Barkley Marathons to be the most challenging and relentless foot race on the planet.

The path is challenging and difficult to distinguish, with steep inclines and unforgiving terrain. However, this is only if you manage to navigate the opaque entry system and secure a spot on the start line in the first place.

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The fight for motherhood in the world of soccer

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CNN

WATCH: The fight for motherhood in the world of soccer

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READ: For nearly 50 years, only Black men caddied The Masters. One day, they all but vanished

History never forgets a champion. When you win one of sports biggest titles, you become immortal.

Winning multiple times adds to your legacy. When thinking about The Masters, names like Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer come to mind. Nicklaus, the most successful champion in majors history, won six times, while Palmer claimed the winners green jacket four times in just six years at Augusta National. Surprisingly, for many years, two former champions with a total of nine wins were buried in unmarked graves.

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The video resembles a high-energy gun advertisement, with rapid cuts and a pulsing beat. In a music video style, three muscular men are seen test firing a range of firearms including machine guns, rocket launchers, assault rifles, and handguns.

Three men, UFC fighters Kamaru Usman, Justin Gaethje, and Henry Cejudo, are seen surrounded by bearded soldiers in military gear, smiling and laughing in a video posted online by the controversial Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov. The video shows the trio visiting Kadyrov's compound in Russia, where they were presumably shown the training methods of "real men and defenders of the Fatherland."

Alberto Mier/CNN

In 2017, Han Kwang Song made history as the first North Korean to score a goal in one of Europe's top five soccer leagues. He then made a surprising transfer to Italian powerhouse Juventus in 2019, before moving on to Qatari club Al-Duhail. His sudden rise and disappearance have stunned the soccer world.

But his promising career was cut short when he disappeared from the world soccer stage in 2020, leaving fans with a question: "Where is that North Korean player?"

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READ: Female soccer players earn 25 cents to the dollar of men at World Cup, new CNN analysis finds

According to a new CNN analysis, female soccer players at the 2023 Womens World Cup will earn an average of 25 cents for every dollar earned by male players at their World Cup last year. This marks an improvement from the previous earning ratio in 2019, which was less than eight cents per dollar, as reported by FIFA and FIFPRO.

Shohreh Bayat

Shohreh Bayat

READ: Iranian chess referee Shohreh Bayat fears ostracism over her activism as she challenges Russian chief of games governing body

Three years after escaping from Iran, chess referee Shohreh Bayat is concerned about facing more social exclusion after standing up to the governing body of the game and its president, Russia's former deputy prime minister, regarding her attire choice at a tournament in October.

In 2020, Bayat faced backlash in Iran for not wearing the required headscarf at the Women's World Chess Championship in China and Russia. She stood her ground against the government's pressure, but as a consequence, she has not gone back home due to fears of reprisal.

Now, three years later, Bayat's choice of clothing in support of the Iranian protests and the people of Ukraine has stirred controversy with the International Chess Federation (FIDE) and its president.

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READ: Mike McDaniel started as an intern with the Denver Broncos - now he is the mastermind behind the NFLs most exciting offense

In September, the Miami Dolphins made history with an incredible score. The team, originally built by Don Shula and Dan Marino, scored 70 points - just three points short of the NFL record - as they dominated the Denver Broncos. Coincidentally, the same team where Miami head coach Mike McDaniel began his career.

This scoring spectacle set a franchise record for points and broke an NFL record for total yards in a game, reaching 726 yards. The Dolphins also became the highest-scoring team in a single game since Washington in 1966.

Miami's high-flying offense has made them one of the most entertaining teams to watch in the league, earning them the title of the neutrals' favorite. After years of being known for their defensive strength, the appointment of McDaniel has brought marked improvement to the Fins' glamorous offensive game.

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Argentina edge Brazil in match marred by police, fan clashes

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CNN

Argentina secured a 1-0 victory over Brazil in last night's World Cup qualifier at the Maracanã, with a winning goal by Nicolas Otamendi. However, the match was overshadowed by police and fan clashes. CNN Sports reporter Matias Grez discusses the events with World Sport anchor Amanda Davies.

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How not making the Olympics 'saved' Molly Carlson from an eating disorder

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CNN

Before the Rio Olympics, Molly Carlson struggled with mental health issues. Now, she serves as an inspiration to many, encouraging open conversations about mental health. Jumping off a 66-foot platform from a cliff into deep water may terrify most people, but for Molly Carlson, it is an opportunity for liberation and flight.

The self-described "professional athlete with anxiety" finds peace in the dizzying heights of cliff diving. It has been instrumental in helping the 25-year-old overcome a challenging period, including loneliness and a binge eating disorder, which she refers to as a "year from hell." She describes the activity as "almost like free therapy."