2018 in pictures: Best moments in sports
Sixty years after Pele, Kylian Mbappe became only the second teenager to score a goal in a World Cup final — and Associated Press photographers were on hand to document that moment and hundreds of others across the sporting landscape.
Mbappe helped his France team win the final, but he also showed his speed and skill throughout the tournament in Russia.
Pictures from the World Cup feature prominently in the list of AP sports photos from around Europe and Africa in 2018, but others also made their mark. There is Formula One, tennis, cricket and rugby, as well as a picture of American gymnast Simone Biles awaiting yet another world championship gold medal.
In this Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018 file photo Czech Republic’s Krystof Kryzl crashes during the first run of an alpine ski, men’s World Cup giant slalom, in Garmisch Partenkirchen, Germany. Photo: AP/UNB
In this Saturday, March 17, 2018 file photo England’s Anthony Watson, left, and Ireland’s Rob Kearney try to catch the ball during the Six Nations rugby union match between England and Ireland at Twickenham stadium in London. Photo: AP/UNB
In this Wednesday, July 11, 2018 file photo England soccer fans react after England national soccer team lost the semifinal match between Croatia and England at the 2018 soccer World Cup, in Hyde Park, London. Photo: AP/UNB
In this Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018 file photo new world champion Simone Biles of the U.S. waits for the medal ceremony as the light bounces off a Russian gymnasts suit after the women’s team final of the Gymnastics World Chamionships at the Aspire Dome in Doha, Qatar. Photo: AP/UNB
In this Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018 file photo Monaco’s Han-Noah Massengo heads the ball during a Group A Champions League soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Monaco at the Metropolitano stadium in Madrid. Photo: AP/UNB
In this Friday, Jan. 5, 2018 file photo an unidentified athlete makes his trial jump at the ski jump in Bischofshofen, Austria, the fourth stage of the Four Hills Ski Jumping event. Photo: AP/UNB
In this Sunday, Aug. 26, 2018 file photo Mclaren driver Fernando Alonso of Spain, top, goes over the top of Sauber driver Charles Leclerc of Monaco as they are involved in a crash at the start of the Belgian Formula One Grand Prix in Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium. Photo: AP/UNB
In this Sunday, June 10, 2018 file photo Spain’s Rafael Nadal jumps in a corridor before his men’s final match of the French Open tennis tournament against Austria’s Dominic Thiem at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris. Photo: AP/UNB
In this Saturday, May 26, 2018 file photo Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates with fans after winning the Champions League Final soccer match between Real Madrid and Liverpool at the Olimpiyskiy Stadium in Kiev, Ukraine. Photo: AP/UNB
In this Sunday, May 27, 2018 file photo Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo of Australia steers his car during the Monaco Formula One Grand Prix, at the Monaco racetrack, in Monaco. Photo: AP/UNB
More Photos
In this Monday, July 2, 2018 file photo Belgium’s Vincent Kompany jumps for the ball in front of Japan goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima during the round of 16 match between Belgium and Japan at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the Rostov Arena, in Rostov-on-Don, Russia. Photo: AP/UNB
In this Friday, Sept. 28, 2018 file photo Tiger Woods of the US chips on to the 6th green during a fourball match on the opening day of the 42nd Ryder Cup at Le Golf National in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, outside Paris, France. Photo: AP/UNB
In this photo dated Saturday, Feb. 24, 2018 (L to R) wrestlers Nelson Fernandes, Alex Legrand, Ace Angel, and Zach, bottom, headlock wrestlers Lord Steven Crowley, Darkmundo, Maeven, and PV Red, fight during a wrestling charity gala in Ivry-sur-Seine, south of Paris, France. With revolutionary slogans and a message of support for the unemployed, this was no ordinary wrestling match. Photo: AP/UNB
In this Tuesday, July 3, 2018 file photo England’s Harry Kane tries to control the ball during the round of 16 match between Colombia and England at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the Spartak Stadium, in Moscow, Russia. Photo: UNB
In this Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018 file photo Belgium’s Nafissatou Thiam makes an attempt in the shot put of the heptathlon at the European Athletics Championships at the Olympic stadium in Berlin, Germany. Photo: AP/UNB
In this photo taken with slow shutter speed France’s Kylian Mbappe runs with the ball during the semifinal match between France and Belgium at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the St. Petersburg Stadium, in St. Petersburg, Russia, Tuesday, July 10, 2018. Photo: AP/UNB
In this Friday, Aug. 10, 2018 file photo England’s Jonny Bairstow and England’s James Anderson run off the pitch as sudden heavy rain starts during the second day of the second test match between England and India at Lord’s cricket ground in London. Photo: AP/UNB
In this Sunday, July 15, 2018 file photo seen from left are, FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Russian President Vladimir Putin, French President Emmanuel Macron and Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic hugging CVroatias head coach Zlatko Dalic as heavy rain falls during the award ceremony at the end of the final match between France and Croatia at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia. Photo: AP/UNB
In this Friday, Nov. 23, 2018 file photo Alexia Paganini of Switzerland competes in the Ladies Short Program during the ISU figure skating France’s Trophy, in Grenoble, French Alps. Photo: AP/UNB
In this Sunday, May 27, 2018 file photo Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo of Australia, center, dives into a pool with his team after winning the Formula One race, at the Monaco racetrack, in Monaco. Photo: AP/UNB