Notable Football Moments on Leap Day: Goals, Victories, and Historic Events

Feb. 29, also known as Leap Day, occurs once every four years. This rare date has witnessed some significant football moments throughout history. Let's take a look at some of the most notable events that have taken place in football on Feb. 29.

1992

On Feb. 29, 1992, Eric Cantona scored his first goal in English football for Leeds United against Luton Town. Cantona's goal helped propel Leeds United to the final English First Division title before the top tier rebranded as the Premier League.

2000

Ferran Torres, the Barcelona forward, was born on Feb. 29, 2000. He shares his birthday with other professional footballers such as Taylor Twellman and Benedikt Höwedes. On the same day, Bayern Munich defeated Real Madrid 4-2 in the Champions League.

2004

On Feb. 29, 2004, Harry Kewell scored for Liverpool in a 2-2 draw against his former club, Leeds United. Kewell later scored for Australia on Feb. 29, 2012, in a World Cup qualifier against Saudi Arabia.

2008

Javier Mascherano completed his permanent move to Liverpool from West Ham on Feb. 29, 2008. This transfer marked the end of a controversial and drawn-out saga that had begun the previous November.

2012

On Feb. 29, 2012, the U.S. men's national team achieved a historic 1-0 victory over Italy in an international friendly. Clint Dempsey scored the decisive goal, and the U.S. team's resilient defensive display secured the win.

2016

Gianni Infantino, the newly appointed president of FIFA, marked his first day in office on Feb. 29, 2016. To celebrate, a star-studded kickaround took place outside FIFA's headquarters in Zurich.

2020

Feb. 29, 2020, saw Premier League fixtures being played for the first time since 2004. The most memorable match was Watford's shocking 3-0 win over Liverpool, ending the Reds' unbeaten streak and their run of 18 straight league wins.

These notable football events on Feb. 29 demonstrate the significance of this rare date in the world of football. From historic goals to memorable victories, Leap Day has witnessed some remarkable moments that will be remembered in football history.