What If?

What if Andrés Escobar Didn’t Score That Own Goal in 1994?

What if Andrés Escobar never scored that own goal at USA ’94? Colombia might have advanced, Pelé’s prophecy could have been fulfilled, and El Caballero del Fútbol might have lived on to captain his...

What if Paul Dickov hadn’t equalised against Gillingham in 1999?

In 1999, Paul Dickov’s last-gasp equaliser against Gillingham saved Manchester City from another year in the third tier. But what if he had missed? City may never have attracted Sheikh Mansour’s bi...

What if Roman Abramovich never bought Chelsea?

What if Roman Abramovich never bought Chelsea in 2003? Without his billions, Mourinho never arrives, Drogba might wear red at Old Trafford, and the Premier League could have looked very different -...

What if Roy Keane had played in the 2002 World Cup instead of walking out?

What if Roy Keane had played at the 2002 World Cup? Instead of storming out in Saipan, imagine him driving Ireland past Spain, snarling through a quarter-final with South Korea, and standing toe-to...

What if Parma hadn’t gone bankrupt?

Parma’s golden 1990s promised a new Italian powerhouse, but bankruptcy stole their chance. What if stability had turned their miracle into legacy? Could the Gialloblu have been a permanent member o...

What if Zidane hadn’t headbutted Materazzi in 2006?

What if Zidane had resisted Materazzi’s provocation in 2006? Would France have won the World Cup, Zidane retired a saint, and Italy left in scandal’s shadow? This alternate history imagines a clean...

What if Maradona’s “Hand of God” was disallowed in ‘86?

What if Maradona’s “Hand of God” had been disallowed in 1986? England might have reached the final, Bobby Robson could have been immortalised, and Maradona’s legend rewritten without its most infam...

What if England Had Won the Penalty Shootout in 1990?

What if Chris Waddle hadn't skied his penalty in Turin, and England had beaten West Germany at Italia '90? A nation's footballing identity might have been rewritten. Bobby Robson could have stayed,...

What if Messi joined Man City in 2021?

In 2021, Lionel Messi’s tears at Barcelona ended with a Parisian unveiling - but what if he had gone to Manchester City instead? Pep reunited with his greatest pupil, the Premier League transformed...