The sporting scriptwriters have already gifted us with some remarkable underdog narratives so far in 2025. From McIlroy’s Masters delight to Newcastle Utd’s first triumph since 1955, it’s been a year to remember, but there wasn’t enough space for everyone to make the cut. Here are our Underdog of the Year nominees.
Could Jackson Goldstone be your Underdog of the Year?
Jackson Goldstone is a 21-year-old Canadian mountain biker who miraculously became a two-time Elite winner in his first senior season in 2023.
In February 2024, he suffered a disastrous downhill bike crash, where he suffered a torn ACL and MCL in his left knee, sidelining him for the entire World Cup season.
Despite this potentially career-changing injury, Goldstone has come back like he never left, rebounding in incredible style at the very same event, the Red Bull Hardline, at the start of the 2025 season to take the win and announce to the world that nothing will stop him.
Is Jackson Page your pick?
Snooker player Jackson Page made history by becoming the first-ever player to register two maximum 147 breaks in the same match. The first came for the Welshman on April 13, which was also the first of his career and saw him race into a 7-1 lead over Allan Taylor. The second came the next day, which helped him seal a 10-2 victory.
It is a victory that will go down in history as the 23-year-old secured two maximum breaks, the first and second of his career, to seal the win. Page’s achievement also secured him the £147,000 Triple Crown bonus.
Speaking to the BBC, Page said it was a ‘bizarre feeling’ and he was ‘‘over the moon’.
What about London City Lionesses? Could they be your Underdog of the Year?
London City Lionesses were only formed in 2019 after breaking away from Millwall and opting to set up a new team as a separate entity. Earlier this year, they became the first independently owned team to gain promotion to the WSL.
They held onto a 2-2 draw away to Birmingham City in a nervy encounter on the last day of the season, with goals scored by Goodwin and Boye-Hlorkah getting the Bromley-based side over the line.
It was a success for Michele Kang, who purchased the club back in December 2023 and invested heavily, giving the recently formed club a chance to go toe-to-toe against the best sides in the land, including the newly crowned Champions of Europe, Arsenal.
How about Crystal Palace?
Crystal Palace went into 2025, having never won a trophy since their formation way back in 1861.
After heartbreak in the 1990 and 2016 finals, the Palace faithful were hoping that it would be third time lucky at Wembley, but it was Pep Guardiola’s star-studded Manchester City in the way for the underdogs.
Despite a red card scare, a Man City penalty miss and a nervy last ten minutes, Crystal Palace held on for a 1-0 win to give their fans the day of their lives in the capital.
