Sport always provides us with a rich tapestry of both pantomime heroes and villains and this year has been no different.
A dog literally ran on the pitch and saved a goal in Argentina, Michy Batshuayi kicked the ball into his own face and 'Slabhead' lit up the World Cup.
With 2018 drawing to a close, these are the characters that enthralled and infuriated Sportsmail over the last 12 months.
HEROES
Paul Parker
We've all watched football, right? The goals are the good part, really. Paul Parker has either seen so much football that he doesn't enjoy it any more or - judging by his deadpan reaction of 'they've just scored' on Sky Sports News when Arsenal bagged against Ostersunds - he's cottoned on to the utter futility of it all.