The year that ambition was put to the test and resilience revealed

Sport in Malaga and its surrounding province experienced a year full of contrasts, from World Cup disappointment to championship success. While major ambitions failed at the institutional level, clubs, athletes, and teams from all disciplines achieved moments of excellence, resiliency, and global recognition.

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World Cup heartbreak

Malaga formally retracted as a World Cup host city in July, after years of anticipation. City, regional and province authorities acknowledged a complete failure in managing plans for redeveloping Malaga CF’s La Rosaleda. Malaga’s decision to withdraw was presented as a way to protect its club and fans, but was widely viewed as an historic missed opportunity.

Malaga: More instabilities

Malaga CF’s instability on the pitch continued despite the uncertainty off-the-field. In spite of saving the club from being relegated in May, Sergio Pellicer’s dismissal came just a few months into the new campaign. Juan Francisco Funes, the reserve team coach was promoted to the first-team coaching position in November.

Lower league extremes

Torremolinos, which was struggling financially, enjoyed an historic season despite the turmoil on the pitch. They were promoted to the third division for the first ever in a dramatic last-day promotion.

Marbella FC had the opposite experience, sliding into a relegation struggle that led to a change of coach in mid-season, survival on the last day and additional staff dismissals. Their Copa del Rey highlight came in January, a narrow 1-0 loss to Atlético Madrid at a sold-out La Rosaleda.

Antequera CF was the leader of the table in winter last year and qualified for Copa del Rey. However, they lost promotion to the top division in play-offs due to extra-time. In the years since, there have been multiple coaching changes due to relegation concerns.

Women Lead the Way

Although the men’s national team was able to qualify for the World Cup without any problems, their disappointing performance in the Nations League final against Portugal on penalties in June ruined the year.

The women’s team, on the other hand, enjoyed a great deal of success. Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmatí made history by winning her third consecutive Ballon d’Or and, on the grass, Spain retained the Nations League in December with a commanding victory over Germany. However, in July, England won the Euro 2025 tournament on penalties. This was a heartbreaking end to their campaign.

Basketball

Unicaja celebrates its golden anniversary

Unicaja’s status as a European elite side in 2025 was cemented. The team won the Copa del Rey title in February with a convincing 93-79 win over Real Madrid. They then continued their success internationally by winning the Intercontinental Cup at Singapore and beating NBA G League United. In May, the team completed its set by winning a second Champions League title in a row with a convincing final victory over Galatasaray.

Tennis

The best year in the career of a local boy

Alejandro Davidovich, from Malaga, finished his best season to date by finishing 2025 ranked 14th in world. This is a new career high. He reached four finals and had a 44-26 win record. However, he failed to win his first ATP title.

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain cemented his position at the top in men’s tennis. In June, he won his second French Open and then lost in the Wimbledon finals in July. He reclaimed the US Open in September and returned to world number 1 at 22.

Cycling

Vuelta chaos

In September, Jonas Vingegaard won the chaotic 2025 Vuelta a España despite pro-Palestinian protests forcing the cancellation of the Madrid finale.

Locally, Pavel Sivakov dominated the 2025 Vuelta a Andalucía for UAE Team Emirates in February, then, in the women’s version of the event in October, British rider Cat Ferguson sprinted to victory in the Axarquía hills.

Boxing

Molina dethroned

Samuel Molina has had a turbulent year in the welterweight category. In February he won the WBC belt in Malaga, after defending his European title. After a tense split-draw against Anass Measoudi in La Malagueta, he retained his EBU belt.

The local boxer’s season ended in controversy in December when he lost his European title to the local favourite Egidijus Kavaliauskas at Kaunas.

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World Cup preparations are underway

Spain will be returning to the Rugby World Cup in 2019 for the first since 1999, after winning the match against Switzerland 43-13 back in February. This marked the end of a 28 year absence. The side attracted a full house in Malaga for a friendly loss against Fiji, ranked ninth. This showed their increasing competitiveness as they prepare to face Australia 2027.

Karate

Local Grand Winner

Malaga’s María Torres capped a flawless Premier League season in June by winning gold in Rabat and securing the Grand Winner title in the +68kg kumite category.

Later in the year, Damián Quintero announced his retirement after his exit at the World Championships in Cairo in December, ending a 20-year career with 130 medals and his status as Spain’s most decorated male karateka.

Cricket

Epicentre of European Cricket

Malaga will play a major role in the European Cricket Season in 2025. In February, British & Irish XI retained the Weston Shield with a 45-run win over European XI at Cártama Oval. In March, the European Cricket League was won by Jersey Farmers after they beat Roma CC.

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The local talent scene has been booming in recent years

2025 has cemented the Costa del Golf as one of Europe’s top destinations. It combines elite tournaments with an increasing local presence. Carla Bernat won the Augusta National Women’s Amateur and added international prestige to the year.

International attention returned in July when LIV Golf Andalucía came back to Valderrama, where Jon Rahm led Legion XIII to the team title while Talor Gooch claimed individual honours. Rahm won the LIV Golf Individual crown in August.

Autumn was a time of local performances. In October, Manilva’s Ángel Ayora finished joint ninth at the Open de España, as defending champion Ángel Hidalgo missed the cut.

November proved decisive as Ana Peláez retained the Spanish Women’s Professional Championship at Alcaidesa and later placed 23rd at the Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España, as Guadalhorce hosted the Ladies European Tour season finale.

Rocco Taylor received his DP World Tour Card in Mallorca the same month.