Fernando Torres has collected awards, starred in some amazing matches, broken records for both club and country and has also scored his fair share of crackers. It has not been all plain sailing though as 2009 has also brought with it several lows, but overall, the last year has been a year to remember.


The FIFA 2008 World Player Gala kicked-off an action-packed 2009. The Spaniard was named on the podium alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in the ceremony held in January in Switzerland. Domestically, Fernando played an important role in Liverpool’s last-gasp win at home to Chelsea. The striker came on deep into the second-half with the scores level, and in a flash, Liverpool were ahead 2-0… Torres grabbing both goals. Fernando’s performances earned him the PFA Award for February, but the month also brought with it a disappointing FA Cup exit at the hands of local rivals Everton.

- Liverpool 2 - Chelsea 0 match report and goals -



The Spaniard carried his fine form into Europe, helping his side to a 1-0 win against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu, before thumping the Whites 4-0 at Anfield. Fernando Torres started the goal rout on Merseyside with the opener on a magic night of European football. Back in the Premier League, Liverpool crushed rivals Manchester United 4-1 at Old Trafford. The Reds came back from behind to destroy Man U with an outstanding attacking display. Fernando Torres scored the all-important equaliser, as the Anfield club put their credentials forward as a candidate for the Premier League title.

- Manchester United 1 - Liverpool FC 4 match report and goal -


Two games stand in April. The Champions League tie against Chelsea and the Premier League clash at home to Arsenal. Amazingly both games ended 4-4! Both matches were great adverts for British football, but both games brought little joy to Anfield. The Reds were out of the Champions League, losing on aggregate to Chelsea, and the draw with the Gunners effectively ended Liverpool’s title chances.

- Liverpool FC 4 - Arsenal 4 match report and goals -


Tottenham were the visitors to Anfield on the final day of the season. In his first year in England he struck league goal number 24 for Liverpool against Spurs at White Hart Lane. That goal converted Torres into the most prolific scorer in a debut season in the Premier League. This time round Torres celebrated his 50th goal for Liverpool in all competitions with a classy strike. Liverpool ended the campaign second, behind Man United. The Reds collected 86 points- a record for a side finishing in second place- but the impressive points tally wasn’t enough for the Merseyside to win league title number 19.

The striker ended the 2008/09 season in the PFA Team of the Year, was named the Reds best Player of the Year and also collected Liverpool’s Goal of the Season for his wonder strike against Blackburn Rovers. The goal was also selected by FIFA as one of the top ten of the year during the FIFA World Player Gala held in December, 2009.

- Torres' wonder strike against Blackburn Rovers -


Torres spent a large part of the summer in South Africa with Spain. The Red Fury took part in the Confederations Cup after their European Championship title won in 2008, courtesy of a Fernando Torres goal. In his country’s debut Torres hit the fastest hat-trick in the history of the Spain national team. New Zealand were the victims as the forward scored three goals in just eleven minutes. Fernando ended the tournament with the Silver Boot, finishing behind Brazilian Luis Fabiano. The USA surprisingly knocked Spain out in the semis, but the Euro champs claimed third spot with a 3-2 extra-time win over the hosts.

- Spain 5 - New Zealand 0 Match report and goals -


In August Fernando finally lined-up against his boyhood club in a friendly played at Anfield. The striker was Liverpool’s most dangerous player throughout the contest, but the visitors claimed victory with goals from Diego Forlan and Sergio Aguero (1-2). Torres still has a place in the hearts of Atletico’s as both sets of fans chanted the Spaniard’s name during the whole 90 minutes. The new season started with some excellent news for Liverpool and Torres as the striker reached an agreement to extend his contract with the Anfield club for one extra year, now running to 2014.

- Liverpool FC 1 - Atletico Madrid 2 match report -


The attacker started the new campaign on fire. Against Estonia Torres collected his 70th cap for Spain, but it was the Premier League which saw the Spaniard in devastating form. Two goals against West Ham and a treble at home to Hull City soon had the Spaniard topping the goalcharts, and also collecting the Barclays Player of the Month award. Also in September Fernando Torres officially unveiled his first book ‘El Niño, My Story’. The Spain international proudly presented the autobiography published by Harper Collins in the Anfield trophy room. As was expected there was plenty of expectation from fans and members of the media ahead of the book presentation.

- Liverpool 6 - Hull City 1 match report and goals -

- Torres unveils his first book 'El Niño, My Story' -


Manchester United lost once again to Liverpool, and once again Torres was their chief tormentor. The Spaniard opened the scoring with a great goal as the Reds clinched a morale boosting 2-0 win. A nagging groin injury troubled Torres throughout November. Liverpool suffered with a Champions League exit and a poor run of results in the league. December brought with it some joy after a difficult November. Torres was a finalist in the Balon d’Or, FIFA World Player and Puskas Prize for the best goal of the year. The Spaniard was rewarded for another fine year with a place in the FIFA/FIFPro World XI.

- Torres spearheads FIFA/FIFPro World XIs attack -


In December Fernando Torres scored a cheeky back-heel against Wigan to celebrate his 100th appearance for Liverpool. But the year was going to end with a bang. On December 29, in the Anfield club’s final outing of 2009, Fernando Torres became the fastest player to reach a half-century goals in the league for Liverpool. His 93rd minute strike against Aston Villa at Villa Park, in what was the forward’s 72nd appearances for the Reds, setting a new club record.

- ´El Niño´ becomes the fastest Red to reach 50 league goals -