The Most Heartwarming On-Pitch Moments in World Football

Pinpointing exactly what "heartwarming" means is tough; it's more a feeling than a definition.

If someone asked you to describe the colour blue, you can't really do it without naming blue things (unless you get hyper-scientific), and "heartwarming" is the same way. You just know it when you see it.

Sports are one of the only honest things humans have.

There are a set of rules, an objective and—whether based on intellect, physical attributes or a combination of both—the best individual or group wins.

With honesty comes emotion. With the desire to win comes emotion. In some cases the moment's scale causes it; in others, outside influences conspire on one person, and they're given the platform to perform.

Football is a collective sport driven by individual brilliance. In those instances when things beyond our control take place, the game has occasion to provide moments that tug at our hearts—things when you look at them and know something special happened.

Denmark's Morten Wieghorst Purposely Misses a Penalty vs. Iran

In 2003, Denmark took footballers from the Danish Super League to play unofficial friendlies against national sides in Asia.

Playing Iran in Hong Kong, near the end of the first half, a fan blew a whistle. Thinking this was a signal for the interval, an Iranian defender touched the ball in his own box.

The referee called for a penalty kick. Incensed by the lack of compassion, the Iran national team were considering leaving the match, but Denmark (also aware of the rouge whistle) came to the match's rescue.

Danish midfielder Morten Wieghorst—on his manager Morten Olsen's instructions—intentionally missed the penalty by yards. The Danes eventually lost the fixture 1-0, but Wieghorst's sporting gesture will be long remembered as a supreme act of sportsmanship and fair play.

Ronaldinho Scores a Wonder Goal After His Stepfather Dies

If any footballer in recent memory epitomises Pele's "beautiful game," it's Ronaldinho.

The Brazilian wizard is one of the best dribblers, technicians and showmen the sport has had. The ultimate YouTube player, one could get lost in the midfielder's highlights (grainy or high definition) for hours. To see the 2005 Ballon d'Or winner in tears on a football pitch is quite the contradiction—as his name usually brings a smile to the face of anyone who utters it—but October 2012 was an anomaly.

On October 5, Ronaldinho's stepfather died. The following day, the Brazilian magician elected to play; en route to a 6-0 victory over Figueirense with Atletico Mineiro, the then-32-year-old scored a hat-trick—the first of his trio was simply brilliant.

Falling to his knees, bursting into tears and then surrounded by his team-mates, there aren't many footballers who could travel that emotional spectrum of jaw-dropping brilliance and eye-watering sadness in the space of five seconds.

Oliver Kahn Comforts Santiago Canizares After the 2000/01 Champions League Final

Bayern Munich lost the 1998/99 Champions League final in crushing fashion. Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's stoppage-time goals gave Manchester United their first European Cup crown since 1967/68—but at the cost of Oliver Kahn and his team-mates.

Two seasons later, the German side was in the 2000/01 Champions League final—facing Valencia who had lost the previous 1999/2000 final. The two previous losers battled to the last, and Bayern Munich eventually beat manager Hector Cuper's side 1-1 (5-4 on penalties).

Instead of immediately celebrating with his team-mates, though, Kahn (remembering the feeling of losing to Manchester United, as documented by UEFA), found his fellow goalkeeper, Santiago Canizares, and comforted him.

There's an oft-talked-about "goalkeeper union." No one moment displays their camaraderie more than Kahn putting his first (and only) Champions League victory on pause to comfort Canizares.

Frank Lampard Scores from the Spot vs. Liverpool in Tribute to His Late Mother

Frank Lampard scored countless goals during his Chelsea career.

Whether Champions League finals, FA Cup finals or the two strikes against Bolton to win the west Londoners their first league title in 50 years, there are hundreds from which to choose, but none was more emotional than his spot-kick vs. Liverpool in 2008.

Facing the Reds in 2007/08's Champions League semi-final, the tie went into extra time at Stamford Bridge. Just six days after his mother died, Lampard was called to the penalty spot. In true Lampard fashion, his strike was cool, calm and collected, but one could imagine his mind was far from level under such stress.

Chelsea won the tie 4-3 on aggregate and earned a trip to Moscow, but the lasting moment from Chelsea's semi-final wasn't eliminating the Anfield men, but arguably their club's greatest-ever player stepping up in the worst of conditions and producing his best.

Jimmy Glass Rescues Carlisle United from Football League Expulsion

Caught up in World Cups, Euros, Champions Leagues and/or Premier Leagues, many neglect lower tiers—where survival in the Football League is arguably the most important thing in existence.

If relegation from the Premier League to the Championship (e.g.) is "devastating," what's the word for expulsion from the entire Football League? Thanks to goalkeeper Jimmy Glass, Carlisle United didn't have to figure that out in 1998/99.

Needing three points against Plymouth Argyle to avoid relegation, the Cumbrians looked all but finished. Waved forward by manager Nigel Pearson in the last moments of stoppage time, the on-loan Glass somehow found space, the ball and the composure to shoot. His volley hit the back of the net, saving Carlisle but also dooming Scarborough.

Scarborough were relegated by one point in 1998/99, and never reaching the Football League again, they were dissolved in 2007 (after a 128-year history).

One man's heartbreak is another man's happiness it seems.

Eduardo Returns from a Broken Leg and Scores for Arsenal

"Break a leg" in the theatre ironically means "good luck." In football it's maybe the worst injury that could happen—there's nothing amusing about them.

On 23 February 2008, Birmingham City's Martin Taylor slid into Arsenal forward Eduardo. The Brazilian-born Croatian suffered a broken leg and was ruled out of action for the rest of the 2007/08 season. Arsenal fell apart after that match—dropping 16 of their next 24 available points. Losing the Premier League by four points, many understand Eduardo's injury as the turning point in 2007/08's title race.

Nearly one year later, on 18 February 2009, Eduardo started in the FA Cup vs. Cardiff City. He opened the scoring in the 21st minute and later added a penalty. The Emirates stood in one as their fallen striker returned and scored a brace—but he never was the same.

At Dinamo Zagreb, the former Croatia international scored 93 goals in 149 appearances; just learning the English game, his progression was arrested in Birmingham. Though not what his talents warranted, Eduardo and Arsenal supporters will always have Cardiff City.

Paul Gascoigne Can't Fight Back Tears at the 1990 World Cup

Arguably England's best player in the 1990 World Cup, Paul Gascoigne was known for his rampaging, yet elegant, footballing style—but also his passion.

Booked in the Three Lions' quarter-final match vs. Belgium, heading into the semi-final vs. Germany, the then-Tottenham Hotspur midfielder knew another yellow card and he would miss the 1990 World Cup final. Fouling German centre-back Thomas Berthold, Gascoigne was booked by referee Jose Roberto Wright and was visibly overwhelmed by the actualisation of his would-be suspension.

All too frequently, anger is the emotion we get from footballers when faced with hardship—rarely is sadness to the point of tears ever shown, but Gazza seldom did things conventionally. His moment of genuine emotion endeared him not only to the English, but also the entire world.

England, as is customary, lost to Germany on penalties (then to Italy in the third-place game), but the lasting images from that tournament for many isn't necessarily silverware being lifted, but Gascoigne allowing himself to cry (and Gary Lineker's reaction).

Billy Sharp Honours His Late Son with a Smart Finish and Tribute

Just two days old, Billy Sharp's son, Luey, died from gastroschisis in October 2011.

Two days following his family's tragedy, Sharp played for Doncaster Rovers vs. Middlesbrough. In the 14th minute, at Doncaster's Keepmoat Stadium, the centre-forward scored a terrific goal, wheeled away and lifted up his shirt, showing the message: "That's for you son."

Then-Middlesborough manager Tony Mowbray told reporters, via BBC Sport:

"

Taking the professionalism out of it, I'm delighted for the boy that he's scored such a fantastic goal on such an occasion for him. It's amazing to think for anyone who's had children the emotional drain that must have been with him—I couldn't put it into words.

For him to score a wonder goal, your headlines should be there really - "a goal from heaven."

"

Four days later, playing Ipswich Town, Sharp scored again in a 3-2 Rovers victory, leading Ipswich supporters—despite their loyalties—to chant Luey's name.

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*Stats via WhoScored.com; transfer fees via Soccerbase where not noted.