You’ve seen the Champions League finals. You’ve watched the World Cup. But honestly, if you haven't been following the absolute madness of San Marino vs Liechtenstein, you’re missing out on the most authentic drama in sports.
Forget the $100 million transfer fees. Forget the pristine tactics of Pep Guardiola. This is a story about a bunch of guys who work as accountants, teachers, and shopkeepers, and who, for two decades, literally forgot what it felt like to win.
Then 2024 happened.
The Match That Broke a 20-Year Curse
For 140 games, San Marino walked onto the pitch and, basically, expected to lose. Their last win was in 2004. Think about that. In 2004, the iPhone didn't exist. Facebook was a thing only for Harvard kids.
On September 5, 2024, at the Stadio Olimpico in Serravalle, something shifted. The "worst team in the world" (their official FIFA ranking was 210th) faced off against Liechtenstein in a Nations League clash.
The hero? A 19-year-old named Nicko Sensoli.
He wasn’t even born when San Marino last won a game. In the 53rd minute, he pounced on a defensive mistake and poked the ball home. The scenes weren't just "happy." They were volcanic. Players were crying. Fans were screaming like they’d just won the World Cup. It was a 1-0 win that felt like a 10-0 miracle.
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Moving Past the "Worst Team" Label
People love to pick on San Marino. It’s easy. It’s a microstate of 33,000 people. But when you look at the San Marino vs Liechtenstein stats, you realize these two are actually perfectly matched for some high-stakes chaos.
Liechtenstein isn't exactly a powerhouse either, but they have a professional structure that usually puts them a step above. Or at least it did.
In November 2024, the rematch in Vaduz proved that September wasn't a fluke. San Marino didn't just win; they dominated in a way nobody thought possible. They went 1-0 down early on, and usually, that's when a small team folds.
Not this time.
The second half was a blitz. Lorenzo Lazzari equalized. Then Nicola Nanni tucked away a penalty. Finally, Alessandro Golinucci finished off a team move that actually looked like top-tier football.
They won 3-1. Away from home.
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It was the first time in San Marino's entire history that they scored three goals in a single competitive match. One win is a fluke. Two wins against the same opponent in a few months? That's a rivalry being rewritten.
Why This Rivalry Actually Matters for FIFA Rankings
You might think these games are just for pride, but the San Marino vs Liechtenstein matchups had massive implications for the UEFA Nations League.
By beating Liechtenstein twice, San Marino did the unthinkable: they topped their group. They earned promotion to League C.
This means they won't just be playing the same bottom-tier teams anymore. They’re moving up. They’ve bypassed the "basement" of European football.
Technically, San Marino is still near the bottom of the FIFA rankings because the system moves slowly, but the momentum is undeniable. They finished Group D1 with seven points, edging out Gibraltar. Liechtenstein, unfortunately for them, ended up at the bottom with just two points.
The Cultural Impact of 90 Minutes
Talk to a local in San Marino and they’ll tell you that football is about more than the score. It’s about the "La Serenissima" spirit.
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They know they’re small. They know the odds.
But there’s a specific kind of grit required to show up for 20 years and get beaten 5-0, 7-0, 10-0, and still keep your boots laced up. When they play Liechtenstein, the "fear" factor disappears. It’s the one game where they feel they are equals.
- September 2024: 1-0 win (Sensoli).
- November 2024: 3-1 win (Lazzari, Nanni, Golinucci).
- Historical context: Before this year, their only win ever (a 2004 friendly) was also against Liechtenstein.
Basically, if San Marino ever builds a statue of an opponent, it should be a Liechtenstein player, because that nation has been the backdrop for every single historic milestone in Sammarinese football history.
What’s Next for Both Teams?
If you're following the progress of these teams, the landscape has changed. San Marino is no longer the automatic "easy win" for mid-tier European sides. They’ve found a winning formula under coach Roberto Cevoli.
For Liechtenstein, it’s a period of soul-searching. Losing twice to the team ranked 210th in the world hurts. They have the talent, with players like Aron Sele (who scored in the 3-1 loss), but they lacked the clinical edge that San Marino suddenly discovered.
The 2026 World Cup qualifiers are the next big hurdle. While neither is likely to make the flight to North America, the Nations League success has given San Marino a theoretical path to a playoff spot if the stars align with higher-ranked teams.
It sounds crazy. It probably won't happen. But after what we saw in 2024, you'd be a fool to bet against them.
If you want to track the future of these minnows, watch the UEFA Nations League League C schedules for the 2025/26 season. San Marino will be facing much tougher opposition now, which is the ultimate reward for their historic run. Keep an eye on the FIFA ranking updates; while they started 2024 at rock bottom, the points gained from these competitive wins will finally start to reflect their improvement in the standings.