2018 in the rearview mirror: From coach Roger Federer to Mo Salah making visually impaired fan's day, most heartwarming moments

2018 was not short of headline-making stories.

Yet, somewhere in the din smaller instances of athletes and teams showing their humane side was lost.

As 2018 winds down, here’s a list of the most heartwarming stories from sports from the year:

Virgil van Dijk consoles referee

Captain @VirgilvDijk; leading by example 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/HrH2UhfeOk

— OnsOranje (@OnsOranje) November 20, 2018

Leicester City’s emotional homecoming after owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha’s passing away

Simply amazing. pic.twitter.com/eDsnrRSq1G

— Leicester City (@LCFC) November 3, 2018

Young fan hands a note to Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha’s son as football returns to King Power Stadium

'Forever in our hearts'

On an emotional day in #Leicester, players marched with 10,000 fans to the stadium, tears flowed around the King Power, and the late #VichaiSrivaddhanaprabha's son #Aiyawatt laid a wreath in honour of his father. #LeiBur
Read: https://t.co/czgVT6yRPi pic.twitter.com/8wrWvNeVT9

— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) November 10, 2018

New Zealand player’s family performs Haka for him

AN EMOTIONAL HAKA 🏉🇳🇿

Is this your #LaureusSportingMoment of the Month?
Vote now 👉 https://t.co/ogvHicu0DJ pic.twitter.com/o2yJI7nFk5

— Laureus (@LaureusSport) November 7, 2018

Topless taekwondo star from Tonga turns cross-country skiier

Alonso gets a donut sendoff from Formula 1

What a way to send him off... #GraciasFernando pic.twitter.com/IXyKIwmAno

— Formula 1 (@F1) November 26, 2018

Visually impaired Liverpool fan gets to meet players, including Mo Salah, after video of him celebrating goal goes viral

"To Michael, your support is an inspiration. Mo Salah" ❤️@MoSalah invited @MikeKearney1 for a special visit to Melwood after a video of him celebrating our decisive #UCL winner against @sscnapoli went viral... pic.twitter.com/zHo67eBdfK

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 20, 2018

When Mo Salah made a young fan’s day

"Thank you Mo" ❤ 

The moment @MoSalah made this young fan's day. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/8vO8XlyqVK

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 12, 2018

When LeBron James made a return to Cleveland as a Laker

LeBron James receives a warm welcoming back in Cleveland!

WATCH the action on ESPN pic.twitter.com/qUV7x0BNmF

— NBA (@NBA) November 22, 2018

Hamilton and Vettel exchange helmets as a symbol of mutual respect

They battled fiercely all season on track... ⚔️

But off the circuit, there's ultimate respect between Lewis and Seb 🤝pic.twitter.com/UVhM6ehF2G

— Formula 1 (@F1) November 26, 2018

When a high school volleyball team lost all of their kits in the California fire, their state semi-final opponents surprised them with jerseys, food and even donations!

Making state semifinals would normally be a big deal, but some of these high school volleyball players lost everything in the California fires. So their opponents surprised them with brand-new jerseys, kneepads, food and thousands of dollars in donations. https://t.co/0IEGUSDYSp pic.twitter.com/7ykxHTxXLK

— CNN (@CNN) November 20, 2018

Donovan Mitchell brightens a young fan’s day after spotting the kid wearing his high school jersey

Donovan Mitchell spots a young fan wearing his high school jersey & invites him onto the court pregame! #ThisIsWhyWePlay pic.twitter.com/EQksiRwpSC

— NBA (@NBA) November 18, 2018

When no one turned up for a six-year-old’s birthday party, Phoenix Suns invited him to a game against the LA Lakers

How about we celebrate with thousands at our place! Tickets to Wednesday’s #SunsVSLakers game are all yours Teddy! Talk soon! https://t.co/YL3zjDX9JW

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) October 22, 2018

Meet the high-fiving grandmom

Alastair Cook gets a gift from media on his Test retirement

There was a gift for Alastair Cook at the press conference #ThankYouChef pic.twitter.com/UV6fFcM1JL

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) September 10, 2018

James Anderson got emotional while talking about Alastair Cook’s departure

"He's my best friend. I am going to miss him"

An emotional Jimmy Anderson struggles to keep the tears back when paying tribute to Alastair Cook.

Watch 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿#ENGvIND🇮🇳 reaction on Sky Sports Cricket or follow: https://t.co/monTXhlnfq pic.twitter.com/gjFLRhq96t

— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) September 11, 2018

Everyone loves N’Golo Kante

It's official; everyone loves N'Golo Kanté.

(🎥 via @lequipe) https://t.co/TwSjsfaUZ2

— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) September 9, 2018

Ahead of her US Open final against Serena Williams, Naomi Osaka has a message for the American

Naomi Osaka's message to Serena before they face each other in the US Open final?

"I love you." 😂😭 pic.twitter.com/B7m8FzJWjm

— espnW (@espnW) September 7, 2018

Serena Williams asks fans to stop booing and celebrate Naomi Osaka’s US Open victory

.@serenawilliams instructs crowd to stop booing and celebrate @Naomi_Osaka_'s moment of winning her first grand slam. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/LOAyB42OmQ

— Jeff Eisenband (@JeffEisenband) September 8, 2018

Naomi Osaka talks about feeling like a fan again after hugging her idol Serena Williams post her US Open win

"When I step on the court, I'm not a Serena fan - I'm just a tennis player playing another tennis player. But when I hugged her at the net, I felt like a little kid again."

❤ @Naomi_Osaka_ lets us into her heart...#USOpen pic.twitter.com/GlCigEQUiv

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 9, 2018

When a stray dog became the ‘assistant manager’ of a football club in Paraguay

And here's Tesapara watching on from the stands after being sent off from the technical area ❌ 🐶 [@club2demayo] pic.twitter.com/vpkwXbQFO5

— Matias Grez (@matias_grez) September 5, 2018

Novak Djokovic consoles Juan Martin del Potro after beating him in the US Open final

From one champion to another.

These are the moments we love to see...#USOpen pic.twitter.com/MfmZbWV0B1

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 9, 2018

Roger Federer coaches Zverev at Laver Cup

More coaching gold from @RogerFederer #LaverCup pic.twitter.com/qG0IBvDQBZ

— Laver Cup (@LaverCup) September 23, 2018

And here’s Federer advising Novak Djokovic as well at the Laver Cup

Match commentary tonight provided to you courtesy of #TeamEurope2018's @DjokerNole and @RogerFederer. #LaverCup pic.twitter.com/TyElaPKz8r

— Laver Cup (@LaverCup) September 23, 2018