Vine worthy: 5 times defenders got humiliated in 2015 (VIDEOS)

Ah, the life of a defender. Rarely celebrated - unless you figure out a way to go Super Saiyan like Fabio Cannavaro at the 2006 World Cup - the men and women who patrol their respective backlines endure a thankless job.

Attackers get the standing ovations, sign all the autographs and kiss the babies, while those responsible for stopping them get a few claps from the crowd for executing an inch-perfect slide tackle that saves a sure goal. If you mistime that tackle, of course, you're berated, singled out and shunned.

(And then there's the whole issue of being yelled at by the schizoid that is your goalkeeper. But that's a discussion for another day.)

Kids, the moral of the story is simple: don't be a defender. If, for some odd reason, you're still considering embarking on a career as a defensive stalwart, here are five times your would-be brethren were humiliated in 2015:

Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) vs. Manuel Pablo (Deportivo)

The days of Cristiano Ronaldo blazing down the wing, defenders in his wake, the crowd in awe of his ability to bamboozle opponents with a series of lightning-quick stepovers, are, sadly, a thing of the past.

His transformation into a classic centre-forward almost complete, defenders everywhere didn't have to concern themselves with the possibility of being turned into a meme by the Portuguese star. He just scored goals now. One less thing to worry about.

That's what Manuel Pablo thought.

Not even his incredible beard could save him.

Neymar (Barcelona) vs. Nacho (Rayo Vallecano)

Thanks for playing, Nacho. We'll remember your career fondly.

If it's any consolation for the Spaniard, at least his enforced retirement came on the grandest of football stages: in front of nearly 100,000 people at the Camp Nou. There are worse ways to be forced out of the game.

He can also take solace in the fact that, at the monthly meetings of retirees who had their careers ended by Neymar's savagery, he'll have plenty of company ...

Neymar (Brazil) vs. Luis Advincula (Peru)

Let's be honest for a second. This could just be one long shrine to the Brazilian magician, who - to steal a phrase from Ray Hudson - is slippery as an eel covered in vaseline when running with the ball at his feet.

Adding to his illustrious history of making opponents look like buffoons, Neymar turned Peruvian full-back Luis Advincula inside-out during Brazil's Copa America campaign, eviscerating him to the point where Advincula had no choice but to try and salvage his reputation by slicing the lithe superstar to the ground.

That first flick is so good, it's dumb.

Paul Pogba (Juventus) vs. Chievo's entire midfield

Nutmegs and flicks like the ones above, while undoubtedly joyous to watch, typically have one thing in common: the player being put on a poster remains upright. There's something especially humiliating about attempting a slide tackle and watching in horror as the ball and its master drift away unscathed. Instead of having a chance to redeem your honour, or at the very least hack down the person responsible for your embarrassment, you can only drag your sorry behind off the turf in shame.

That - along with the fact that Paul Pogba was surrounded by the entirety of Chievo's midfield - make this moment of magic so special.

We're going to need more men, sir.

Leroy Sane (Schalke) vs. Luka Modric (Real Madrid)

This was the closest football will ever get to an on-field Mortal Kombat fatality, and it came from a 19-year-old playing in his first Champions League match, at the Santiago Bernabeu, against one of the best midfielders on earth.

Schalke's Leroy Sane, still a teenager, rips out Luka Modric's soul, stomps on it, throws it in the trash and then lights the bin ablaze. Sit back and watch the carnage unfold as Modric (and his enormous calfs) get clowned:

Typically, we would just leave it at that; Modric's buckling knees tell the story better than words ever can. But, in case you missed it, look back and take note of the moment when the Croatian realizes that his world has just been shattered. As he's crumbling to the turf, his head snaps back viciously, and we can only assume he contemplated retirement in that very moment. You can actually pinpoint the second it happens ...

Bonus: Lionel Messi (Barcelona) vs. Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich)

What, you thought we were going to forgot the most iconic football moment of 2015? C'mon, man. We were simply saving the very best for last.

"I was laughing at myself," Boateng said of his infamous tumble heard 'round the world. So were we, Jerome. So were we.