Ranking the Champions League Finals from the Last 10 Years
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The 2014 Champions League final between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid produced a dramatic ending, but where does it rank among the most recent European finals of the last decade?
Europe's elite competition often delivers a dramatic finale, with memorable games, goals and moments being evoked simply by naming a year or stadium. Say "Istanbul" or "2005" to any Liverpool supporter, and they will immediately recall memories of Xabi Alonso, Vladimir Smicer and Steven Gerrard's goals.
That night in Istanbul was nine years ago, and we've had some dramatic finals since then too.
Using a criteria of drama, entertainment value, whether an underdog won, the match itself and, of course, goals, we rank the last 10 Champions League finals—featuring three penalty shootouts and successes for three English sides, two Italian, two Spanish and one side from Germany.
10. AC Milan 2-1 Liverpool (2007)
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After suffering the incredible comeback defeat to Liverpool two years earlier, Carlo Ancelotti's AC Milan side got their revenge over Rafa Benitez's Liverpool in Athens' Olympic Stadium in 2007.
Two goals from veteran strikerFilippo Inzaghi gave the Italians the victory, with Dirk Kuyt's header in the 89th minute proving nothing more than a consolation goal.
The match itself lacked any real drama as Benitez's side failed to deliver on the biggest stage.
9. Barcelona 2-1 Arsenal (2006)
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Paris was the scene of Barcelona's first European Cup victory in 14 years.
The match is most remembered for Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehman's dismissal after just 18 minutes, and full-back Juliano Belletti's winning goal 10 minutes from time.
Arsene Wenger's side actually held the lead for a long period despite being down to 10 men, after Sol Campbell's headed goal before half-time.
Samuel Eto'o equalised on 76 minutes, though, and five minutes later Belletti hit the winner as Arsenal tired.
A dramatic match but not as dramatic as some of the others in the last decade.
8. Barcelona 2-0 Manchester United (2009)
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Perhaps less dramatic than the 2006 final, but the 2009 final saw two heavyweights of the game go head-to-head.
Manchester United and Barcelona were dominant in their respective domestic leagues, while Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo—widely regarded as the two best footballers on the planet—were facing off against each other on the biggest stage.
It was the Argentinian Messi who took the headlines, rising incredibly to head home the second goal after Eto'o had opened the scoring early on.
An unexpectedly simple victory for Barca gave them their second European Cup in four years.
7. Bayern Munich 2-1 Borussia Dortmund (2013)
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Wembley saw the two heavyweights of German football do battle for Europe's biggest prize.
Jupp Heynckes' side ultimately got victory over Jurgen Klopp's Borussia Dortmund men courtesy of Arjen Robben's 89th-minute winner.
There was added depth to the drama in this one due to Mario Goetze's controversial move from Dortmund to Munich having been announced prior to the game.
6. Inter Milan 2-0 Bayern Munich (2010)
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The Bernabeu saw two of the world's best managers go head to head: Jose Mourinho vs. Louis van Gaal.
Mourinho's side completed a memorable season, following up Serie A success with Inter's third European Cup.
Wesley Sneijder was awarded the fans' player of the match award, but Argentine Diego Milito took the official UEFA award having scored both goals.
This was a superb, entertaining game of football, and Inter's play was deserving of the top prize.
5. Real Madrid 4-1 Atletico Madrid (2014)
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Rarely do we have two teams from the same country in a European final, but never before had two teams from the same city met on the highest stage.
For so long it looked like Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid side were to complete an incredible season, having already won La Liga the week before. Diego Godin's goal in the first half left the underdogs in the driving seat.
That was until Sergio Ramos rose to head home a corner in the 93rd minute and send the match to extra time. After a very uneventful 92 minutes, the match sprung into life.
Gareth Bale headed Real into the lead with 10 minutes remaining of extra time, before Marcelo and Cristiano Ronaldo's penalty gave the scoreline a very flattering look for the victors.
This certainly ended up providing the drama and goals, but for much of the game it lacked any real entertainment value.
4. Chelsea 1-1 Bayern Munich (2012)
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The scene was set for Bayern Munich to complete a perfect season by winning the Champions League final in their home stadium in 2012.
But Chelsea stole the show and ripped up the script to eventually take the spoils in a penalty shootout.
Rarely do Germans lose a penalty shootout, making this even more the dramatic end to the match.
Didier Drogba scored the equalising goal for Roberto Di Matteo's side and also hit the winning penalty—his final kick of the ball for the Londoners—talk about a fairytale ending.
Chelsea were victorious while Bayern were left heartbroken in their own stadium. A huge upset.
3. Manchester United 1-1 Chelsea (2008)
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Moscow was the scene as Manchester United overcome English rivals Chelsea to claim Europe's biggest prize.
Cristiano Ronaldo gave United the lead, but Frank Lampard equalised for the Londoners. The match ended 1-1, and extra time couldn't separate the sides either.
So to penalties, and one of the most dramatic shootouts. With the rain adding to the dramatic scene, John Terry memorably slipped as he missed the opportunity to hit the winning spot-kick for his club.
Nicolas Anelka was the man who eventually missed his kick to give United victory, 6-5 on penalties.
Terry was left in tears as Sir Alex Ferguson finally got his hands on his second European Cup victory.
2: Barcelona 3-1 Manchester United (2011)
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This game ranks so highly because of the style of football that was produced by Pep Guardiola's Barcelona side.
This was Barcelona at their absolute best and Guardiola's team in their prime, dominating and providing a show of the highest quality of football.
Pedro's goal gave the Spaniards the lead, but Wayne Rooney's equaliser shortly after meant Man United looked like they may cause what would have been a relative upset, with United seeking to gain revenge for when Barca beat them in the 2009 final two years earlier.
But Messi's goal from distance and David Villa's superb strike gave Barca the deserved victory.
"In my time as a manager, I would say they're the best team we've faced," admitted Alex Ferguson post-match, as reported by Dominic Fifield in The Guardian. "No one has given us a hiding like that. It's a great moment for them. They deserve it because they play the right way and enjoy their football."
1. Liverpool 3-3 AC Milan (2005)
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Istanbul, the scene of Liverpool's fifth European Cup success in 2005.
Rafa Benitez's Liverpool side produced one of the greatest comebacks European football has ever witnessed, coming from three goals down to Carlo Ancelotti's AC Milan.
The Italians raced into a three-goal lead courtesy of a goal from captain Paolo Maldini and a Hernan Crespo double.
Liverpool looked dead and buried.
But a stirring second half that saw The Reds score three goals in six minutes meant the match went to extra time, before the drama of the penalty shoot out.
Jerzy Dudek proved the hero, memorably saving Andriy Shevchenko's spot-kick to seal victory.
The most dramatic and entertaining Champions League final of the past 10 years, and arguably ever.
FAQs
Who won most Champions League in last 10 years? ›
Real Madrid hold the record for the most victories, having won the competition 14 times, including the inaugural competition in 1956, and the latest in 2022.
Who has the most Champions League titles Top 10? ›- Valencia 7-0 KRC Genk. ...
- Bayern Munich 7-0 Basel. ...
- BATE Borisov 0-7 Shakhtar Donetsk. 21 October 2014. ...
- Bayern Munich 7-0 Shakhtar Donetsk. 11 March 2015. ...
- Barcelona 7-0 Celtic. 13 September 2016. ...
- Maribor 0-7 Liverpool. 17 October 2017. ...
- Liverpool 7-0 Spartak Moscow. 6 December 2017. ...
- Manchester City 7-0 FC Schalke 04. 12 March 2019.
Real Madrid have won the Champions League a record staggering 13 times. Los Blancos, under Zinedine Zidane, were European champions for three consecutive years between 2016-18, matching Bayern's three-time success in as many years from 1974 to 1976.
Who is the best team in Champions League history? ›Champions League Titles: 14
All we need to say here is that Real Madrid has won the UEFA Champions League a staggering 14 times and is therefore the greatest team to have ever played in the competition.
- 6 Francisco Gento (Real Madrid)
- 5 Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)
- 5 Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid)
- 5 Luka Modrić (Real Madrid)
- 5 Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United, Real Madrid)
- 5 Paolo Maldini (AC Milan)
- 5 Alfredo Di Stéfano (Real Madrid)
Benfica — 5 (1963, 1965, 1968, 1988, 1990) No club has a greater hex on it in European competition than Benfica.
Who has 5 Champions League titles? ›| Player | Number of CL titles* | Clubs |
|---|---|---|
| Cristiano Ronaldo | 5 | Man Utd, Real Madrid |
| Alessandro Costacurta | 5 | AC Milan |
| Paolo Maldini | 5 | AC Milan |
| Hector Rial | 5 | Real Madrid |
Who scored the fastest Champions League hat-tricks? Timed at six minutes 12 seconds, Salah came off the bench to score the fastest Champions League treble; Newell still holds the record for quickest ever 'perfect' hat-trick, scoring with his left foot, right foot and head.
What is the highest win in football history? ›
AS Adema 149–0 SO l'Emyrne was a football match played on 31 October 2002 between two teams in Toamasina, Madagascar. It holds the world record for the highest scoreline in any football match, recognised by The Guinness Book of Records.
Who has won 3 UCL in a row? ›Teams that have won the UEFA Champions League three consecutive times, or five times overall, receive a multiple-winner badge. Six teams have earned this privilege: Real Madrid, Ajax, Bayern Munich, Milan, Liverpool, and Barcelona.
Who is the king of Champions League history? ›Cristiano Ronaldo leads the UEFA Champions League in all-time goals scored, scoring a total of 141 goals. Lionel Messi sits in second place with 125 goals. Both players stand well clear of the other contenders, with third placed shared between Robert Lewandowski and Karim Benzema, each scoring 86 goals.
Who is the best striker in Champions League? ›Cristiano Ronaldo is the top scorer of all time in the Champions League and UEFA club competition as well as the most prolific in the history of senior international football.
Who scored the best goal in Champions League history? ›- Zinédine Zidane's volley, 2001/02.
- Cristiano Ronaldo's bicycle kick, 2017/18.
- Lionel Messi's solo run, 2010/11.
- Gareth Bale's overhead kick, 2017/18.
- Dejan Stanković's from halfway, 2010/11.
- George Weah's slalom and strike, 1994/95.
- 5 - Didier Deschamps – Marseille (1993) Didier Deschamps is a legend of French football. ...
- 4 - Matthias Sammer – Borussia Dortmund (1997) ...
- 2 - Steven Gerrard – Liverpool (2005) ...
- 1- Paolo Maldini – AC Milan (2003 & 2007)
The FIFA Men's World Ranking is a ranking system for men's national teams in association football, led by Brazil as of 2022.
Who is the best football player in the world? ›1. Lionel Messi (PSG)
Which soccer player has won everything? ›1) Bobby Charlton ( England, Manchester United)
He won the World Cup in 1966 with England. The same year he got his Ballon d'Or. Right after two years, in the 1967-68 season, he lifted the trophy of the Uefa Champions League (European Cup).
Brazilian footballer Davi Alves holds the record for most trophies won by a player in football. Since making his professional debut for the Brazilian football club Bahia in 2003, Dani Alves has won a staggering 43 titles in his illustrious career so far.
Who scored 5 goals in one Champions League? ›
Lionel Messi becomes first player to score five goals in single Champions League match.
Which club has lost most UEFA Finals? ›No club has been the Champions League runner-up more than Juventus, who have lost in seven of their nine UCL Final appearances. Juve have been defeated in their last five UCL Final trips, with their most recent win coming in 1996 via penalties over Ajax.
Who is the youngest person to win the Champions League? ›- Nwankwo Kanu (18 years 296 days) Ajax 1-0 AC Milan, 1995.
- Patrick Kluivert (18 years 327 days) Ajax 1-0 AC Milan, 1995.
- Iker Casillas (19 years 4 days) Real Madrid 3-0 Valencia, 2000.
- Clarence Seedorf (19 years 53 days) Ajax 1-0 AC Milan, 1995.
- Carlos Alberto (19 years 167 days)
Spanish football giants and reigning champions Real Madrid are the most successful team with 14 titles followed by AC Milan with seven.
Who has won 7 Champions League? ›Here is the full list of Champions League winners – Real Madrid have the most wins (13), with AC Milan (7), Liverpool and Bayern Munich (6 each) and Barcelona (5) some distance behind.
Who scored 59 hat-tricks? ›GOAL - Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 59 career hat-tricks 🎩 | Facebook.
Who scored hat-trick in 70 seconds? ›Who scored a hat trick in 70 seconds? Alex Torr, a player in a Sunday league, scored three goals in the shortest time ever. Referee Matt Tyers validated the goals and said he had never seen anything like it in his career.
Who has most hat-trick assist? ›...
Most assists in football.
| Player | Team (current) | Assists |
|---|---|---|
| Lionel Messi | Paris Saint-Germain | 386 |
| Thomas Muller | Bayern Munich | 294 |
| Luis Suarez | Atletico Madrid | 282 |
| Angel di Maria | Juventus | 274 |
The last player in these leagues to score seven goals in a match was László Kubala in 1952 for FC Barcelona.
Who scored 5 goals in 9 minutes? ›Robert Lewandowski broke a host of records when he plundered five goals in nine minutes as FC Bayern München brushed VfL Wolfsburg aside 5-1 in September 2015. Now you can watch the whole nine minutes in FULL!
Which footballer has most goals? ›
Pelé, with 762 official goals according to the IFFHS, held the world record for around 50 years. Josef Bican is credited by FIFA with 805 goals. Robert Lewandowski, the most recent to score 500.
Who scored 4 goals in one Champions League game? ›Andriy Shevchenko became the first player to score as many as four goals in a UEFA Champions League away game during Milan's 4-0 victory at Fenerbahçe in November 2005. These four goals helped Shevchenko to the Champions League golden boot that season, eventually grabbing nine goals in 2005-06.
Who is the best football king in the world? ›Many consider Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo to be the God of football. But the greatest footballers of all time are Pele and Diego Maradona, also called the Hand of God by the football world. The game of football produces legendary players of all time.
Who is the number 1 striker? ›Robert Lewandowski (last 2 seasons):
Minutes played: 3,389' (2020-21); 4,003' (2021-22) Minutes per goal: 71' (2020-21); 80' (2021-22) Titles won: 1 FIFA Clubs World Cup, 2 Bundesliga, 1 UEFA Super Cup, 2 German Super Cup.
Ronaldo took 137 games to reach 100, Messi 123. Messi's 120 goals for Barcelona eclipsed Ronaldo's single-club high of 105 at Real Madrid.
Who has 56 UCL goals? ›European Cup / UEFA Champions League
Since then, Real Madrid has won the competition eight times, in 1998, 2000, 2002, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2022 and established itself as one of the premier sides in European football. 3–2 (N) (a.e.t.)
Reigning champions Real Madrid have won the UEFA Champions League 14 times, making them the most successful team in the UCL. Italian club AC Milan are next with seven. German team Bayern Munich and England's Liverpool have won the annual showpiece six times each.
What trophies have Man City won in the last 10 years? ›- The Premier League in 2011/2012, 2013/2014, 2017/2018, 2018/2019 and 2002/202021.
- The FA once in 2018/2019.
- The League Cup/ The Carabao in 2013/2014, 2015/2016, 2017/2018, 2018/2019, 2019/2020 and 2020/2021.
- The FA Community Shield in 2012, 2018 and 2019.
Manchester City has won seven major domestic trophies over the last ten seasons. Its players have won two Premier League Golden Boots and four Golden Gloves.
Has Real Madrid ever lost a UCL final? ›
Madrid have played in 16 finals and have incredibly only lost in 3. They last lost in 1981 so haven't lost a Champions League final in 39 years.
Who has more trophies than Real Madrid? ›| Competition | Real Madrid | Barcelona |
|---|---|---|
| La Liga | 35 | 26 |
| Copa del Rey | 19 | 31 |
| Supercopa de Espana | 12 | 13 |
| Copa Eva Duarte | 1 | 3 |
Iconic Real Madrid left-winger Paco Gento currently holds the record of the player in possession of the most UCL titles, having won six trophies during an illustrious 18 years at the Santiago Bernabeu.
What player has lost the most UCL finals? ›Juventus defender Patrice Evra has become the first player to figure in four losing UEFA Champions League finals, having previously been a runner-up in 2004, 2009 and 2011.
Who has won 3 Champions League in a row? ›Real Madrid: three consecutive Champions Leagues and four in five seasons - AS USA.
Which team has beaten Man City the most? ›Arsenal have also defeated Manchester City in league competition on 87 occasions, which represents the most Manchester City have lost against any club.
What's Man City's biggest win? ›1987 A club record 10-1 demolition of Huddersfield Town is recorded at Maine Road in 1987. 1989 City are promoted in dramatic style in the last game of the season at Bradford.
What is Man City biggest win ever? ›Man City's biggest ever win came October of 1890 when they defeated Liverpool Stanley 12-0 in the FA Cup. Back then, they were known as Ardwick Association Football Club. In terms of goals scored, their biggest ever win was against Lincoln in the League Cup in 1895 when they won 11-3.
Is Man City a successful club? ›Manchester City adopted their sky blue home shirts in 1894, in the first season with the current name. Over the course of its history, the club has won eight league titles, six FA Cups, eight League Cups, six FA Community Shields, and one European Cup Winners' Cup. 1887 as Ardwick Association F.C.
How many years did Manchester City go without a trophy? ›MANCHESTER CITY – 34 years
Helpfully, City's neighbours kept a public record of how long it had been since the Blues' League Cup victory in 1976.
How many trophies have Manchester City won since 2010? ›
Under the stewardship of Roberto Mancini, Manuel Pellegrini, Pep Guardiola and Nick Cushing, we've added 16 trophies to our collection. That's four more than second-placed Arsenal, with Chelsea's nine trophies leaving them in third.