Hey football fans! Gorge the Croc here, and today we're diving deep into some Champions League history. As a lifelong football enthusiast, nothing gets my scales tingling like the excitement of a Champions League final—the drama, the passion, and those unforgettable moments that etch themselves into footballing lore.
Join me as we count down the 10 greatest Champions League finals ever played. Whether it's thrilling comebacks, tactical masterclasses, or jaw-dropping individual performances, these matches had it all. Let's relive the magic together!
10. Real Madrid 4-1 Atlético Madrid (2014)
Final: Real Madrid 4-1 Atlético Madrid (after extra time)
Stadium: Estádio da Luz, Lisbon
Date: May 24, 2014
Referee: Björn Kuipers (Netherlands)
The "La Decima" triumph! Atlético led through Diego Godín's header, but Sergio Ramos dramatically equalized in stoppage time. Real Madrid dominated extra time, securing their coveted 10th European title with goals from Bale, Marcelo, and Ronaldo, breaking Atlético hearts.
9. Liverpool 2-0 Tottenham Hotspur (2019)
Final: Liverpool 2-0 Tottenham Hotspur
Stadium: Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid
Date: June 1, 2019
Referee: Damir Skomina (Slovenia)
An all-English final saw Liverpool quickly lead through a Mohamed Salah penalty and sealed victory with Divock Origi's late strike. Klopp’s tactical brilliance delivered Liverpool their sixth Champions League title, avenging the previous year's defeat.
8. Chelsea 1-1 Bayern Munich (4-3 Penalties, 2012)
Final: Chelsea 1-1 Bayern Munich (Chelsea won 4-3 on penalties)
Stadium: Allianz Arena, Munich
Date: May 19, 2012
Referee: Pedro Proença (Portugal)
Didier Drogba became a Chelsea legend, equalizing dramatically in the dying minutes and scoring the decisive penalty. Chelsea defied the odds against Bayern Munich on their home turf, clinching their first-ever Champions League trophy.
7. Manchester United 1-1 Chelsea (6-5 Penalties, 2008)
Final: Manchester United 1-1 Chelsea (United won 6-5 on penalties)
Stadium: Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow
Date: May 21, 2008
Referee: Ľuboš Micheľ (Slovakia)
In Moscow’s rain-soaked night, Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring before Frank Lampard equalized. The match went to penalties, famously remembered for John Terry’s slip and Edwin van der Sar’s heroic save, securing United's third European crown.
6. Real Madrid 3-1 Liverpool (2018)
Final: Real Madrid 3-1 Liverpool
Stadium: NSC Olimpiyskiy, Kyiv
Date: May 26, 2018
Referee: Milorad Mažić (Serbia)
An unforgettable night highlighted by Gareth Bale’s spectacular bicycle kick. Madrid secured their third consecutive Champions League title, marked by goalkeeping errors and Bale’s stunning individual brilliance.
5. Borussia Dortmund 3-1 Juventus (1997)
Final: Borussia Dortmund 3-1 Juventus
Stadium: Olympiastadion, Munich
Date: May 28, 1997
Referee: Sándor Puhl (Hungary)
Dortmund's underdog story saw Karl-Heinz Riedle score twice, stunning favorites Juventus. Substitute Lars Ricken sealed the victory with his first touch, securing Dortmund's first-ever Champions League title.
4. Barcelona 3-1 Manchester United (2011)
Final: Barcelona 3-1 Manchester United
Stadium: Wembley Stadium, London
Date: May 28, 2011
Referee: Viktor Kassai (Hungary)
Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona dominated with a mesmerizing display of attacking football. Goals from Pedro, Messi, and Villa overshadowed Rooney’s equalizer, confirming Barcelona's status as one of football’s greatest-ever teams.
3. Manchester United 2-1 Bayern Munich (1999)
Final: Manchester United 2-1 Bayern Munich
Stadium: Camp Nou, Barcelona
Date: May 26, 1999
Referee: Pierluigi Collina (Italy)
United achieved a historic treble in dramatic fashion. Trailing since the 6th minute, Sheringham and Solskjaer scored two stoppage-time goals, transforming certain defeat into legendary victory, stunning the world and breaking Bayern hearts.
2. AC Milan 4-0 Barcelona (1994)
Final: AC Milan 4-0 Barcelona
Stadium: Olympic Stadium, Athens
Date: May 18, 1994
Referee: Philip Don (England)
AC Milan's tactical perfection dismantled Johan Cruyff's "Dream Team." Massaro’s brace, Savićević’s sublime lob, and Desailly’s finish delivered a stunning result. Milan’s emphatic victory reshaped European football's landscape, illustrating tactical brilliance and ruthless execution.
1. Liverpool 3-3 AC Milan (3-2 Penalties, 2005)
Final: Liverpool 3-3 AC Milan (Liverpool won 3-2 on penalties)
Stadium: Atatürk Olympic Stadium, Istanbul
Date: May 25, 2005
Referee: Manuel Mejuto González (Spain)
The "Miracle of Istanbul" remains the ultimate final. Trailing 3-0 at halftime, Liverpool’s rapid-fire second-half comeback through Gerrard, Šmicer, and Alonso forced extra time and penalties. Jerzy Dudek’s iconic saves secured Liverpool’s fifth European Cup, making it arguably the greatest football comeback ever.
Did your favorite final make the list? Drop your comments below and share your own memories of these legendary matches!