Top 10 Greatest Champions League Finals

Manchester United trailed 1–0 with 90 minutes on the clock in the 1999 Champions League Final at Camp Nou, Barcelona. Then, in injury time added for Mario Basler's free-kick goal, Teddy Sheringham equalised in the 91st minute and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer poked home in the 93rd to complete the most dramatic comeback in football history. United completed the Treble — Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League — in the same season. Sir Alex Ferguson's side had finished the group stage in second place in their group.

The 2012 Champions League Final at the Allianz Arena — Bayern Munich's own ground — was one of the greatest upsets in European football history. Chelsea, having been outplayed for 88 minutes, equalised through Didier Drogba's header in injury time. Bayern's Arjen Robben missed a penalty in extra time. In the shootout, Drogba scored the winning penalty to give Chelsea their only European Cup — in Bayern's home stadium. Roberto Di Matteo had only been appointed manager ten weeks earlier.

The 2019 Champions League Final in Madrid was the first all-English final in European Cup history since 1984. Mohamed Salah scored from the penalty spot in the second minute — the fastest goal in a Champions League Final — before Divock Origi sealed it in the 87th. The match was settled quickly after the most dramatic semi-finals in Champions League history: Liverpool had overturned a 3–0 deficit against Barcelona, while Tottenham had beaten Ajax on away goals in the 96th minute. The final was an anticlimax but the tournament as a whole was unforgettable.

The 1960 European Cup Final at Hampden Park, Glasgow, is regarded as the greatest display of attacking football in the history of the competition. Real Madrid's galactico side — featuring Alfredo Di Stéfano and Ferenc Puskás — defeated a superb Eintracht Frankfurt 7–3 before 127,621 spectators. Puskás scored four and Di Stéfano three. The BBC broadcast the match to a British audience who had never watched Real Madrid live before, producing what many consider the most significant football broadcast in European history. It remains the highest-scoring European Cup Final ever.

The 2014 Champions League Final in Lisbon was the most emotionally brutal in recent history. Atlético Madrid led 1–0 in the 93rd minute, seconds from their first European Cup. Sergio Ramos headed an equaliser from a corner in the 93rd minute. Real Madrid then scored three in extra time through Bale, Marcelo, and Ronaldo to win 4–1. It was Real's 10th European Cup — La Décima — achieved in the cruelest possible fashion for their crosstown rivals, who had twice come within seconds of glory.

The 2009 Champions League Final in Rome was the definitive statement of Pep Guardiola's Barcelona as the best club side in the world. Samuel Eto'o and Lionel Messi — with a header that shocked everyone who knew him — scored past Edwin van der Sar. Barcelona's tiki-taka completely neutralised a Manchester United side featuring Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney. Guardiola's first-year side completed the Treble. The performance was so dominant it changed tactical thinking in European football for the following decade.

The 2016 Champions League Final in Milan was the second El Derby de Madrid final in three years. Sergio Ramos scored in the 15th minute for Real before Yannick Carrasco equalised in the 79th. Atletico's Antoine Griezmann missed a penalty in extra time. Real won 5–3 on penalties to complete the double over their local rivals in European finals and win their 11th European Cup — La Undécima. Cristiano Ronaldo converted the decisive spot-kick and removed his shirt for a celebration that drew a yellow card.

Arrigo Sacchi's AC Milan team of 1989 is considered by many Italian football historians as the greatest club side ever assembled. Their 4–0 demolition of Steaua Bucharest in the European Cup Final in Barcelona — with goals from Gullit (two) and Van Basten (two) — announced a generation-defining team. The Dutch trio of Gullit, Van Basten, and Rijkaard transformed how football looked and felt, playing total football with Italian defensive discipline. Milan retained the trophy the following year, beating Benfica 1–0.

The 2003 Champions League Final at Old Trafford between AC Milan and Juventus — the first all-Italian European Cup Final — was scoreless after 120 minutes but extraordinarily tense throughout. AC Milan's goalkeeper Dida saved three penalties from Trezeguet, Montero, and Zalayeta. Shevchenko converted the winning penalty. The match featured Maldini, Nesta, Pirlo, Inzaghi, Del Piero, Nedvěd, and Buffon — arguably the deepest concentration of individual talent in a single European final.

Manchester United trailed 1–0 with 90 minutes on the clock in the 1999 Champions League Final at Camp Nou, Barcelona. Then, in injury time added for Mario Basler's free-kick goal, Teddy Sheringham equalised in the 91st minute and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer poked home in the 93rd to complete the most dramatic comeback in football history. United completed the Treble — Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League — in the same season. Sir Alex Ferguson's side had finished the group stage in second place in their group.

The 2012 Champions League Final at the Allianz Arena — Bayern Munich's own ground — was one of the greatest upsets in European football history. Chelsea, having been outplayed for 88 minutes, equalised through Didier Drogba's header in injury time. Bayern's Arjen Robben missed a penalty in extra time. In the shootout, Drogba scored the winning penalty to give Chelsea their only European Cup — in Bayern's home stadium. Roberto Di Matteo had only been appointed manager ten weeks earlier.

The 2019 Champions League Final in Madrid was the first all-English final in European Cup history since 1984. Mohamed Salah scored from the penalty spot in the second minute — the fastest goal in a Champions League Final — before Divock Origi sealed it in the 87th. The match was settled quickly after the most dramatic semi-finals in Champions League history: Liverpool had overturned a 3–0 deficit against Barcelona, while Tottenham had beaten Ajax on away goals in the 96th minute. The final was an anticlimax but the tournament as a whole was unforgettable.

The 1960 European Cup Final at Hampden Park, Glasgow, is regarded as the greatest display of attacking football in the history of the competition. Real Madrid's galactico side — featuring Alfredo Di Stéfano and Ferenc Puskás — defeated a superb Eintracht Frankfurt 7–3 before 127,621 spectators. Puskás scored four and Di Stéfano three. The BBC broadcast the match to a British audience who had never watched Real Madrid live before, producing what many consider the most significant football broadcast in European history. It remains the highest-scoring European Cup Final ever.

The 2014 Champions League Final in Lisbon was the most emotionally brutal in recent history. Atlético Madrid led 1–0 in the 93rd minute, seconds from their first European Cup. Sergio Ramos headed an equaliser from a corner in the 93rd minute. Real Madrid then scored three in extra time through Bale, Marcelo, and Ronaldo to win 4–1. It was Real's 10th European Cup — La Décima — achieved in the cruelest possible fashion for their crosstown rivals, who had twice come within seconds of glory.

The 2009 Champions League Final in Rome was the definitive statement of Pep Guardiola's Barcelona as the best club side in the world. Samuel Eto'o and Lionel Messi — with a header that shocked everyone who knew him — scored past Edwin van der Sar. Barcelona's tiki-taka completely neutralised a Manchester United side featuring Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney. Guardiola's first-year side completed the Treble. The performance was so dominant it changed tactical thinking in European football for the following decade.

The 2016 Champions League Final in Milan was the second El Derby de Madrid final in three years. Sergio Ramos scored in the 15th minute for Real before Yannick Carrasco equalised in the 79th. Atletico's Antoine Griezmann missed a penalty in extra time. Real won 5–3 on penalties to complete the double over their local rivals in European finals and win their 11th European Cup — La Undécima. Cristiano Ronaldo converted the decisive spot-kick and removed his shirt for a celebration that drew a yellow card.

Arrigo Sacchi's AC Milan team of 1989 is considered by many Italian football historians as the greatest club side ever assembled. Their 4–0 demolition of Steaua Bucharest in the European Cup Final in Barcelona — with goals from Gullit (two) and Van Basten (two) — announced a generation-defining team. The Dutch trio of Gullit, Van Basten, and Rijkaard transformed how football looked and felt, playing total football with Italian defensive discipline. Milan retained the trophy the following year, beating Benfica 1–0.

The 2003 Champions League Final at Old Trafford between AC Milan and Juventus — the first all-Italian European Cup Final — was scoreless after 120 minutes but extraordinarily tense throughout. AC Milan's goalkeeper Dida saved three penalties from Trezeguet, Montero, and Zalayeta. Shevchenko converted the winning penalty. The match featured Maldini, Nesta, Pirlo, Inzaghi, Del Piero, Nedvěd, and Buffon — arguably the deepest concentration of individual talent in a single European final.