Revealed: The 5 Best Champions League Finals Ever

By Amelia Walker Senior Content Writer Updated: 08 November 2023

Amelia Walker Senior Content Writer

Amelia Walker is a Senior Content Writer at Betting.US. She has a law degree and deep knowledge of the gambling laws in the United States. Her mission is to keep players informed about responsible gambling, while her passion for sports helps her create useful guides. Amelia has over a decade of experience in betting, which has positioned her as a trusted voice among our readers.

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Champions League Finals

• Best Champions League Final
• Best UEFA Champions League Final Ever
• Milan’s 4-0 Rout of Barcelona
• Man United’s Last-Minute Magic
• The Miracle of Istanbul
• Man United vs Chelsea: The Penalty Drama
• Real Madrid’s La Decima
• Frequently Asked Questions

The best Champions League final is subjective – but today, we will do our best to give you an in-depth, comprehensive look at the best Champions League final ever! From jaw-dropping comebacks to last-minute goals, we’re diving deep into the games that have left a lasting mark on soccer history.

Best Champions League Final

The UEFA Champions League is where the best of the best meet in European soccer. It’s where the best teams in Europe battle it out for ultimate glory. But among all the finals, which one stands out as the best? Is it the game with the most goals, the most drama, or the one with the most iconic moments? The answer isn’t straightforward, but one thing’s certain: the best finals all contained epic action, incredible comebacks, and life-long memories!

Best UEFA Champions League Final Ever

When discussing the best UEFA Champions League final ever, we talk about a lot more than soccer. These are some of the most popular televised sporting events not just in Europe but the world – and the best Champions League games often attract hundreds of millions of viewers – and that’s not even including the finals!

When it comes to the best UEFA Champions League final ever, you’ll notice that all games have something special, whether it’s goals, drama, comebacks, or iconic soccer moments. Whether it’s Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s last-minute heroics for Manchester United in 1999 or Liverpool’s incredible comeback in Istanbul in 2005, these finals are the absolute definition of what makes soccer the incredible game it is.

Today, we will look at the best Champions League final ever. However, if you’re simply interested in live betting on the Champions League, don’t forget to check our recommended live sportsbooks, all of which have been vetted and hand-picked by our team of sports betting experts.

Milan’s 4-0 Rout of Barcelona

The 1994 Champions League final between AC Milan and Barcelona was supposed to be a close contest. Barcelona, led by the legendary Johan Cruyff, were the clear favorites – although Milan had other plans. Coached by Fabio Capello, they delivered a performance that was nothing short of world-class. Milan’s tactical setup was perfect; they successfully fought off Barcelona’s attacking threats while exploiting their defensive weaknesses.

Daniele Massaro scored two goals before halftime, setting the tone for what would come. Dejan Savićević and Marcel Desailly added to the tally in the second half, completing a 4-0 victory! It was one of the biggest upsets in UEFA history, and Milan proved to the world they could compete with the big boys.

The game is often cited as one of the most one-sided finals ever, but that doesn’t do justice to Milan’s performance even then. They didn’t just beat Barcelona; they outclassed them in every aspect of the game. It was a shock to soccer fans worldwide, and Barcelona fans had their tails between their legs for months to come!

Man United’s Last-Minute Magic

The 1999 UEFA Champions League final between Manchester United and Bayern Munich is considered one of the greatest and most dramatic finals in the competition’s history. Played at Barcelona’s Camp Nou stadium, the game seemed to be going Bayern’s way after Mario Basler scored an early goal in the 6th minute. Bayern then defended well and held onto their 1-0 lead until the very end of the match.

Injury time in the second half is when things got crazy. With the game in its final minute, Manchester United won a corner kick. David Beckham delivered the ball into Bayern’s penalty area, and after a scramble, Teddy Sheringham scored the equalizer in the 91st minute. Incredibly, with only seconds left, United won another corner. Beckham again sent the ball into the box, and Ole Gunnar Solskjær reached it to score the winner in the 93rd minute.

Manchester United completed an astonishing comeback to win 2-1 and secure an impressive treble of the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League titles. It was an unforgettable ending that showed how matches can turn in a heartbeat, regardless of how both teams have played up until that point.

The Miracle of Istanbul

The 2005 final in Istanbul is considered another of the greatest comebacks and most dramatic matches in Champions League history. Milan were the heavy favorites and took a commanding 3-0 lead in the first half. This was made possible thanks to two goals from Hernan Crespo and one from Paolo Maldini. Liverpool looked like they were out of it at half time, trailing three goals to none.

However, they launched an astonishing comeback in the second half. Led by captain Steven Gerrard, Liverpool scored three goals in a wild six-minute stretch to tie the match 3-3. Gerrard headed in the first goal, Vladimir Smicer scored a long-range shot, and Xabi Alonso equalized after getting to his saved penalty first. The teams were level after 90 minutes to force extra time.

With the score still tied 3-3 after extra time, the final went to penalty kicks. The shootout was just as dramatic – Liverpool ended up winning 3-2 after Jerzy Dudek saved Andriy Shevchenko’s penalty, and this cemented Liverpool’s insane comeback from 3-0 down to win their fifth European Cup against Milan.

The game earned the nickname the Miracle of Istanbul, and it’s not hard to see why! Here are some interesting facts about the game:

Man United vs Chelsea: The Penalty Drama

The first ever all-English Champions League final was played at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow in 2008. The match saw Premier League rivals Manchester United against Chelsea in what was always going to be a dramatic encounter. Cristiano Ronaldo headed United in front in the 26th minute, but Frank Lampard equalized right before halftime to even things out.

The second half and extra time passed without any goals. With penalties looming, Chelsea’s Didier Drogba was controversially sent off in the 116th minute for slapping Nemanja Vidic. The game went to penalties with the trophy on the line.

Ronaldo missed United’s third penalty, giving Chelsea captain John Terry the chance to win the title. But Terry slipped on his attempt and hit the post, keeping United alive. Edwin van der Sar then made an incredible save from Nicolas Anelka to secure a 6-5 shootout win for Manchester United.

It was an agonizing loss for Chelsea and an incredible victory for United, who lifted their third European Cup. The game has gone down in history as the best Champions League final for many – and it’s a day most Chelsea fans would rather forget.

Real Madrid’s La Decima

The 2014 final was the first-ever Champions League final between clubs from the same city, as rivals Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid met at Benfica’s Estádio da Luz in Lisbon. Atlético, to everyone’s shock, ended up taking the lead in the 36th minute through Diego Godín’s header.

Real Madrid continued to dominate possession but struggled to break down Atlético’s sturdy defense. However, Sergio Ramos finally equalized with a last-minute header in injury time which, in turn, led to extra time being played. Real Madrid were then able to show their true power, with goals from Gareth Bale, Marcelo, and Cristiano Ronaldo to win 4-1.

It was Real’s long-awaited 10th European Cup victory after over a decade of frustration since their last title in 2002. Their incredible comeback also allowed them to finally fulfill their obsession of achieving ‘La Decima’ – their 10th Champions League crown.