With their 4-1 win on Saturday, Real Madrid took home the Champions League trophy for the second straight time (and third in four years), making them the footballing kings of Europe. In spite of this, they won’t be the team taking home the most prize money from this year’s competition. That title belongs to their final counterparts, Juventus.
Gianluigi Buffon is 39 years old. He has just lost the Champions League final. He has lost the Champions League final three times. He has never won the competition. He has just one more chance.
"As far as I am concerned, I have one last chance. I still have a year on my contract, we're in the Champions League again so we will challenge to win it."
In 2015, a battling Juventus side fought its way to a Champions League final. Overachieving in Max Allegri’s first season as manager, they were roundly beaten by Barcelona. Domestically, the club was enjoying a renaissance. Winning back-to-back-to-back titles, the 2015 final put them well ahead of their post-Calciopoli schedule (the 2006 Italian football scandal that saw Juventus relegated to Serie B).
Cristiano Ronaldo, the all-time leading scorer in Champions League history, added another two goals to his tally to lead Real Madrid to UEFA Champions League glory, the Spanish side securing back-to-back titles with a commanding 4-1 victory over Juventus.
Ronaldo becomes the 1st player to score in 3 Champions League finals to give Real Madrid the lead. #UCLfinal https://t.co/JLygGZfq1I
Cristiano Ronaldo gave Real Madrid the lead in the 20th minute of the 2017 UEFA Champions League Final, his effort beating Gianluigi Buffon after taking a slight deflection off Leonardo Bonucci in defense.
Ronaldo becomes the 1st player to score in 3 Champions League finals to give Real Madrid the lead. #UCLfinal https://t.co/JLygGZfq1I
With a win in Saturday’s Champions League final, Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon will surpass compatriot Paolo Maldini as the oldest player to ever lift the trophy at the age of 39. For decades the shot-stopper has arguably been the best in the world at his trade, collecting nearly all the team and individual awards the sport has to offer and showing us what it means to give your all to a cause with loyalty, heart and professionalism.
We've reached the final match of the 2016/2017 Champions League, which means it's the end of The18's UCL Pick 'Em.
It's been a long and daunting season, but our lively bunch has done a decent job of giving you, the readers, an idea of who will win each Tuesday and Wednesday. Below are some simple answers that you can totally steal and use as your own to make your friends think you know it all. If you need to know how to watch the match, check out this story.