The torch changed its bearer in the most beautiful way possible, when Real Madrid beat Borussia Dortmund 2–0 in the Champions League final.
Ending his amazing career at the summer European football championships Toni Kroos34, celebrated the sixth Champions League victory of his career late Saturday at Wembley in London.
For Real Madrid, the championship was the 15th in the Champions League or its predecessor, the European Cup. AC Milan has the second most championships, seven.
Among Real’s players, the conquest of the Champions League was also the sixth For Dani Carvajal, For Luka Modric and For Nacho. In addition, only six championships have been achieved in history Paco Gento In the 1950s and 1960s, in Real Madrid, he too.
Kroos is undeniably one of the most significant and dominant midfielders of the last decade.
– Unbelievable. Six titles in the Champions League is crazy. Something I could never have imagined I would achieve, Kroos tasted.
Real Madrid has lost the Champions League final for the last time in 1981. Since then, there have been nine final victories in a row.
– It seems that we cannot lose in these games. When you don’t lose in the finals, that’s a good foundation, I guess.
– Of course it’s because of the quality, but our mentality is crazy. It’s a lot about believing. That’s what sets this club apart.
Even in the final, one of Kroos’ trademarks was seen, a wonderful special situation. A curling corner kick found Carvajal’s head, and the full-back headed in the winning goal.
Ten minutes later the head coach Carlo Ancelotti replaced Kroos. Real fans were naturally ecstatic.
– He wanted to retire at the top. And he did it. He is a player who will undoubtedly become one of Real Madrid’s great legends, the club president enthused Florentino Perez.
Message stick received
The torch passed from Kroosi of Jude Bellingham portable. Although there must have been turmoil inside, Kroos appeared more subdued than the 20-year-old Englishman who was overcome with emotion.
Bellingham was substituted in the 85th minute, at the same time as Kroos, and was already struggling to hold back tears at that stage.
Dormund practically dominated the match for the first hour, even to the extent of his heart. Kroos and Bellingham struggled in midfield.
However, the big players find ways to stand out. Kroos scored the winning goal, and Bellingham provided the assist of Vinicius Junior 2–0 to the goal.
Bellingham just moved to Real Madrid from Dortmund.
– at Wembley against Dortmund. It’s weird, I can’t believe it. When I was seven years old in Birmingham, I dreamed of nights like this, Bellingham already amazed after the semifinals.
Bellingham’s first season at Real Madrid was amazing. He scored the most goals of his team in La Liga, 19, as Real also took the Spanish title. And it’s about the midfielder.
Bellingham has become the number one name in the CIES Football Observatory rankings of the International Sports Research Center. CIES lists the world’s most valuable players.
Kylian Mbappe has been dropped from the list as his PSG contract expired and he can move on a free transfer. However, Bellingham already passed Mbappe in the rankings earlier.
Bellingham moved to Real last summer on a six-year contract. The transfer amount with bonuses was estimated at 133 million euros, but now CIES now sees Bellingham’s value at 280 million euros.
– This has to be a perfect season. I can’t put this into words. This was the best night of my life, Bellingham beamed after the final.
Even in interviews, Bellingham had trouble keeping his emotions in check.
– I was fine until I saw my mother and father, the young star player described the turmoil of his emotions.
After the match, he went to put his Champions League medal around his mother’s neck.
Also Dortmund’s head coach Edin Terzic commented feelingly on Bellingham.
– When he left us, I said the same thing as For Erling Haaland – that I was proud to be their manager.
– I know what Mark, Denise and Jobe (Bellingham’s father, mother and younger brother) have done for this success. Pat on the back.
of Brazil Ronaldo is the youngest Ballon d’Or winner. He got it at the age of 21 in 1997.
Bellingham has already been talked about as the best in the world. He is a candidate to win the Ballon d’Or next fall at the age of 21.
From the beginning of the season, for example, Bellingham scored twice in Barcelona’s net in their first El Clasico. However, Kovi’s enthusiasm calmed down a bit after the turn of the year, when Bellingham missed games due to suspension and injuries.
The national team summer can be significant in the Ballon d’Or selection, when the European Championships and Copa America are played.
Bellingham still has a lot to prove, but at the age of 21, he is such a mature player that Real can count on him to be able to lead like Kroos in the midfield.
– Kroos has handed over the baton and Bellingham is ready to take it. It’s not worth betting against Bellingham breaking Kroos’ record of six Champions League wins, wrote ESPN Mark Ogden.
Dortmund dominated most of the match
– I have to be honest. Dortmund was the better team in the first half. They could have been two or three goals ahead, Bellingam stated after the match.
Real’s head coach Carlo Ancelotti also admitted that he was not really satisfied with the opening period.
– We lost the ball too often and in the wrong places. We let Dortmund play the way they wanted – forcing moves and allowing turnovers.
Football expert Markus Halsti can see that Dortmund succeeded perfectly in their game plan.
– But the most important thing. When you get such good goalscoring chances and you don’t manage to score in the Champions League final against Real Madrid. Then you already expected that Real will get places with their individual skills at some point.
– You just can’t miss a place like that, says Halsti By Karim Adeyemi from wasting the opening sequence.
Real’s expansion is reflected in the fact that when others were having a hard time, the team’s shortest player, 174-centimeter full-back Carvajal, scored the decisive goal.
Dortmund’s counterattacks were known to be a strength, but Halsti was surprised how Dortmund was able to build situations through the wings in slow attacks.
Real learned the hard way, adjusting the height and risk levels of their defensive line.
– In a certain way, routine and belief in one’s own doing, combined with the level of individuals, finally led Real to victory.
Why always Real?
Finally, Real Madrid did it again. As he did, for example, in the semi-finals by miraculously getting past Bayern.
– It looks like a dream, but it is reality, Ancelotti summed it up and hit the nail on the head when talking about Real and the Champions League.
Interviewed by the BBC Real fans and experts to find out why the association between Real and the Champions League is so incredible.
– It’s a special bond. Like marriage. It’s hard to explain, you just have to live it, a fan called Maria Garcia-Mella pondered.
Many clubs can have a huge impact nationally, even if they never achieve Euro success.
– In England, many fans prioritize the Premier League. In Spain, I think it’s pretty clear that the biggest competition is the Champions League, writes for The Athletic Guillermo Ray stated.
Journalist and writer Jesus Bengoechea stated that Real has never been a dogmatic team where things should be done a certain way.
– It is a reactive team. Let’s do the things that need to be done to win the match.
History already obliges. Real Madrid is one of the founders of the European Cup and won the first five championships (1956–60).
– Real has won a lot, but always wants to win more. There is something crazy about how the club as an institution thinks that the Champions League belongs to Real Madrid, Bengoechea concluded.
Sources: ESPN, BBC, Daily Mail