• Vinicius Jr, Valverde, and Rodrygo all started the match for Madrid, while Militao made the bench.
• The final of the greatest tournament in European Club football was a great lead-in to the greatest tournament for international football in the Americas.
Who could have seen this happen? Madrid’s opponent, Borussia Dortmund, sparkled so brightly to begin the final, creating chance after chance while Los Blancos struggled to keep the game level. It was a first half filled with waves of yellow. The Germans poured forward time and time again in rapid attacking flows while Madrid could do nothing but hold their breath as each Dortmund chance went begging.
Moments like these are when supporters have so often seen Madrid fall back on their UEFA Champions League experience. Los Blanco’s South American stars certainly have it. Fede Valverde and Vincius Jr. combined for Madrid’s game winning goal in the UCL final two years ago during their victory against Liverpool. Eder Militao also started that match while Rodrygo made a brief appearance off the bench.
During this year’s European final, it was Rodrygo who started alongside Vinicius Jr and Valverde while Militao was on the bench. It was these players, who are set to shine in the United States at CONMEBOL Copa America 2024™, who powered Madrid back into the match.
It was vintage Real Madrid. By the 70’, Madrid had started to wrestle back possession from Dortmund, and then in the 74’ on a corner by Toni Kroos, Daniel Carvajal scored on a header to give his team the lead. A moment that felt inevitable, became reality.
Brazil’s Vinicius Jr then scored his second ever goal in a Champions League final in the 83’ to secure the Club’s 15th European Cup. A beautiful moment for the Brazilian and his teammates as they finish the season having won La Liga and the UEFA Champions League.
Vinicius Jr, Valverde, Rodrygo and Militao will surely celebrate accordingly before shifting their focus to CONMEBOL Copa América 2024™. Tickets are still available to see the Brazilian and Uruguayan European club champions at the world’s oldest national team tournament. Get yours here.
