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We all have our special "I was there!" moment in life. How lucky one must feel to witness the magic unfold in front of their wide gapping eyes that capture things we had all been eagerly waiting for. For a football fanatic, there's nothing more enthralling than noticing the fiercest clashes on the pitch.
With the highest stakes, the best quality on the pitch, and the ego that desires glory at its meanest, football does not dare disappoint. Though the need to be diplomatic suggests that every game of football is brilliant, there is nothing that comes close to a pulsating finale.
The journey stands successfully completed, the destination is just footsteps away, one cannot afford to blink or the silverware may disappear from sight. The sweet dreams of glory can turn into a regretful nightmare in 90 minutes of footballing action.
Each fan has his own set of memories in football and it would be unfair to argue why one's is more special than the other's. To speak in absolutes in terms of greatest, the best, the most memorable could often prove to be indifferent. The subjectivity prevails after all those efforts.
However, there are some finals in history which do fit those superlatives together in the collective consciousness of footballing brethren. That makes them almost unforgettable and even the most teasing hint will bring back those memories in a rush. Here are the five most unforgettable finals in football history.
#5 Uruguay vs Brazil - 1950 World Cup Final
The fourth edition of the World Cup took place in 1950 after a 12-year break due to World War II. As if that wasn't already a special occasion of much anticipation, the excitement was doubled by the fact that it was being held in Brazil.
It is a nation that since the British introduced them to football, had made a religion of it. They blended it into their culture, in their sense of style and their football was as entertaining to watch as it was effective.
In 1950, there was no other team more well equipped to win the tournament than the hosts. The Brazilians wanted to make this occasion big, they knew that a few good men representing their country were bringing the trophy home.
The stadium that was going to host the final, the Maracana, was built over the course of two years in Rio de Janeiro. Back in those days, the World Cup was not settled by a one-off final though. There was a group stage played between the last four teams and the one that came out with the most points won.
But then it all boiled down to one fixture: the battle of the South Americans. It was Brazil vs Uruguay in the final game. The hosts were rampant throughout the tournament, scoring goals for fun and nearly impenetrable in defense. A draw was sufficient for them to be crowned the champions of the world.
Their rather diminutive neighbors, however, had already once been crowned champions in 1930 and were there to prove a point again. And so the game began. It did not live up to its hype in the first half but then things started to take shape and a livelier, thrilling and astonishing second half unfolded.
It was advantage Brazil, as Selecao striker Friaca gave them the lead minutes after the second half began. A crowd of 173,850 individuals (with tickets) erupted in uproar, their nation one step closer to its first world title. Had to be precise with that number because, till date, it remains the record for the biggest attendance in a football match. The aggregate attendance was nearly 200,000.
Uruguay pulled one back through winger Juan Schiaffino, however the Brazilians were unbothered. A draw was still going to do it for them. As the clock ticked and the game moved closer towards the full-time whistle, celebrations had already begun in the stadium.
In the 79th minute, Alcides Ghiggia stepped up to break Brazilian hearts as he scored the match-winner and defeaning silence prevailed. No one entertained even the thought of a defeat before the game. In fact, some newspapers had already pronounced Brazil the champions.
Everyone looked at the scoreline in utter disbelief, but it was reality. Bewildering and bitter, but in their faces. Uruguay were the champions of world football. This shock defeat on home soil is infamously known as Maracanazao (the Maracana blow).
As a result of this victory, Brazil stopped wearing their white shirts to switch to the yellow jerseys which they wear to this age. As far as the psyche of the nation is concerned, this was a big trauma, a tragedy as grand as Shakespeare's.
#4 Manchester United vs Chelsea - 2008 UCL Final
Perhaps in the last few years we have become acquainted with the occasion of an all English European final. This is because of the high quality football the Premier League has consistently produced.
However, when Chelsea and Manchester United contested the Champions League final in 2008, it was the first English final after 1971. Tottenham Hotspur and Wolverhampton Wanderers competed in a two-legged 1971 UEFA Super Cup final won by the former.
There was nothing missing from the 2008 UCL final, however. There were goals, albeit just two of them, rage and physicality, there were cards; yellow and red, extra time and penalties. It was an end-to-end encounter where Chelsea and Man United both had opportunities to seal the game in normal time.
However, neither side was ready to bow down and did the needful defensively to pester each other and resist the attacks. Manchester United broke the deadlock through Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored his 42nd goal of the season. Playing on the left wing, he tried to enjoy himself as much as he could against Michael Essien who played the makeshit left-back.
At the stroke of half-time, Frank Lampard delivered a sucker punch and pulled one back for the Blues. He compelled United manager Sir Alex Ferguson to deliver a more purposeful teamtalk. Both goalkeepers Edwin van der Sar and Petr Cech deserved plaudits for making some exceptional saves throughout the game.
Didier Drogba had the chance to be the hero of the night, but his speculating effort from 25-yards hit the upright. With 15 minutes of extra time remaining, the striker lost his temper and a needless slap to Nemanja Vidic saw him sent off. The energy was sucked out of the most relentless pair of legs on the pitch and the fate of the final was left to be decided by penalties.
Ronaldo's spot kick was figured out well by Cech who gave Chelsea a glimmer of hope to hang by. But John Terry took a woeful penalty, missing the target altogether. Van der Sar then helped Ferguson and co. to the title by saving Nicolas Anelka's sudden death penalty.
#3 Manchester United vs Bayern Munich - 1999 UCL Final
It is well known that it was hard to celebrate their victory against Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United until the game was well and truly over. For one of the greatest reasons for this, you should watch this affair. A lot of matches were settled in "Fergie Time" but none more important for the Red Devils than this Champions League final.
The game was equally important for both sides because both teams had the chance to complete a treble. The Premier League side had the worst possible start as they conceded a goal in just the sixth minute after kick-off. Mario Basler deceived Peter Schmeichel with his free kick and put the Bavarians one up.
Man United were without two of their most important players, Roy Keane and Paul Scholes, who were out due to suspension. Their absence was clearly hurting the Red Devils, who weren't quite able to establish a grip on the game.
Every time Bayern Munich revisit this final in their memory, they'd have a certain sense of regret. The German side had enough chances to bury the game in normal time but none of their efforts to double the lead materialized. It wasn't down to some exceptional defending, the Bavarians did not have a cutting edge in their attacks and were predictable for most of the game.
But Sir Alex Ferguson came prepared with the unpredictable. He started with Teddy Sheringham on the bench and sent him on the pitch after an hour of action. He also had his trump card in the form of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who he introduced with just 10 minutes left to play.
The super subs changed the tide of the game within three minutes of added time. First Sheringham and then Solskjaer. Both goals began with David Beckham's corner deliveries. Then, with the killer instincts of the two strikers, the ball ended at the back of the net from close range.
It was only after 1968 that Manchester United won the European Cup (now UCL) having previously done so under the management of legendary figure Matt Busby. Such was the fate that on the day of the 1999 Champions League final it would have been late Busby's 90th birthday.
He must have had a big grin as he watched from the heavens!
#2 Portugal vs Greece - 2004 Euro Final
Greece must have had all of its Greek gods ever mentioned in their mythology smiling at them and showering their goodluck. This was too Herculean a task to be completed without supernatural support. Manager Otto Rehhagel stood at the helm of it all, masterminding the disruption of footballing common sense.
It was he who provided his players with a strong foundation of tactics and strategies. Before the 2004 edition of the Euros, Greece had only scored one goal at major tournaments and had not registered a single victory. But in what was a sheer display of willpower, persistence and desire, they accomplished the unthinkable.
Throughout the tournament, they largely followed the same pattern. Frustrate your opponent, capitalize on your chances, take the lead, frustrate more with resolute defense and win. It's easy to put that recipe on paper, but they executed it masterfully and their luck did whatever rest was left.
The hosts Portugal started their campaign against Greece in the group stages and ended their campaign against the same opposition in the finals. Such was the fate that both times the Portuguese tasted narrow defeat by a margin of one goal. The first half of the final was simply dull, with both teams getting some half-chances, but none really threatened to take the lead.
Then, in the second half, Rehhagel's men delivered a sucker punch from a corner routine. For Portugal's part, it showed carelessness and a lack of preparation. The Greeks had knocked out Czech Republic and France, both in similar style, from headed goals.
The hosts should have seen it coming, but they didn't and Anglos Charisteas scored to give them an all-important goal to hold on to. Cristiano Ronaldo, Luis Figo, Pauleta and Maniche all tried their best to beat Antonis Nikopolidis in goal, but it was his day.
Luiz Felipe Scolari and his men were not clinical on one of the most important nights in Portugal's history. They became the first host nation to lose in a European Championship final.
#1 Liverpool vs AC Milan - UCL Final 2005
Embossed in the memories of football fans and lovers of the Champions League is a tale of perseverance and fighting spirit deservedly titled as "the Miracle of Istanbul." An inspirational 120 minutes of football which proved that defying odds, however grossly they may be stacked against you, is truly in your own power.
As far as daunting tasks go, Liverpool were looking down the barrel of their most daunting one. A trophy they hadn't won in the past two decades stood at touching distance from them, two halves of footballing action away. But between them and that beautiful piece of silverware stood Carlo Ancelotti's formidable AC Milan.
One look at the teamsheets and it would be absolutely human of you to write off the Reds in this contest. Legends Paolo Maldini, Cafu, Kaka, Alessandro Nesta, Dida, Andrea Pirlo and the then reigning Ballon d'Or winner Andriy Shevchenko were all wearing the Rossoneri colors.
Between the kick-off whistle and the half-time whistle, the team from the Premier League crumbled and was on its knees. The scoreline read 3-0 in favor of the Serie A side as Hernan Crespo's brace and Maldini's goal put the tie to bed. Except they didn't.
Rafael Benitez and co. emerged from the tunnel with real purpose and determination. They did not want to go down without a fight, so fight, they did. In the 54th minute, Stevan Gerrard rose high and buried his header past Dida. The kneeling hopes were crawling again. Minutes later, Vladimir Smicer buried a low right-footed rocket from outside the box into the bottom left corner.
Two goals in two minutes. The crawling hopes pick themselves up and start walking again. Four minutes later, Stevie G was at it again, arriving in the box, Genaro Gattuso had lost his man, he desperately tried to stop him. Efforts in vain, misery for Milan, penalty for Liverpool.
Up stepped Xabi Alonso, he went low, in the left corner, but Dida read it and saved. The Spanish midfielder quickly pounced on the ball and buried it from even closer distance. By the hour mark, the Reds had erased the deficit and this time they had their teeth firmly into the tie.
The team couldn't be further separated, even after 30 minutes of extra time, as it all boiled down to penalties. Nerves got the better of the ever so reliable Andrea Pirlo and Andriy Shevchenko. They couldn't convert from the spot and the unreal dream had now become a breathing reality.
