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Lore & Background

This was the only UEFA Champions League final where Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have met, as well as the last match Ronaldo played for Manchester United until his return to the club in 2021. Manchester United went into the match as the competition's defending champions, the first title holders to reach the final since Juventus in 1997. Manchester United also sought to be the first team to retain the European Cup since the Milan win in 1990.

In Their Own Story

On 21 May 2008, over 67,000 spectators watched Manchester United face Chelsea in Moscow. Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring in the 26th minute with a header from a Wes Brown cross, but Frank Lampard equalized before half-time. The match remained deadlocked through extra time until Didier Drogba was sent off four minutes from the end for slapping Nemanja Vidić. The decisive moment came in the penalty shoot-out: Ronaldo missed United's third kick, giving John Terry a chance to win it for Chelsea. However, Terry slipped and his shot hit the post. Edwin van der Sar then saved Nicolas Anelka's effort from Chelsea's seventh kick, securing Manchester United's third European Cup title.

Reader's Guide

The Stadio Olimpico had hosted three previous Champions League finals, in 1977, 1984 and 1996. The match was refereed by Swiss referee Massimo Busacca. For winning the final, Barcelona won €7 million in prize money, and Manchester United received €4 million as runners-up.

Did You Know?

• Samuel Eto'o opened the scoring in the 10th minute, and Lionel Messi added another goal 20 minutes from the end.
• This was Barcelona's third victory in the competition, 17 years after their first European Cup win in 1992.
• It was the fifth consecutive year that the final involved at least one English team.
• Barcelona's win earned them a historic treble of La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Champions League, a feat never before achieved by a Spanish club.