SAN FRANCISCO, June 03, (THEWILL) – Real Madrid, Zinedine Zidane and Cristiano Ronaldo made history in one night at the UEFA Champions League Finals 2016/2017 season.
The Spanish giants made history as they beat Juventus 4-1 at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, to become the first team to ever retain the Champions League.
Real Madrid have now won 12 of their previous 14 European Cup/UCL finals, more than any other team in history and a third in four seasons.
It meant Los Blancos had scored in every match they have played this season – all 60 of them – and for Ronaldo it was a 41st goal of the campaign and a 104th in the Champions League.
The Portuguese skipper scored twice and in the process notched his 600th career goal as well as becoming the first player ever to score in three Champions League finals.
Ronaldo fired Madrid ahead in the 20th minute when Daniel Carvajal’s cross was steered home to the net to kick start the rout of goals.
But seven minutes later Serie A champions Juve were level with a wonder goal as Mario Mandzukic arrowed a bicycle kick into the top corner, his 11th goal of the season – and a second goal. He also became the third player ever to score for two different clubs in a final, having also netted for Bayern Munich against Dortmund in 2013.
Real Madrid regained the lead as Casemiro’s 25-yard shot was deflected past Gianlugi Buffon by Sami Khedira.
Three minutes later Ronaldo added his second of the night from close range to make it 3-1 – his 600th career goal for club and country.
That goal was also his 105th Champions league goal and 12th for the 2016/17 Champions league season. Ronaldo also became the 1st player to score a brace in a UCL final after Diego Milito for Inter against Bayern in 2010.
Things got even worse for Juve when substitute Juan Cuadrado was sent off for picking up a second yellow card following a challenge on Sergio Ramos while substitute Marco Asensio completed the rout with the fourth goal.
For Zidane, he becomes the first manager to win the UEFA champions league back to back after guiding the Los Blancos to the 2016/2017 title.
Zidane, as a manager, has won the Champions League twice, Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup and LaLiga in his 18months as Real Madrid manager.
