Champions League Final: The 5 Best Goals in History Including Bale’s Screamer, Zidane's Golazo

• Goals are the lifeline of every football match, and they remain unchanged in Europe's premier club competition
• Dubbed as the ultimate game in club football, the UEFA Champions League final has witnessed iconic goals since the tournament was rebranded
• Sports Brief ranks five of the finest strikes in UCL history, including Zinedine Zidane's fabulous volley and Gareth Bale's acrobatic goal

The stage is set, and the contenders are ready. Only two teams remain in the 2023–24 UEFA Champions League, as the grand finale approaches.

Serial winners and record holders Real Madrid will face Borussia Dortmund, whom many have ruled out even before kickoff, at the iconic Wembley Stadium on Saturday, June 1.

With the prestigious big-eared trophy on the line and a chance to etch their names in the history books, the key players will be laser-focused on the prize for at least 90 minutes.

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The final of the most esteemed club competition always features the world's best players, creating a platform for moments of magic and unforgettable goals.

The top 5 goals in Champions League final

In anticipation of this epic showdown, Sports Brief ranks the top five goals scored in the history of Europe’s premier club competition.

What are the criteria for the ranking?

The goals featured in this list are from the period since the tournament was rebranded from the European Cup to the UEFA Champions League in 1992.

The ranking criteria for these goals, as first called by GiveMeSport, are as follows:

1. Technical ability displayed
2. Importance of the goal in determining the match outcome
3. Level of difficulty and execution

Ranking the best Champions League final goals

5. Dejan Savicevic

Perhaps the most unfamiliar name to modern football enthusiasts, Dejan Savicevic capped off a dominant win for AC Milan in the 1994 Champions League final against FC Barcelona with an absolute blinder of a goal.

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Nicknamed "Il Genio" (The Genius), the Montenegrin Serb scored the standout goal to seal a 4-0 victory over Johan Cruyff's dream team.

Chasing a speculative ball, Savicevic picked the pocket of defender Miguel Angel Nadal before delicately lobbing the ball over goalkeeper Andoni Zubizarreta.

4. Lars Ricken

Lars Ricken's goal, just 16 seconds after he was brought on, remains the fastest ever scored by a substitute in a Champions League final, per All Football.

His strike not only etched his name into Champions League history but also sealed the fate of a star-studded Juventus team, securing Borussia Dortmund's first and only UCL title in 1997.

Ricken received an incisive through ball from a counterattack and hit a first-time shot over goalkeeper Angelo Peruzzi, clinching the victory for BVB.

3. Mario Mandzukic

Juventus has been unfortunate in Champions League finals, having lost a remarkable seven, including the 2017 final against Real Madrid.

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However, they found some consolation in Mario Mandzukic's acrobatic strike against Los Blancos, which ranks among the top three goals scored in a UCL final.

The Croatian forward received a pass from Gonzalo Higuain, cushioned it with his chest, and executed an improvised bicycle kick to find the back of the net.

His goal equalised the score shortly after Cristiano Ronaldo's opener, but Madrid ultimately dismantled Juventus in the second half.

2. Zinedine Zidane

Zidane's iconic volley against Bayer Leverkusen at Hampden Park in 2002 unquestionably deserves a spot on this list.

The Frenchman's display of technical prowess, the significance of the goal in deciding the match, and the high level of difficulty and execution made it a fitting match-winner.

In a patient build-up on the left flank, Roberto Carlos clipped a hopeful ball into the box; with the three-time World Footballer of the Year standing at the edge of the box, he let fly an inch-perfect volley into the net.

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1. Gareth Bale

Gareth Bale was introduced moments later and almost immediately scored one of the greatest overhead kicks of all time to restore Madrid's lead, as noted by Sportskeeda.

He added another goal in the 83rd minute, sealing a 13th title for his side.

Although the Welshman doesn't get a lot of credit, his fabulous finish in the 2018 final against Liverpool is unquestionably the finest goal ever scored in a Champions League final.

Much like Zidane's stupendous strike in 2002, Bale's acrobatic effort to connect with a cross from the left flank deserves its place at the top of the greatest goals scored in UCL final history.

Clubs with most Champions League finals

In an earlier publication, Sports Brief reviewed the five teams with the most Champions League finals appearances ahead of the upcoming final on June 1 at Wembley Stadium.

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As expected, Real Madrid tops the list with an astounding 18 finals appearances.

They are followed by AC Milan, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, and Juventus, in that order.