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On This Day In 2002: Zinedine Zidane Scores One Of The Greatest Goals In Champions League History

Raul and Zidane lead Real Madrid to La Novena. Where were you when this happened?

Bayer Leverkusen v Real Madrid - Champions League Final 2002 Photo by Eric Renard / Onze / Icon Sport

Zinedine Zidane, the world-record signing at the time, paid off every penny that was spent on him on May 15th 2002.

It was the Champions League final in Glasgow. Real Madrid were searching for their ninth Champions League title. They had failed to defend their crown the year prior, but had the chance to make it two titles in three years as they took the field against Bayer Leverkusen.

That Leverkusen team was really good, boasting players like Ze Roberto, Dimitar Berbatov, Michael Ballack, and Lucio. They made it tough for Real Madrid, and it was only down to Iker Casillas’s heroics in the final moments of the game that this game didn’t go into extra time.

After Raul Gonzalez opened the scoring off of a Roberto Carlos long throw-in; Lucio equalized from a header. But then, Zidane scored Real Madrid’s winner just before half-time — a majestic volley:


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