Real Madrid are champions of Europe once again after concluding the Champions League campaign with a final win over Borussia Dortmund at Wembley.
In the final 32-game edition of UEFA’s flagship competition, it’s been another season to remember.
As the full-time whistle blows on the Champions League season it’s time to dish out our end-of-season prizes.
Champions League end-of-season awards 2023-24:
Moment of the Season
Real Madrid and the Champions League is a love affair that continues to grow in strength. The Spaniards have now won six of the last 11 editions of the Champions League and continue to do so in the most remarkable of fashions.
Los Blancos are often down on the European stage but very rarely out and their powers of recovery came to the fore once again in a semi-final classic against Bayern Munich. After Rodrygo’s late brace had turned their semi-final on its head against Manchester City two years ago, it was the turn of Joselu to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat for Real.
Joselu, an unheralded loan signing from relegated Espanyol last summer, came off the bench to score an 88th-minute equaliser in the second leg before steering home a stoppage-time winner just moments later.
Semifinal vs. Man City (2022)
▪️ Down 5-4 until 90th minute
▪️ Rodrygo scores two in stoppage time to force ET
▪️ Madrid go on to win the tieSemifinal vs. Bayern (2024)
▪️ Down 3-2 until 88th minute
▪️ Joselu scores two to win the tieNo one does it like Real Madrid ???? pic.twitter.com/xm5SvLzeBe
— B/R Football (@brfootball) May 8, 2024
In the blink of an eye, Real Madrid had turned European elimination into another Champions League final.
It’s just what they do.
An honourable mention for Ivan Provedal, all the way back on Matchday One. The 29-year-old wrote his name into the history books after becoming just the fourth goalkeeper to score in the Champions League, rescuing a result for Lazio against Atletico Madrid.
You can’t beat a ‘keeper scoring, can you?
LAZIO KEEPER IVAN PROVEDEL SCORES IN THE 95TH MINUTE!!! ????
THE LAST TOUCH OF THE GAME!
WHAT THE #UCL IS ALL ABOUT ???? pic.twitter.com/dmEBffFIEi
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) September 19, 2023
Best Player
The best players come alive on the big Champions League nights. Right now, there are few footballers – if any – better than Vinicius Junior. No player has been involved in more Champions League goals across the last three seasons than the Brazilian, who was again at the forefront of Real Madrid’s success.
He scored in the last-16 win over RB Leipzig, was brilliant as Carlo Ancelotti’s side shared a six-goal thriller with Manchester City in the last eight, before scoring twice in the semi-final against Bayern Munich.
Having scored the decisive goal in the 2022 final against Liverpool, he became just the second player – after Lionel Messi – to score in multiple Champions League finals before turning 24.
The kid’s a superstar.
Only two players in history have scored in multiple UEFA Champions League finals before turning 24 years old:
▫️ Lionel Messi (’08-’09, ’10-’11)
▫️ Vinicius Junior (’21-’22, ’23-’24)Elite company ???? pic.twitter.com/7A5vn7djqf
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) June 1, 2024
Best Game
When Real Madrid and Manchester City go head-to-head in the Champions League, it’s best to grab the popcorn. A thoroughly modern rivalry between arguably Europe’s best two teams added another compelling chapter this season, following a six-goal thriller at the Bernabeu.
There was end-to-end action, elite quality, glorious goals, and a lack of the tension that can often dilute games of this magnitude. Their meetings in the latter rounds are becoming predictable, but if they continue to deliver this level of entertainment, few will complain.
Best Goal
In a contest packed full of stunning strikes, Federico Valverde’s volley in that aforementioned clash between Real Madrid and Manchester City earns our Goal of the Season accolade.
The Uruguayan’s wonderful hit made it 3-3 on the night and concluded an action-packed contest in the Spanish capital.
That technique is something special.
REAL MADRID ARE LEVEL ????????????????????!
The technique from Federico Valverde ????#UCL pic.twitter.com/1Zr61G8GxZ
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 9, 2024
Best Save
Bayern Munich’s Manuel Neuer has still got it…
Manuel Neuer with an insane double save late on ????
The Bayern Munich goalkeeper denied Copenhagen victory in Munich… and kept Man Utd in the Champions League as a result!#UCL pic.twitter.com/Q9Lub9IUS3
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 29, 2023
Best Tweet
If you know, you know.
https://t.co/Tk3fna8nBl pic.twitter.com/1jAZOXIo3D
— Jonny Sharples (@JonnyGabriel) November 8, 2023
Biggest Disappointment
Manchester United would have been content with their group stage draw, with Erik ten Hag’s team starting as clear favourites to progress alongside Bayern Munich.
Their campaign, however, was nothing short of a disaster. In a modest group featuring Galatasaray and Copenhagen, United crashed out bottom to be eliminated from Europe entirely.
Their 15 goals conceded was a record for an English team in a Champions League group stage and included capitulations to lose to Galatasaray (3-2) home and away (3-3) and in Copenhagen (4-3).
3 – Manchester United have been eliminated from the group stages of the Champions League in 3 of their 7 seasons in the competition since Alex Ferguson retired, as many times as they had in 18 campaigns under the Scotsman. Difficulty. #MUNFCB pic.twitter.com/Y3tjTscMCJ
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 12, 2023
It’s just the second time the Red Devils have ever finished bottom of a Champions League group.
Read – Players with the most Champions League titles as Modric and Carvajal make history
See more – Bellingham reveals how Ancelotti took his game to the next level
