Real Madrid extended its record as Europe's most successful football club by defeating Liverpool 1-0 in the 2022 Champions League final, claiming its 14th continental title. The match, delayed 37 minutes due to crowd control issues outside Stade de France in Saint-Denis, France, saw Vinícius Júnior score the decisive goal in the 59th minute.
Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois delivered a standout performance, making nine critical saves—the most in a final record—denying Mohamed Salah's 82nd-minute effort and Sadio Mané's first-half shot. Karim Benzema's disallowed goal in the 43rd minute highlighted the contest's intensity.
"Today I needed to win a final for my career, for all the hard work, to put some respect on my name, because I don't think I get enough respect. Especially in England." — Vinícius Júnior
The victory ended Liverpool's bid for a historic quadruple, as the Reds concluded the 2021-22 season with two domestic cup trophies after losing the Premier League finale and this match. Real Madrid's triumph also marked manager Carlo Ancelotti's fourth European Cup, surpassing all other coaches, with three titles during his tenure at AC Milan and one in 2014 with Real Madrid.
The win solidified Madrid's dominance in the competition, including five titles in the last nine years, and extended its lead as football's most decorated club with 14 European Cups—double the total of its closest rival, A.C. Milan.
