Marco Reus will play his last game for Borussia Dortmund, and fascinatingly enough, it will be the Champions League final, ten years after he lost in the same game at the same stadium, Wembley.
Dortmund edged Paris Saint-Germain, scoring in both legs to claim first in the Champions League 2023/24 final. Goals from Niclas Fullkrug (first leg) and Mats Hummels (return leg) clinched the victory for the Bundesliga side.
Reus, who announced his departure at the end of this season, will have his final game for his childhood club, and it can not be any more significant than the Champions League final.
Before the talented midfielder, were there any significant similar cases? Let’s find out.
Ilkay Gundogan and Sergio Aguero (Manchester City)
Two City’s superstars, two different UCL finals and yes, two different endings for Gundogan and Aguero.
Aguero was all Man City’s fans after the final whistle at Estadio do Dragao in Porto, heartbroken and gutted, as Kai Harvertz scored the only goal to clinch Chelsea’s second UCL titles in their history.
After that game in 2021, Kun left City to join Barcelona, leaving behind a legendary status as one of the best strikers, not only of the Cityzen, but also or England.
Then, Gundogan, started the final in 2022, had his moment when Rodri scored the late goal to finally put Man City in the UCL’s podium as they beat Inter Milan 1-0. The German had his last game, to follow the same path as Aguero, joined Barcelona in the Summer.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid and Man United)
The one and only Cristiano Ronaldo featured not just once but twice in his last club’s game in the UCL finals.
In 2009, Ronaldo witnessed Lionel Messi’s significant jump and goal against Edwin van der Sar in the post as Man United conceded the second goal against Barcelona in the UCL final. The Red Devils lost 3-1 in an outclassed final, admitted Sir Alex Ferguson.
Unfortunately, it was Ronaldo’s last game for Man United. In the summer of 2009, he opted to join Real Madrid, which saw him win a fantastic streak of four UCL titles with Los Blancos.
Among those finals with Madrid was Ronaldo’s last game, when his side beat Liverpool 3-1, thanks to Karim Benzema’s ace and Gareth Bale’s astonishing bicycle kick. The Portuguese finished that year as UCL’s top scorer and joined Juventus in the Summer of 2018.Â
Andrea Pirlo and Carlos Tevez (Juventus)
Pirlo and Tevez were crucial for Juventus during the season of 2014/15. Still, they could not help their side in the final against a superb Barcelona.
Ivan Rakitić, Luis Suárez and Neymar helped Barcelona beat the Serie A giants to become champions of Europe for the fifth time, and there were tears from Pirlo’s eyes as that was his last game for Juve.
Tevez did not cry, but he also left Europe to return to his homeland and featured for Boca Juniors. Meanwhile, Pirlo chose MLS as his next destination and joined New York City.
