AC Milan vs. Liverpool: Can you get them all together? – One night in Istanbul

Twenty years ago on May 25, 2005, AC Milan and Liverpool FC met in one of the most dramatic football matches of all time. But who else was there? 1 / 30 Dida He was dubbed the "penalty killer" because of his size and quick reactions. Well, yeah. 2 / 30 Cafu The Brazilian, who was the only player to appear in three World Cup finals, played on the right side of defense. 3 / 30 Jaap Stam He was part of one of the greatest miracles of a Champions League final. Unfortunately, that was against Bayern in the summer of 1999. He had to watch as Liverpool snatched the title from under his nose. 4 / 30 Nesta He was already signing autographs again at the start of the 2005/06 season. Is that how you deal with a final defeat? 5 / 30 Paolo Maldini He scored after 50 seconds to make it 1-0. How crazy and successful Paolo Maldini's career was at the same time? Well, the defeat against Liverpool was certainly bitter; after all, it could have been his sixth (!) Champions League or European Cup title. He only won in 1989, 1990, 1994, 2003, and 2007. Bitter. 6 / 30 Andrea Pirlo Took the free kick, which Maldini headed in after 50 seconds to make it 1-0. Missed the second penalty against Dudek. 7 / 30 Gennaro Gattuso A year later, Steven Gerrard mocked his opponent as follows: "To me, he's just a yappy yammerer. He may look aggressive, but he's as scary as a kitten." A bitter attack. Even katzennachrichten.de reported on it. 8 / 30 Clarence Seedorf The Dutchman could have been the first player to win the Champions League with three different clubs (Ajax, Real Madrid, AC Milan). Fortunately, he accomplished the feat two years later. 9 / 30 Kaka Could have claimed the award for one of the best performances of all time after the first half. He continued playing anyway—oh well. 10 / 30 Andriy Shevchenko We'd argue that Andriy Shevchenko is still dreaming about the missed chance in extra time when Jerzy Dudek pulled off two incredible reflex saves. But it's more likely that Andriy Shevchenko is still dreaming about the missed penalty that ended Milan's title hopes. 11 / 30 Hernan Crespo The Argentinian played the half of his life and, together with Shevchenko and Kaká, completely tore apart the Liverpool defense, scored twice, and virtually sealed the title. Unfortunately for him, there was a second half in this final, too. 12 / 30 Rui Costa He joined in 2001 for €43 million, making him Milan's record transfer. He later had to make way for Kaká and was substituted on in the 112th minute of the final. 13 / 30 Serginho He was substituted on and was the first to be irritated by Dudek in the penalty shootout, firing the ball into the Istanbul night sky. 14 / 30 Jon Dahl Tomasson There are worse things than being substituted in the 85th minute of a Champions League final and scoring a penalty. For example, moving to VfB Stuttgart a few weeks later. 15 / 30 Carlo Ancelotti After the game, he must have stood in the catacombs chain-smoking and thought about how FC Bayern would only suffer their second biggest defeat in 2016: Carlo Ancelotti. 16 / 30 Jerzy Dudek It's hard to quantify the impact Jerzy Dudek's goalkeeping has had on amateur football. After all, every week since then, some amateur goalkeeper hits the bar before a penalty, wiggles his hips in overexcited excitement, hops from left to right, and, after completing the ritual, dives into the exact wrong corner. 17 / 30 Steve Finnan He had to be substituted after halftime due to injury. According to unconfirmed rumors, Hernan Crespo and Kaká had caused him to develop chronic leg lumps. 18 / 30 Jamie Carragher Moved from full-back to centre-back before the season, he was named Liverpool's Player of the Year for his performances that year. 19 / 30 Sami Hyypiä At his wedding in Helsinki, Campino sang "You'll Never Walk Alone." At least no one can take the Champions League title away from him. 20 / 30 Djimi Traoré He later became head coach of FC Nordsjaelland's "Right to Dream" youth team. The right to dream, or as they said at Liverpool FC: halftime. 21 / 30 Xabi Alonso He converted the penalty to make it 3-3 in the aftermath. Just one of many moments in his life when Xabi Alonso did a lot of things right. 22 / 30 Luis Garcia Years later, Liverpool FC organized an event called "Sangria with Garcia." Tickets were available for 39 euros, and each guest was allowed to ask a question. All because fans once sang: “Luis Garcia He drinks Sangria He comes from Barca To bring us glory He's five foot seven He's football heaven So please don’t take our Luis away” 23 / 30 Steven Gerrard That night, Steven Gerrard, the boy from Whiston, Merseyside, finally became a legend at Liverpool FC. He was named UEFA's Footballer of the Year. Compared to the Champions League trophy, he probably didn't care. 24 / 30 John Arne Riise He was touted by Bravo Sport as a potential new signing for FC Bayern for years, stayed at Liverpool, and won the Champions League. Not bad either. Or rather: Five out of five Bravo Sport balls for the winning gene. 25 / 30 Harry Kewell Leeds United, Liverpool, Galatasaray – no matter where he ended up, Harry Kewell became a club legend. Against Milan, he had to be substituted after 23 minutes due to injury. 26 / 30 Milan Baros Although Baroš once moved to Liverpool FC for €5.3 million, because his home country, the Czech Republic, had not yet joined the EU and Baroš lacked sufficient international experience, he was initially denied a work permit. It took an employment tribunal to rule that the striker possessed sufficient talent to be allowed to play. Fortunately. 27 / 30 Dietmar Hamann With him came the turning point! Substituted at halftime, Liverpool turned the game around. Hamann converted Liverpool's first penalty. He awarded himself the "Didi Man of the Match" award after the final whistle. Perhaps. 28 / 30 Djibril Cissé Came on in the 85th minute and is now a striker coach in the youth teams of Olympique Marseille. 29 / 30 Vladimir Šmicer He came on for Kewell in the 23rd minute, scored the 2-3 equaliser and converted the final penalty for Liverpool in the shootout. 30 / 30 Rafael Benitez "It wasn't God who saved the penalty, it was Dudek," coach Rafael Benitez told us later. We wouldn't disagree.