The Miracle of Istanbul
Few comebacks feel as mythical as Liverpool’s in the 2005 Champions League Final. At halftime, they trailed AC Milan 3-0 — against a team packed with legends. For many fans, the game was already done and dusted.
And then came the storm. Within six minutes of the second half, Steven Gerrard, Vladimir Smicer, and Xabi Alonso had levelled the score at 3-3. The comeback was fuelled not just by goals but by belief — Gerrard’s header lit the fuse, and the Anfield faithful, thousands of miles from home, roared their team into extra time.
When the game went to penalties, Jerzy Dudek’s mind games unsettled Milan’s strikers, sealing Liverpool’s sixth European crown. It wasn’t just a win — it was a football fairytale.