Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has demanded his critics "put some respect on my name" after the Belgian delivered one of the great Champions League final performances to guide Real Madrid to a record-extending 14th European Cup.
Real beat Liverpool 1-0 inside the Stade de France, courtesy of Vinicius Junior'ss 59th-minute goal, but the Belgian's saves made the difference. Courtois produced nine saves in total, including six from Mohamed Salah alone, as Real managed to hold Liverpool's fearsome attack to a clean sheet.
"I needed to win a final for my career, to put some respect on my name," said Courtois, who won his first Champions League title having finished runner-up with Atletico Madrid in 2014.
"I'm really happy and proud of the performance of the team. We've beaten the best clubs in the world. (Manchester) City and Liverpool were unbelievable this season. Liverpool played a great game but we had one chance and we scored it.
"It's incredible, so many years, so much work. Come to the club of my life. I saw many criticising me. Today we have shown who is the King of Europe," he said. "I felt good the last few weeks. Once you make the first stop. Nobody could take away my desire to win the Champions League."
Of all the superb saves, Courtois picked out the stop on Sadio Mane, when he tipped a shot from the Senegalese forward onto the post, as the pick of the bunch.
"The most important was the save from Mane. I really had to use my two metres to get there and turn fast to get the rebound," he said after collecting his award for player of the match.
Courtois, 30, has enjoyed remarkable success in his career ever since winning the Belgian league in 2011 with Genk alongside a young Kevin De Bruyne.
Domestic titles have followed at Atletico, Chelsea and with Real, while he also won the Europa League in his time with the red and white half of Madrid. Yet his spell at Atletico also included an agonising defeat at the hands of Ancelotti's Real in the 2014 Champions League final.
Courtois was a regular for Chelsea for four years before returning to Spain to join Real in 2018, just after they had won the Champions League against Liverpool in Kyiv helped by two gifts from Loris Karius.
Keylor Navas was in the Real goal then but Courtois soon pushed out the Costa Rican to make the gloves at the Santiago Bernabeu his own. However, he stated after Saturday's final that he feels he does not get the respect he deserves back in England.
Champions League final player ratings
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LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Alisson Becker - 6. The Brazilian had little to do but got into a muddle for the disallowed goal. Some of his expeditions out of his area verged on erratic. AFP -
Trent Alexander-Arnold - 6. The 23-year-old had a few good moments but was not as influential as usual. If he had checked over his shoulder, it might have been possible to stop the winning goal. Getty -
Ibrahima Konate - 8. This was the Frenchman’s best performance in a red shirt. He was strong in the tackle and quick to snuff out danger. His one questionable moment was before the disallowed goal and he was saved by VAR. AP -
Virgil van Dijk - 7. The Dutchman was powerful and composed and tried to spark attacks when on the ball. He was rarely in trouble but got dragged a little wide before the goal. AP -
Andrew Robertson - 6. The Scot tried to get forward but his crossing was erratic. His link-up play on the left with Diaz did not work as well as usual. AP -
Jordan Henderson - 7. The captain worked effectively in midfield and tried to move the ball quickly when in possession. He was withdrawn for Keita in the 77th minute as Liverpool chased a goal. EPA -
Fabinho - 6. The Brazilian stamped his authority on the midfield early on and ensured his team were on top for most of the game. He did not contribute much going forward. AFP -
Thiago Alcantara - 6. The 31-year-old was an injury worry before the game and did not look quite right even though his passing was neat. He was replaced by Firmino with 13 minutes to go. Reuters -
Mohamed Salah - 7. The Egyptian was marginalised in the first half but threatened after the break. Some of his shots lacked precision but he was unlucky to be foiled by the brilliance of Courtois. Getty -
Sadio Mane - 7. The Senegalese hit the post and caused Real some alarm. He was the victim of some rugged defending. EPA -
Luis Diaz - 5. The Colombian had an off night and lost his contest with Carvajal. Jota came on for him in the 65th minute. Getty -
SUBS: Diogo Jota (Diaz 65') - 6. The Portuguese was an upgrade on Diaz but was unable to beat Courtois. He was swamped by a blanket defence. Getty -
Naby Keita (Henderson 77') - 5. He showed for the ball but never looked like turning the match Liverpool’s way. AP -
Roberto Firmino (Thiago 77') - 6. The Brazilian produced some clever touches but they were not enough to change the course of the game. Getty -
REAL MADRID RATINGS: Thibaut Courtois - 10. One of the great Champions League final performances, the Belgian produced save after save, including six from Salah alone, to guide Real Madrid to victory. Getty -
Dani Carvajal - 8. Had the unenviable task of marking Diaz but stood firm, won his battle with the Colombian, and played a key role in Madrid's clean sheet. AP -
Eder Militao - 8. Won 100 per cent of his aerial duels and both attempted tackles while also making three successful interceptions, the Brazilian was a rock amid relentless Liverpool attacks. AP -
David Alaba - 8. The Austrian was superb alongside Militao, winning four out of five ground duels, making four successful tackles, three interceptions, and three blocked shots. What an incredible free transfer Alaba has turned out to be. Reuters -
Ferland Mendy - 8. Had his hands full defensively against Salah but the Frenchman was excellent on the ball, achieving a 97 per cent passing accuracy and won 100 per cent of his one-on-one duels. AP -
Luka Modric - 7. Played a key role in the build-up to the goal and celebrated the Champions League triumph by announcing he had signed a new contract. A fifth European Cup for the ageless Croatian. Reuters -
Casemiro - 9. Superb from the Brazilian who delivered a vintage defensive midfield display, winning 5/5 aerial duels, 8/11 ground duels, and four tackles, as well as six ball recoveries. Getty -
Toni Kroos - 7. Quiet in the first half but grew into the game after the break, achieving 93 per cent passing accuracy including 100 per cent of his 11 attempted long balls. Getty -
Federico Valverde - 8. Preferred to Rodrygo on the right wing and it proved the right move from Carlo Ancelotti after the Spaniard played the killer pass for Vinicius Jr's winning goal. Beyond the assist, Valverde had a good game. AP -
Karim Benzema - 7. Capped a sensational season by winning a fifth Champions League title. There was to be no final goalscoring heroics but surely Benzema is headed for the Ballon d'Or. EPA -
Vinicius Junior - 9. A constant threat down Madrid's left flank and popped up with the game-winning goal. Vinicius finished the season with 22 goals and 20 assists. Getty -
SUBS: Eduardo Camavinga (Valverde 85') - N/A. Brought on for the final five minutes to help Madrid over the line. AP -
Dani Ceballos (Modric 90') - N/A. Provided fresh legs for injury time. Getty -
Rodrygo (Vinicius 90'+3) - N/A. AFP
"There was a magazine in England that didn't put me in the top 10 goalkeepers in the world. That is a lack of respect," he said. "I am not saying they have to put me number one but not to put me in the top 10 is strange.
"I twice won the Premier League in England with Chelsea and don't think I ever get recognised, and in my first season in Madrid a lot of people laughed at me but now here I am as a winner and it's a nice feeling."
Karim Benzema has received most of the attention after scoring 15 goals on Real's Champions League run, including 10 in a dramatic series of knockout wins over Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, and Manchester City.
Uefa blames 'fake tickets' for stadium chaos
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Liverpool fans waiting to get into the Stade de France in Paris before the Champions League final. Getty -
Gaps in the Liverpool end as fans struggle to get into the ground before kick-off. EPA -
Liverpool fans waiting to get into the Stade de France in Paris before the Champions League final. PA -
The giant screen showing that the kick-off has been depalyed due to late arriving fans. PA -
Police officers on horseback as Spanish fans gather near Stade de France. Getty -
Liverpool fans queue to gain entry to the stadium as Kick off is delayed ahead of the UEFA Champions League Final at the Stade de France, Paris. Picture date: Saturday May 28, 2022. -
Fans waiting outside the gates to enter the stadium. PA -
Police spray tear gas at Liverpool fans outside the stadium. Getty -
Liverpool fans cover their faces after being sprayed by pepper spray. PA -
Liverpool fans are seen queuing outside the stadium. Getty -
Liverpool fans are seen queuing outside the stadium. Getty -
Liverpool fans cover their faces after being sprayed by pepper spray. Getty -
An angry Liverpool fan before the game. Getty -
Gaps in the Liverpool end as fans struggle to get into the ground before kick-off. Getty -
Liverpool fans queue to gain entry to the stadium. PA
Yet perhaps none of it would have been possible had Courtois not saved Lionel Messi's penalty in the first leg of the last-16 tie against PSG.
"Obviously that was an important moment also for me personally – you never know how the game would have gone had he scored," said Courtois.
"At the beginning of this season people didn't think we would win La Liga or even reach the semi-finals of the Champions League but we have and it is down to the work done by the coach. Now we need to rest well and come back strong again next season."
There was only one downside for Courtois - he missed his brother's wedding but promised to make up for his absence.
