Manchester City fulfilled their long-held dream of winning Europe's top prize as Rodri helped the Premier League and FA Cup winners beat Inter Milan to lift the Champions League title and complete an incredible treble.
Pep Guardiola's team prevailed 1-0 at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul in an epic contest that at one point seemed to be slipping away.
After a slow start to the game, City suffered a crushing blow 10 minutes before half-time when playmaker Kevin De Bruyne was forced off with what appeared to be a hamstring injury.
The Belgian tried to play on but was replaced by Phil Foden.
The match seemed to be headed towards extra time when City claimed the lead in the 68th minute with a fine strike from Rodri.
Manuel Akanji played Bernardo Silva into the area and his cut-back was deflected into the path of Rodri, who passed the ball into the net from just inside the box.
-
Manchester City's Ilkay Gundogan lifts the trophy as he celebrates with teammates after winning the Champions League. Reuters -
Manchester City's Norwegian striker #9 Erling Haaland poses with the European Cup trophy as they celebrate winning the UEFA Champions League final. AFP -
Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola poses for a picture with the European Cup trophy after winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP -
Manchester City's German midfielder #8 Ilkay Gundogan celebrates with the fans after winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP -
A supporter of Inter Milan reacts after InterMilan's defeat against Manchester City at the Piazza Castello (Castello's square) fanzone in Milan after the UEFA Champions League final. AFP -
Manchester City's Norwegian striker #9 Erling Haaland, wrapped in the Norwegian flag, celebrates with the fans after winning the UEFA Champions League. AFP -
Manchester City's English midfielder #10 Jack Grealish celebrates with his girlfriend and relatives after winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City. AFP -
Manchester City's German midfielder #8 Ilkay Gundogan poses with the European Cup trophy as they celebrate winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP -
Manchester City's players pose with the European Cup trophy as they celebrate winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP -
Manchester City's Norwegian striker #9 Erling Haaland wavers t the fans as he celebrates winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City. AFP -
Manchester City's German midfielder #8 Ilkay Gundogan kisses the European Cup trophy as they celebrate winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP -
Manchester City's German midfielder #8 Ilkay Gundogan holds aloft the European Cup trophy as they celebrate winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP -
Manchester City's Spanish midfielder #16 Rodri bites the European Cup trophy as they celebrate winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP -
Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola celebrates with the winners' medal after winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP -
Manchester City's German midfielder #8 Ilkay Gundogan (C) lifts the European Cup trophy as they celebrate on the podium after winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP -
Manchester City's Brazilian goalkeeper #31 Ederson kisses the European Cup trophy after winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City. AFP -
UEFA President President Aleksander Ceferin (R) presents the European Cup trophy to Manchester City's German midfielder #8 Ilkay Gundogan after their win in the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP -
Manchester City's German midfielder #8 Ilkay Gundogan holds aloft the European Cup trophy as they celebrate winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP -
Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola (L) celebrates with Manchester City's Emirati chairman Khaldoon al-Mubarak after the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP -
Manchester City's Portuguese defender #3 Ruben Dias (C) lifts the European Cup trophy as they celebrate on the podium after winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP -
TOPSHOT - Manchester City's English midfielder #4 Kalvin Phillips celebrates at the final whistle after they won the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, on June 10, 2023. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) -
Inter Milan's Argentinian forward #10 Lautaro Martinez reacts to their defeat in the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP -
TOPSHOT - Manchester City's English midfielder #47 Phil Foden (L) and Manchester City's English defender #2 Kyle Walker celebrates winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, on June 10, 2023. Manchester City won the match 1-0. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) -
Manchester City players celebrate winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP -
Manchester City's English defender #2 Kyle Walker celebrates winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP -
Ferran Soriano, Manager of Manchester City, Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City, and Khaldoon Al Mubarak, Chairman of Manchester City, celebrates with the UEFA Champions League trophy. Getty Images -
Manchester City's English defender #5 John Stones celebrates winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP -
Erling Haaland of Manchester City celebrates with the UEFA Champions League trophy after the team's victory during the UEFA Champions League 2022/23 final match between FC Internazionale and Manchester City FC at Atatuerk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, Turkey. Getty Images -
Sergio Gomez of Manchester City celebrates with the UEFA Champions League trophy after the team's victory in the UEFA Champions League 2022/23 final match between FC Internazionale and Manchester City FC at Atatuerk Olympic Stadium. Getty Images -
Manchester City player Kevin de Bruyne, his wife Michele de Bruyne and two of their children pose with the trophy after the team won the UEFA Champions League Final soccer match between Manchester City and Inter Milan. EPA -
Ilkay Guendogan of Manchester City lifts the UEFA Champions League trophy after the team's victory during the UEFA Champions League 2022/23 final match between FC Internazionale and Manchester City FC at Atatuerk Olympic Stadium. Getty Images -
Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola kisses the trophy after winning the Champions League final soccer match between Manchester City and Inter Milan. AP -
Aymeric Laporte of Manchester City celebrates with the UEFA Champions League trophy. Getty Images -
Manchester City's English defender #2 Kyle Walker slides as he celebrates winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP -
Manchester City's Emirati chairman Khaldoon al-Mubarak poses with the European Cup trophy as they celebrate winning the UEFA Champions League final. AFP -
Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne is greeted by fans as he leaves the pitch after the Champions League final soccer match where Manchester City beat Inter Milan 1-0 at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, Turkey. AP -
Manchester City players and staff celebrate with the Champions League trophy after their win over Inter Milan in the final on Saturday. Getty -
Rodri of Manchester City celebrates after scoring what turned out to be the match-winning goal in the Champions League final against Inter Milan at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul on Saturday, June 10, 2023. Getty -
Inter Milan players look dejected after defeat in the Champions League final. Getty -
Manchester City's Rodri scores the opening goal past Inter Milan's Andre Onana in Istanbul. Reuters -
Rodri after scoring the opening goal for Manchester City. Getty -
Manchester City's Erling Haaland speaks to manager Pep Guardiola in Istanbul. Getty -
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland watches as Inter Milan's Francesco Acerbi heads the ball clear. AFP -
Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne receives treatment during the match. AFP -
Kevin De Bruyne leaves the pitch after being substituted due to injury. AFP -
Kevin De Bruyne is consoled by Erling Haaland. Getty -
Jack Grealish of Manchester City and Denzel Dumfries of Inter fight for the ball. EPA -
Inter Milan's Federico Dimarco vies for the ball with Manchester City's Rodri. AP
It completed a treble for City, making them only the second English club to secure it after Manchester United in 1999.
Victory seemed a long way away when City's talisman walked off the pitch due to injury. De Bruyne was expected to be the heartbeat of City on Saturday but there was only more Champions League final misery; he left the field with a facial injury during City's loss to Chelsea two years ago.
In the second half, Inter started to assert themselves and looked dangerous.
City had a reprieve just before the hour when Akanji reacted slowly to a Silva pass and Lautaro Martinez charged into the box. Former Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku was well placed in the centre but Martinez opted to shoot and Ederson countered his effort.
City made the most of the let-off and took the lead moments after a John Stones cross was deflected close to his own goal by Alessandro Bastoni.
Akanji found Silva and his cutback fell to Rodri, who found the back of the net.
City fans were given a scare moments later when Federico Dimarco hit the bar with a looping header and then headed against Lukaku on the rebound.
Foden had a chance to put City in full control when he burst through a gap into the area but Andre Onana was up to the task.
City survived a late scare when a Lukaku header hit Ederson's legs and was put behind by Ruben Dias and the final whistle was greeted by grand celebrations.
Goalscorer Rodri got emotional as he reflected on a tense match in Turkey.
He told BT Sport: “I'm emotional. This is a dream come true. All these guys around here have been waiting I don't know how many years, 20, 30 40. I've been here just four years, but they deserve it, we deserve it.
“It wasn't easy. What a team we faced, unbelievable they way they defend, the way they counter-attack, they also deserve credit.
“But I don't want to forget about my lads. We did everything.”
