Real Madrid defeated Liverpool 1-0 in Paris to win the Champions League title, days after PSG star Kylian Mbappe turned down an opportunity to join them.
It was a Champions League final, which saw Real Madrid become the undisputed King of European football. Los Blancos clinched the coveted title for a record-extending 14th time — double the number of any other team on the continent — after beating Liverpool 1-0 in a final that started 37 minutes late because of disturbing scenes outside the Stade de France in Paris on Saturday.
Brazil winger Vinícius Júnior was the match-winner, who scored from close range in the 59th minute. At the same time, goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois took just as many plaudits by making breathtaking saves by Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah.
The win also saw Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti clinch his fourth European Cup title, the most ever for a manager in the competition's history, and completed the Champions League-La Liga double for a club with winning titles ingrained in it its culture.
And this time, there was no need for the stirring comeback that Los Blancos had to dish out in getting past Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), defending champion Chelsea and Premier League champion Manchester City in the knockout stage.
After this epic victory, Real Madrid fans took to social media to troll PSG star Kylian Mbappe for opting to stay at the Ligue 1 champion's side instead of opting for a move to Santigo Bernabeu this summer.
The sensational Frenchman was heavily linked with a switch to Real Madrid but extended his contract worth 650,000 pounds a week for the next three years.
Florentino Pérez: “Mbappé? He does not exist tonight. It’s Real Madrid party. It’s a thing of the past. Nothing has happened. Real Madrid had a perfect season”. 🚨⚪️ pic.twitter.com/lSxUjo8KSO
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano)"Who needs Mbappe," said most Real Madrid fans on Twitter, with several supporters even posting memes to mock the 23-year-old striker. Here's a look at some of the reactions:
The First Thing commentator said after Vini's goal.. WHO NEED MBAPPE ❓🤣🤣💔💔 always champions 🤍🤍 pic.twitter.com/t8ix5cIBAU
— 𝐊𝖊𝘃𝖎𝖓 𝐃𝐢 𝐊𝖊𝖗𝖊🍥 (@KereKevin1995)Real Madrid came to Paris to show Kylian Mbappe what it means to be European Royalty. Alaba does it again. Real Madrid do it again. It’s incredible. It’s amazing. The greatest football club ever, bar none!
— JJ. Omojuwa (@Omojuwa)🚨 Steven Gerrard: “Mbappe in his quiet moments will be thinking I said no to the team that has 14 UCLs.... Real Madrid have that pulling power... 99 times out of 100 you go to them.”
— RMadridHome (@RMadridHome)Real Madrid fans : We don't care, it was mbappe's loss.
Also them: pic.twitter.com/UD9Llgu9xI
Mbappe turned down Real Madrid
so they got angry and won the UCL in front of his parents 😂🤣
Real Madrid just sent a direct message to Mbappe that they don't need him to win trophies.
Clearly PSG needs him for that.
And they did that by winning the Champions league Trophy in Paris. Congrats to Real Madrid!!💥💥
Thibaut Courtois: CL final Man of the Match.
Karim Benzema: 2022 Ballon d'or winner.
Real Madrid: 2021/2022 Champions league winner.
Kylian Mbappé: Cash in the bag and Inshallah.
Mbappe turned down Real Madrid so they got angry and won the UCL in front of his parents
— Imoh (@ImohUmoren)Real Madrid came to Paris and showed Mbappe action speaks louder than words.
— Owuraku Ampofo (@_owurakuampofo)Real Madrid won the Champions League without Mbappe, does this team really need him especially with Vinicius playing this good!
— APorLa14 🙏 (@LMFutboI)Mbappe watching Real Madrid win the Champions League in his backyard pic.twitter.com/YwfVngUaX2
— Miggy Chaos (@Mi66yStardust)Who needs mbappe now
NOT pic.twitter.com/0SEslwHwnD
"WHO NEEDS MBAPPE? THEY'VE GOT VINICIUS JR.! AND THEY'VE GOT THE LEAD IN THE FINAL!"
— The Real Champs (@TheRealChampsFS)Mbappe's new deal at PSG runs until 2025, and he hasn't ruled out the possibility of joining Real Madrid thereafter. As reported by BBC Sport, Mbappe said, "You never know what can happen in the future. I give up to think about the future, I only think about the present and the present is I signed a new contract for three years more at PSG."
Pressed on whether his dream of featuring for Real Madrid was over, Mbappe added, "Never over."
Since joining PSG, initially on loan, in 2017, Mbappe has scored 171 goals in 217 appearances. The French superstar has won the Ligue 1 title four times and the Coupe de France on three occasions but is yet to win the Champions League trophy with the Parisian club.