AC Milan 2005

Coach: Carlo Ancelotti

Carlo Ancelotti's Milan produced one of the greatest attacking halves in Champions League final history, racing into a 3-0 lead over Liverpool inside 44 minutes in Istanbul through Paolo Maldini and Hernán Crespo (twice), fed by a rampant Kaká pulling every string. What followed remains the most infamous collapse in the competition's history: Steven Gerrard headed one back within three minutes of the restart, and Liverpool leveled at 3-3 by the 60th minute under Rafael Benítez, forcing extra time and, eventually, a penalty shootout Milan lost. This squad — Dida in goal, Cafu and Maldini flanking a defence built around Alessandro Nesta and Jaap Stam, Gennaro Gattuso and Andrea Pirlo dictating tempo, Clarence Seedorf and Kaká supplying the final ball for Crespo and Andriy Shevchenko — was arguably even stronger than the 2003 vintage that had won the trophy two years earlier, and had cruised through the group and knockout stages before Istanbul. The defeat became such a defining moment that it is simply known as the 'Miracle of Istanbul' from Liverpool's side, and as the game Milan's players still find hardest to discuss from their own.