‘Can you ever forgive me?’: Bayer Leverkusen post hilarious picture of Zinedine Zidane on 17th anniversary of Real Madrid star’s incredible Champions League-winning volley
- Zinedine Zidane’s Champions League winner remains raw for Leverkusen
- He won the 2002 final for Real Madrid at Hampden Park with a sensational volley
- Seventeen years on, Leverkusen published funny call-back image on Facebook
It may have happened 17 years ago, but Zinedine Zidane’s remarkable Champions League winner remains raw for Bayer Leverkusen.
Zidane won the 2002 final for Real Madrid at Hampden Park with a sensational volley that remains one of the greatest goals scored in the history of the competition.
On the stroke of half-time, a high cross to the edge of the box looked to be causing no danger for Bayer – only for Zidane to swivel and volley first time with his left foot, the ball flying like a rocket into the back of the net.
Zinedine Zidane’s remarkable Champions League winner remains raw for Bayer Leverkusen
Zidane won the 2002 final for Real Madrid at Hampden Park with a sensational volley
Wednesday marked the 17th anniversary of the game – Bayer’s only appearance in the Champions League final – and they showed Zidane’s brilliance has not been forgotten.
On Facebook, they posted a mock-up of the poster for the Melissa McCarthy and Richard E Grant movie, ‘Can You Ever Forgive Me?’
Zidane’s name and picture are photo-shopped onto the poster, as if asking Leverkusen fans on their official fan page for their forgiveness.
On the 17th anniversary, Leverkusen published this funny picture on their Facebook page
Leverkusen fans may not be so willing to forgive, however, as that 2-1 defeat – with the Zidane goal proving the winner – completed a most unwanted treble for the German side.
It meant they had finished second in the Bundesliga, lost the German Cup final, and now had been beaten in the showpiece match of European club football.
Five members of that Leverkusen team, Michael Ballack, Hans-Jorg Butt, Oliver Neuville, Carsten Ramelow and Bernd Schneider, also lost the 2002 World Cup final with Germany, although centre back Lucio – who scored Bayer’s goal – won the title with Brazil.
Zidane, meanwhile, went on to also win three Champions Leagues with Real as a manager – and is eyeing the trophy again next year having returned to the Bernabeu.
