Real Madrid are champions of Europe for a record 14th timeLiverpool's bid to claim the Champions League trophy for the seventh time ended in bitter disappointment as Vinicius Jr's second-half winner gave Real Madrid victory in Paris.
Jurgen Klopp's side ran into a one-man wall of defiance as Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois produced one of the great individual performances to thwart Liverpool time and again.
Mohamed Salah, seeking revenge for his early departure through injury in the 2018 final against Real, was denied three times by Courtois who was simply unbeatable.
The victory also sees Carlo Ancelotti make history by becoming the first coach to win a fourth Champions League title.
Real were always a threat and the decisive moment came after 59 minutes when Vinicius stole in unmarked at the far post to score.
This was also a final marred by chaotic scenes outside Stade de France with thousands of Liverpool fans, some targeted with pepper spray by French police, unable to get into the stadium, forcing the kick-off to be delayed by more than 30 minutes.
Liverpool fall at final hurdle
Liverpool's magnificent season brought them the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup - both won on penalties against Chelsea - but ended in a double disappointment in the final week of a stellar campaign.
The Champions League might have eased the agony of just missing out on the Premier League to Manchester City by one point, only for Liverpool to find themselves on the wrong end of a goalkeeping masterclass from Courtois.
The Belgian was simply perfect as he was a constant thorn in Salah's side, turned Sadio Mane's shot on to the post brilliantly and commanded his penalty area with faultless handling.
Salah held his head in disbelief on many occasions as Courtois manned the barricade for Real, leaving the Egyptian to nurse the pain of another Champions League final defeat by the Spanish giants.
Mohamed Salah was denied several times by Thibaut CourtoisLiverpool were not quite at their best and eventually paid the price for not taking chances as Real pounced in trademark fashion to win this tournament for a record-extending 14th time.
Klopp's side could not have given any more as they pushed to the final whistle but looked jaded towards the end - no surprise given the demands made of them this season.
Liverpool will still take huge credit by maintaining a push for an historic quadruple until the final week of the season but the conclusion will sting.
The occasion left even more of a sour taste given the events outside Stade de France. Liverpool are demanding a full investigation into how thousands of their fans could not get into the stadium, with dangerous numbers packed into small areas as kick-off approached.
Real Madrid kings of Europe again
Real Madrid have been living by the skin of their teeth in the Champions League this season, but any side that beats Paris St- Germain, Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool to reach their goal answers every question.
This is a side that knows how to get the job done, no matter how late they leave it, no matter how much the odds seem stacked against them.
Real are bolstered by years of experience and quality that gives them concrete-clad self-belief that has seen them navigate their way out of so many tight situations.
Carlo Ancelotti has won the Champions League four times as a manager - twice with AC Milan in 2002-03 and 2006-07, and twice with Real Madrid in 2013-14 and 2021-22And what a moment for their legendary coach Ancelotti, who was brought back to the Bernabeu from Everton a year ago and has won La Liga and the Champions League on his return.
Ancelotti can now lay claim to history with that fourth triumph, once again showing his mastery of managing egos and high-class players who respond to the vastly experienced Italian's promptings.
He was the most relaxed man in Paris at his pre-match press conference, oozing confidence, and can now look back at two Champions League wins over Liverpool, here and for AC Milan in 2007, after losing in the so-called miracle of Istanbul in 2005.
Ancelotti is one of the greats and has proved it again.
Player of the match
CourtoisThibaut Courtois
Real Madrid
Squad number1Player nameCourtois
Squad number20Player nameVinícius Júnior
Squad number2Player nameCarvajal
Squad number9Player nameBenzema
Squad number14Player nameCasemiro
Squad number10Player nameModric
Squad number15Player nameValverde
Squad number3Player nameEder Militão
Squad number4Player nameAlaba
Squad number23Player nameMendy
Squad number8Player nameKroos
Squad number19Player nameDani Ceballos
Squad number25Player nameCamavinga
Squad number21Player nameRodrygo
Line-ups
Liverpool
Formation 4-3-3
1Alisson
66Alexander-Arnold5Konaté4van Dijk26Robertson
14Henderson3Fabinho6Thiago Alcántara
11Salah10Mané23Díaz
1Alisson66Alexander-Arnold5Konaté4van Dijk26Robertson14HendersonSubstituted forKeïtaat 77'minutes3FabinhoBooked at 62mins6Thiago AlcántaraSubstituted forFirminoat 77'minutes11Salah10Mané23DíazSubstituted forJotaat 65'minutesSubstitutes
7Milner8Keïta9Firmino12Gomez15Oxlade-Chamberlain17Jones18Minamino20Jota21Tsimikas32Matip62Kelleher67ElliottReal Madrid
Formation 4-3-3
1Courtois
2Carvajal3Militão4Alaba23Mendy
10Modric14Casemiro8Kroos
15Valverde9Benzema20Vinícius Júnior
1Courtois2Carvajal3Militão4Alaba23Mendy10ModricSubstituted forCeballosat 90'minutes14Casemiro8Kroos15ValverdeSubstituted forCamavingaat 85'minutes9Benzema20Vinícius JúniorSubstituted forRodrygoat 90+3'minutesSubstitutes
6Nacho7E Hazard11Asensio12Marcelo13Lunin17Vázquez18Bale19Ceballos21Rodrygo22Isco24Mariano25CamavingaLive Text
Match ends, Liverpool 0, Real Madrid 1.
Second Half ends, Liverpool 0, Real Madrid 1.
Naby Keïta (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Toni Kroos (Real Madrid).
Foul by Naby Keïta (Liverpool).
Toni Kroos (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Real Madrid. Rodrygo replaces Vinícius Júnior.
Attempt missed. Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Karim Benzema.
Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Naby Keïta.
Substitution, Real Madrid. Dani Ceballos replaces Luka Modric.
Foul by Ibrahima Konaté (Liverpool).
Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Eduardo Camavinga.
Offside, Real Madrid. Luka Modric tries a through ball, but Vinícius Júnior is caught offside.
Substitution, Real Madrid. Eduardo Camavinga replaces Federico Valverde because of an injury.
Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Thibaut Courtois.
Attempt saved. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Fabinho.
Attempt missed. Naby Keïta (Liverpool) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Roberto Firmino.
Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Thibaut Courtois.
Attempt saved. Diogo Jota (Liverpool) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Mohamed Salah.
