Even the world’s biggest stars can be shaken, but a ball can make history as winners never give up.
And Mastercard, official sponsor of the UEFA Champions League, is celebrating some of the greatest comebacks in the competition’s rich and illustrious history ahead of this year’s final in Istanbul.
According to Opta data, Manchester United were left with a 1.8% chance of victory when they found themselves trailing 1-0 to Bayern in the final minutes of the 1999 final in Barcelona.
Liverpool were given a 0.6% chance of lifting the trophy when they were three goals down to AC Milan at half-time in the 2005 final.
Barcelona had just a 0.4% chance of progression in 2017 after a 4-0 first-leg defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, and Tottenham a 1.4% chance of making the 2019 final as they trailed Ajax in Amsterdam deep into stoppage time.
But all these teams had a few things in common: passion, courage and belief.
It was those traits that saw them defy the odds and achieve something extraordinary.
Because football is played with the heart. Let’s hope for another thrilling climax to this week’s semi-finals, and again later this month in the Turkish capital. Istanbul is ready to make history again.
A ball can start something priceless.