With Giorgio Chiellin cruelly set to miss Juventus’ Champions League final clash against Barcelona this weekend, here’s a look back at other big names who for one reason or another sat out the biggest game in club football for their teams…
SEE ALSO:
Real Madrid transfer news: Benitez to get £153m kitty from player sales, including Bale to Man Utd
Manchester United close in on Liverpool target in £61.8m double signing – bad news for Robin van Persie
Manchester United transfer gossip
1) John Terry (Chelsea)
Sent off in the semi-final second leg win at Barcelona, John Terry was unable to take to the field for Chelsea as they faced Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena in 2012, though that famously didn’t stop him lifting the trophy with his team-mates in his full kit!
2) Franco Baresi (AC Milan)
A legendary defender who also missed a Champions League final through suspension, Franco Baresi was not part of the AC Milan side that thrashed Barcelona 4-0 in 1994.
3) Dani Alves (Barcelona)
Absent for Barcelona in their 2009 win over Manchester United, Dani Alves played a key role in guiding the Catalan giants to the treble, even if he couldn’t play in that big game.
4) Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
Still a youngster at this point, but injury kept Lionel Messi out in the 2006 final win over Arsenal when he’d enjoyed a promising first season in the Barcelona first-team. In fairness, he’s more than made up for it since.
5) Pavel Nedved (Juventus)
One of the best players in the world at the time, Juventus legend Pavel Nedved played a major role in guiding the club into the final in 2003, but had to sit out the defeat to AC Milan on penalties.
6) Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid)
He may have played a big part in Liverpool’s win against Milan in 2005, but Xabi Alonso was suspended for Real Madrid’s La Decima victory over Atletico Madrid last year.
7) Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich)
Although Inter Milan were big favourites against Bayern Munich in 2010, Jose Mourinho’s treble winners may have had a harder time dealing with key winger Franck Ribery if he’d been able to play.
8) Ze Roberto (Bayer Leverkusen)
The Brazilian was a key member of the Bayer Leverkusen side who made a surprise run to the 2002 final, though there’s arguably no one who could’ve stopped that amazing Zinedine Zidane winner for Real Madrid.
9) Roy Keane (Manchester United)
The driving force behind Manchester United’s run to the 1999 final, Roy Keane’s suspension was a cruel blow for one of the finest midfielders of his generation.
10) Paul Scholes (Manchester United)
Another key member of that famous United side of 1999, Paul Scholes also sat out the final win over Bayern Munich, showing just how well the Red Devils did to cause that upset at the Nou Camp.
