For Thierry Henry it ended years of frustration especially when his then team Arsenal lost to Barcelona in the 2006 final. "Finally I have won it! I have been waiting for so long for this moment," said the France great, whose daughter celebrated her birthday as well on Wednesday. "The last five minutes were the longest of my life. Even if we were 2-0 up we were playing the best team in the world (referring to the FIFA Club World Cup title United won earlier this year)."

United on early
Barça overcame early jitters to dominate large parts of the game as the English club never managed to get their usual high tempo style into gear. In a clash billed as the match of the century pitting the best two teams in the world - with each one boasting one of the best two players on the planet - only one played to their full potential.

Both sides made a nervy start with Barça goalkeeper Victor Valdes and United's Park - the first ever Asian player to play in a Champions League final - playing passes straight into touch. But United settled quickest and Ronaldo had a purple patch in which he terrorised the Spaniards for 10 minutes. He hit a 25-yard free-kick that Valdes couldn't hold and former United defender Gerard Pique had to dive in to deflect Park's follow-up away for a corner.