UEFA Champions League: Where are they now? Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid starting line-ups from 'La Decima' final
Published 12/03/2025 at 12:48 GMT
Real Madrid are today's serial UEFA Champions League winners, but there was a time when their next European triumph seemed far off. After landing the trophy in 2002, the wait for a coveted 10th crown was into a 12th year by the time they reached the 2014 UCL final against city rivals Atletico Madrid. As the two sides prepare to meet in this year's edition, we look back on a wild night in Lisbon.
UCL Moments: Real recover to beat Atleti in memorable 2014 final
Video credit: TNT Sports
There could barely have been more drama baked into the 2013/14 UEFA Champions League final.
Even before a ball was kicked, there was a huge amount on the line.
The long-awaited 'Decima' for Real Madrid? Or a first ever European Cup for Atletico Madrid?
Let alone all the hostility of an cross-city rivalry making the outcome even more deeply felt.
When the football did get underway in Lisbon, the weight of expectation on Los Blancos seemed to be working against them, with Diego Simeone's Atleti holding a lead from the 36th minute via Diego Godin's chaotic opener that saw Iker Casillas bundled into the back of his own net.
As the clock ticked down, it looked as if the underdogs were going to inflict a hugely painful loss on their eternal foes.
But, in a moment that perhaps forged Real Madrid's now famed never-say-die mentality, Sergio Ramos leapt highest from Luka Modric's 93rd-minute corner to plant a devastatingly accurate, powerful header past the then-Atleti 'keeper Thibaut Courtois, and send Los Blancos into ecstasy - and extra-time.
After that huge momentum shift, Carlo Ancelotti's side were unstoppable, scoring three more times to run out 4-1 winners.
But who were the legendary architects of their success? And which names made up the opposing Atleti side?
As the two sides prepare to meet once again in the Champions League - this time in the round of 16 on Wednesday night, live on TNT Sports and discovery+ - we take a look back at the two line-ups and where they are now...
Real Madrid starting XI
GK: Iker Casillas
In 725 appearances for Real Madrid and 167 for the Spanish national team, Casillas cemented himself as a legend of the game.
He didn't have his finest hour in the 2014 final - seeing Godin's first-half header drift over his head and beyond his despairing dive - but he marshalled his men thereafter to their miraculous win.
Casillas, who now works as a commentator in Spain, was at Madrid so long that he bridged the 12-year gap between his side's Champions League win in 2002 to the 2014 victory which ended their drought and brought La Decima.
In his storied career, he won the World Cup, two European Championships, five La Liga titles, and three Champions League titles.
Right-back: Dani Carvajal
Carvajal, a Madrid academy product, had not long re-joined the club from Bayer Leverkusen, but he wasted no time in writing himself into the senior team's folklore as part of the 2014 winners.
Now 33, Carvajal suffered an ACL rupture back in October of last year, and faces a battle to re-discover fitness.
But for a man with a record six Champions Leagues already under his belt, you wouldn't put it past him coming back to capture another European crown.
Centre-back: Raphael Varane
Varane formed a formidable centre-back partnership with Ramos over a number of years that was the backbone to Madrid's glorious era of European success.
The French defender decided to swap Madrid for Manchester in 2021, as he sought a new challenge at Old Trafford.
But injuries persisted, and after briefly joining Cesc Fabregas' Como in 2024, he retired from football late last year, aged just 31.
Centre-back: Sergio Ramos
Key goals, red cards and a slew of trophies: a brief summary of Ramos' extraordinary career that saw him as a part of some of the biggest moments in Real Madrid history.
His header in the 2014 showpiece might just be the biggest of them all, given it avoided the disastrous prospect of not only missing the chance of La Decima, but also handing the trophy to Atleti.
Ramos, after spells with Paris Saint-Germain and Sevilla, moved to Mexican club Monterrey last month - opting for a special shirt number.
Left-back: Fabio Coentrao
Coentrao started the final ahead of Marcelo, lasting an hour before seeing the Brazilian come on in his place.
After retiring from football in 2021 aged 33, Coentrao now has a fishing business in his native Portugal and is an investor in a gin company.
Midfielder: Luka Modric
Nearly 11 years on, Modric - together with Carvajal - is still at Madrid, and still providing regular moments of quality in Carlo Ancelotti's engine room.
And - also together with Carvajal - Modric holds the most Champions League title wins of any player in history. It's been some career for the now 39-year-old, and it may not be done yet.
Midfielder: Sami Khedira
Khedira started the 2014 final but - like Coentrao - was substituted on the hour as Los Blancos desperately sought an equaliser.
The German World Cup winner, who retired in 2021 after a final spell at Hertha BSC, now runs a coffee business, and has founded the Sami Khedira Foundation.
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Midfielder: Angel Di Maria
After his game-changing contribution to the 2014 final - surging into the area and seeing his shot bound up to Gareth Bale to head in - it was a surprise to many to see Di Maria transferred to Manchester United in the summer of that year, in an ultimately ill-fated spell.
Now 37, the Argentina winger is currently playing for Benfica.
Forward: Gareth Bale
Bale racked up five European titles with Madrid, forming part of the feared and famed 'BBC' with Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo.
And it was his goal in the 110th minute in Lisbon that finally put his side into a lead they never relinquished.
Bale appeared on TNT Sports as a studio guest for Liverpool's clash with Real Madrid late last year, and now spends his time with family, playing golf and involved in various business ventures.
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Forward: Karim Benzema
Benzema hit 354 goals in 648 total appearances for Madrid, coming into his own after the exit of Cristiano Ronaldo, especially in the Champions League.
He now plays - like Ronaldo - in Saudi Arabia, for Al-Ittihad.
Forward: Cristiano Ronaldo
Is it any surprise the insatiable Ronaldo is still going? Now 40, CR7 ripped up the record books in Madrid and his shirtless celebration after scoring the final goal in the 2014 final has gone down in folklore.
Ronaldo, following a return to Manchester United, left for Al Nassr in 2023 and currently has 66 goals in just 69 games.
Can he reach his desired target of 1,000 goals before retirement?
Manager: Carlo Ancelotti
The most successful manager in the history of the Champions League, Ancelotti left Madrid in May 2015, but came back in 2021 and has once again delivered at the helm of the European giants, with three further UCL titles.
Subs: Diego Lopez, Pepe, Marcelo, Alvaro Arbeloa, Isco, Asier Illarramendi, Alvaro Morata
Atletico Madrid starting XI
GK: Thibaut Courtois
If you can't beat them, join them? Courtois, after a successful three-year loan spell with Atleti, eventually joined their city rivals in 2018.
He is currently the first-choice keeper for Los Blancos, and the holder of two European titles.
Right-back: Juanfran
A pillar of Diego Simeone's defence in this era, Spaniard Juanfran retired in 2021, with Sao Paulo his final club.
He is now the CEO of a global sports events agency, as well as holding other sporting and business interests.
Centre-back: Miranda
Another to end his career at Sao Paulo was Miranda, who had initially spent five years at the club between 2006-11. Miranda played 178 times for Atleti, securing five trophies.
The holder of 58 Brazil caps, Miranda announced his retirement on social media in early 2023.
Centre-back: Diego Godin
Rugged Uruguayan Godin was an Atleti lynchpin under Simeone, making 389 appearances across nine seasons in the Spanish capital.
Godin retired in 2023, but came out of retirement in 2024 to play for Uruguayan amateur side Porongos.
However, after helping his team to the inland football title, he once again announced he was hanging up his boots, this time seemingly for good.
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Left-back: Filipe Luis
After heading back to his native Brazil to play for Flamengo at the back-end of his career, the now 39-year-old has become their coach, having also worked with the club's U17 and U20 sides.
Luis spent two spells at Atleti, between 2010-14 and 2015-19, with a single season at Chelsea in between.
Midfielder: Raul Garcia
Midfield tyro Garcia ended his career on a high with Athletic Club, scoring a penalty in the shootout of last year's Copa del Rey final, which his side went on to win.
When he ended his career, he had made 609 La Liga outings, the third-most in history.
Midfielder: Tiago
Tiago, a versatile, energetic presence in midfield, hung up his boots in 2017 and went straight into coaching with Atleti.
He had a spell managing Vitoria Guimaraes in his native Portugal in 2020, but resigned after only three games.
Midfielder: Gabi
Skipper Gabi made 352 outings for Atleti over seven campaigns between 2011-18, before heading to play for Al Sadd with ex-Spain team-mate Xavi. He is now the manager of Getafe B.
Midfielder: Koke
Now 33, Koke is the sole remaining player to still be with Atleti from the 2014 line-up.
The Spaniard captains Atleti under Simeone, and the one-club man is into an incredible 16th season for Los Rojiblancos.
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Forward: Diego Costa
Still playing at 36, Costa is currently a free agent having recently left Gremio.
Costa had three spells at Atletico, as well as a goal-laden three-year period at Chelsea.
Costa was subbed off in the 2014 final after just nine minutes, with his hamstring issue not sufficiently recovered.
Forward: David Villa
One of the most feared forwards of his generation, Villa saw huge success at Barcelona before spending a single season with Atleti.
Villa is still Spain men's team's top goalscorer of all time, with 59 goals. He is now the founder of the DV7 Group, which owns Spanish lower league team Benidorm.
Manager: Diego Simeone
Having joined Atleti in December 2011, Simeone is still in the dugout 13 years later. He has managed a mammoth 721 games at the club, winning eight trophies.
Subs: Dani Aranzubia, Toby Alderweireld, Mario Suarez, Cristian Rodriguez, Jose Sosa, Diego, Adrian
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