Benfica lived an unforgettable night at the Estadio Da Luz by beating Real Madrid 4-2 and achieving a miraculous qualification for the UEFA Champions League playoffs. The great protagonist was Anatoliy Trubin, their goalkeeper, who sealed the feat by scoring a header goal in the 98th minute, when José Mourinhon’s team desperately needed a little more to beat Olympique de Marseille on goal difference and advance to the next phase.
That goal not only meant the agonizing classification of the Eagles, but also enrolled the 24-year-old Ukrainian into an exclusive group: that of the goalkeepers who managed to score a goal in the history of the Champions League.
His goal was the seventh scored by a goalkeeper in this competition, according to official UEFA data and compilations from El Grafico.
The list of scoring goalkeepers in the Champions League is short and is reserved for those who, whether from the penalty spot or in epic plays on the hour, knew how to challenge their traditional role and become unexpected offensive heroes.These are the protagonists of events as rare as they are celebrated.
The last to join this select group was Anatoliy Trubin, who debuted as a goalscorer in his 226th game as a professional, after experiences at Shakhtar Donetsk and Benfica.His header in the 98th minute against Real Madrid was the key for Glorioso to access the playoffs, leaving Marseille out thanks to the goal tiebreaker criterion.The impact of his goal lay in the agonizing classification and the collective celebration, which even included the coach himself, José Mourinho.
Without a doubt, the most repeated name among the scoring goalkeepers in the Champions League is Hans-Jörg Butt.The German goalkeeper holds the absolute record for three goals scored in the competition, all from the penalty spot and always against Juventus.Butt achieved these achievements with three different teams: Hamburg (September 2000), Bayer Leverkusen (March 2002) and Bayern Munich (December 2009).His efficiency and coolness in executing penalties allowed him to enter the great history of the European tournament.
The Bulgarian Dimitar Ivankov was a pioneer among scoring goalkeepers in the Champions League.In the 1999-2000 season, during the previous rounds, he scored twice for Levski Sofia against F91 Dudelange, both times from twelve steps.His ability to execute penalties gave him recognition and a place in the historical records of the contest.
In December 2009, Turkish Sinan Bolat wrote his own heroic page by heading in the final equalizer for Standard Liège against AZAlkmaar, in injury time.His intervention allowed the Belgian team to access the Europa League, in what was one of the most exciting moments of that edition of the Champions League.A last-gasp goal that changed the destiny of his club.
Nigerian Vincent Enyeama also joined the club in September 2010. Defending Hapoel Tel Aviv’s goal, he scored a penalty against Olympique de Lyon in the group stage.Known for his remarkable ability between the three sticks, Enyeama surprised the public by transforming a maximum penalty into a goal for his team.
In 2014, the Andorran Eloy Casals starred in one of the most unique stories of the Champions League.In a previous tie, Casals gave FC Santa Coloma a historic qualification with a right-footed shot.It was a moment of glory for the modest Andorran club and an example of the unpredictable magic that this tournament can offer.
The Italian Ivan Provedel added his name in September 2023, when he rescued a draw for Lazio against Atlético de Madrid with a header in the last play of the match.Provedel, known for his consistency as a goalkeeper, became an unexpected protagonist in a Champions League night that remained engraved in the fans’ memories.
These examples show that the Champions League, a tournament of great feats and surprises, also has room for goalkeepers, traditionally guardians of their goal, to find glory in the rival area.
