By Kazeem Ajibola Shoyebo
In a moment that will be etched into Champions League lore, Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin delivered one of the most remarkable goals in European football history, and he was as stunned as everyone watching.
The 24-year-old Ukrainian produced an extraordinary 98th-minute header to secure a 4–2 victory over Real Madrid in Lisbon, a result that not only sent Benfica into the UEFA Champions League playoff stage but also plunged Real Madrid out of automatic qualification.
Trubin, whose primary job is to keep the ball out of his net, found himself unexpectedly at the other end, and even he admitted he didn’t fully grasp the situation before it unfolded.
“Before the action, I didn’t understand what we needed. Tomás Araújo and António Silva were saying ‘one more, one more,’ and I was like: ‘what?’
Then I saw everyone telling me to go up. I also saw the coach, so I went forward, entered the box, and I don’t know what to say… It was a crazy moment. I’m not used to scoring. I’m 24 years old and it’s the first time. It’s incredible…”
The goal came from a late free-kick when Benfica, leading 3–2 and desperate for the extra margin, pushed everyone forward. Trubin met Fredrik Aursnes’ delivery with a perfectly-timed leap and powered the ball past Real’s keeper, a rare feat for any goalkeeper, let alone in a night of such consequence.
The drama was heightened by Real Madrid’s numerical disadvantage late in the game, as two red cards left them with nine men. Still, few could have predicted that the defining play would come from between the sticks.
Benfica’s head coach, José Mourinho, hailed the moment as “historic”, while players and fans erupted in celebration across the stadium. The dramatic conclusion not only reshaped Group standings but also sparked reactions across the football world, with pundits and supporters alike dubbing Trubin’s goal one of the defining moments of the season.
For Trubin, this wasn’t just a match-winning strike, it was a life-defining moment, and one that will be talked about long after this Champions League campaign ends.