Croatian wins Champions League title for 9th consecutive year

Mateo Kovačić and Chelsea celebrate (Screenshot)

Mateo Kovačić has equalled Luka Modrić’s Croatian record of four Champions League titles after Chelsea lifted the trophy tonight in Porto. 

German international Kai Havertz scored in the 42nd minute to give Chelsea a 1-0 victory over Manchester City in the Champions League final on Saturday night in Portugal. 

Kovačić, who won three titles with Real Madrid in 2016, 2017 and 2018, came on in the 79th minute of the match. It was the first time he had played in a final and now he has four titles with Modrić who won them in 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018.

Chelsea’s team also featured American-Croatian Christian Pulisic who came on in the second half. 

Mateo Kovačić and Phil Foden (Screenshot)

A Croatian player has won the title now for the last nine years in a row.

Mario Mandžukic scored in the final against Borussia Dortmund to help Bayern Munich secure the title back in 2013.

The following season Luka Modrić won his first Champions League with Real Madrid, followed by Ivan Rakitić with Barcelona the next season. In 2016, 2017, and 2018, Modrić and Kovačić claimed the trophy with Real Madrid, Dejan Lovren won it with Liverpool in 2019 and Ivan Perišić won it last year with Bayern Munich. 

Eleven Croatians have lifted the Champions League in its current format. Apart from Kovačić and Modrić, the other players were Alen Bokšić, Zvonimir Boban, Davor Šuker, Dario Šimić, Igor Bišćan, Mario Mandžukić, Ivan Rakitić, and Dejan Lovren. Robert Prosinečki won the European Cup in 1991.