3 Substitute players who won the Champions League for their respective clubs

#2 Henrik Larsson (UEFA CL final 2005-06)

Henrik Larsson was an all-time Swedish great

Larsson was an eminent Swedish striker who had a distinguished playing career for clubs like Barcelona, Manchester United and Celtic.

However, one of most memorable nights of his life came in Paris when Barcelona met Arsenal in the Champions League final in 2006. Barcelona were the favourites and had great attacking players like Ronaldinho, Lionel Messi and Samuel Eto’o in their line-up.

However, it was Arsenal who took the lead in the final through a Sol Campbell header and held on to it till the half-time.

Barcelona made two crucial substitutions in the second half as Larsson and right-back Juliano Belletti came on. Larsson was directly involved in both the goals scored by Barcelona in the second half and it was from his pass that Belletti scored the match-winner.

The Swedish legend had also provided an assist for Samuel Eto’o's equalizer. Thus, his introduction in the second half made a huge difference as Arsenal’s dreams of winning their maiden Champions League title were shattered.

About the author

Subhadeep, an adept tennis journalist at Sportskeeda, has been writing about the sport for seven years. He is known for his exclusive match reviews and opinion pieces, utilizing his MBA degree to tackle them effectively with his problem-solving abilities.

Subhadeep lives and breathes tennis. He watches matches regularly and engages in social media platforms to stay on top of the latest happenings. As a writer, he brings the fan's perspective to his pieces, ensuring his readers enjoy an exceptional experience every time.

Growing up, he idolized Boris Becker, but he now firmly believes Novak Djokovic stands alone as the 'Greatest of all Time', especially considering the 24-time Grand Slam champion's incredible stats. One thing that still puzzles Subhadeep, however, is how Becker's Wimbledon tally might have reached five if not for Pete Sampras.

Speaking of the All England Club, the British Major holds a special place in his heart as he admires its blend of tradition and grass-court excellence. When not working for Sportskeeda, Subhadeep delves into the other "love of his life": football, and enjoys contributing his insights to different websites dedicated to the sport.

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Edited by Debjyoti Samanta