But when Djibril Cisse stepped up from 12 yards in the 2005 meeting between Liverpool and AC Milan, with millions around the world watching on, the Frenchman was simply counting his blessings to be there.
A broken leg earlier in the season had ruled the striker out of much of the run to Istanbul, and he returned to competitive action only a month before the showpiece at the Ataturk Stadium.
Cisse was sent on as a substitute after the Reds’ remarkable recovery from a three-goal deficit against the Serie A heavyweights to level the match at 3-3.