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Davies First Canadian to Win Champions League

Bayern Munich’s Alphonso Davies became the first Canadian in history to win the Uefa Champions League as he helped his side defeat Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 in the final.

The 19-year-old put in an assured defensive display alongside his team-mates to keep Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Angel Di Maria at bay in Portugal.

Kingsley Coman scored the only goal of the game as he headed a Joshua Kimmich cross past Keylor Navas just before the hour mark.

While Davies did not get forward as much as in the 8-2 thrashing of Barcelona in the quarter-finals, he again played with an assurance beyond his years and could barely contain his delight afterwards.

“Thank you so much for all the support back home. I mean who would have thought that a guy from Canada would play for a club like Bayern Munich and win the Champions League. I mean two years ago, had you told me that I would say you’re lying,” Davies said after the match.

Owen Hargreaves, who won the Champions League twice with Manchester United and Bayern Munich, was also born in Canada but played for England. That makes Davies’ achievement a first of his country.

Before being soaked with water by team-mates in the post-match interview, Davies said: ‘It (the win) feels really good, it is what you dream of as a kid.

“Growing up in cold Edmonton (in Canada) and coming to Europe and winning trophies with a great club like Bayern is everything you can ask for.”

The win also netted Davies’ former club Vancouver Whitecaps a large bonus.

Sources confirmed that Whitecaps FC will receive €1 million as part of the MLS record transfer.

/Stewart
Sports news editor