Manchester City finally lifted the UEFA Champions League trophy, which has eluded them since the takeover by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s Abu Dhabi United Group in 2008.
Nonetheless, Pep Guardiola’s squad secure a 1-0 win over Inter Milan on Saturday at the Atatürk Olympic Stadium. Furthermore, John Stones made history in the win, matching a statistical feat that Lionel Messi last accomplished.
Stones completed all six of his attempted dribbles against Inter Milan and the last player to complete more than that in a UEFA Champions League final was Messi when the Argentine completed ten dribbles in 2015 against Juventus.
6/6 – John Stones completed all six of his attempted dribbles against Internazionale (100%); the last player to complete more than that in a UEFA Champions League final was Lionel Messi in 2015 (10 v Juventus). Total. #UCLFinal pic.twitter.com/BYXf2kHZEQ
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 10, 2023
This statistical achievement by Stones is likely something he will share when his playing career is over. The England international could definitely brag about being in the same statistical category as arguably the best footballer ever.
Additionally, with Messi’s European career over, perhaps many players who match an accomplishment done by the 35-year-old will value it a little more now that the 2022 FIFA World Cup winner is nearing the end of his career.
