Trubin becomes part of Champions League’s scoring goalkeepers, showcasing a signature Mourinho instance.
It was a scenario that even Hollywood writers might struggle to create. Most supporters would not even dare to envision it. This was a moment that could only emerge from a squad managed by the self-proclaimed “Special One.” A header in the 98th minute from Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin secured a 4-2 victory for José Mourinho’s team against Real Madrid, earning them a spot in the UEFA Champions League playoffs.
As the 24-year-old Ukrainian advanced up the field at the Estádio da Luz, Benfica’s hopes seemed dashed. Despite a brace from Andreas Schjelderup and a penalty from Vangelis Pavlidis putting the hosts in a position to secure the necessary three points for advancement, Kylian Mbappé’s two goals at the other end meant that the Portuguese team was tied with Marseille on goal difference and lagging behind them in goals scored in the Champions League standings.
Jose Mourinho was the one who instructed Anatoliy Trubin to move forward to provide an aerial threat in the box.
Trubin accomplished the extraordinary, heading in one of Benfica’s most crucial goals in the last decade 🔥
The Special One ✨ pic.twitter.com/IXsOd5pwAF
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) January 28, 2026
However, with Aleksandar Stankovic scoring to make it 3-0 for Club Brugge against Marseille just 10 minutes earlier, Benfica still had a glimmer of hope. That hope surged to ecstatic heights when Trubin leaped above a Madrid defense—reduced to nine players due to red cards issued to Rodrygo and Raúl Asencio—connected with Fredrik Aursnes’ free kick, and headed the ball past Blancos goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
GOALKEEPER ANATOLIY TRUBIN SCORES A 98TH MINUTE GOAL AGAINST REAL MADRID TO RESCUE BENFICA’S #UCL SEASON WITH THE FINAL TOUCH OF THE MATCH! 😱
IMAGINE NOT LOVING FOOTBALL 🤯 pic.twitter.com/y0thIBEQb5
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) January 28, 2026
Lisbon erupted in celebration, and Trubin became the fastest player on the field as his ecstatic teammates attempted to catch up to him for a celebration. Mourinho sprinted down the touchline, gesturing to the stands and embracing a ballboy along the way. Having entered the match under scrutiny and following criticism from his own club’s supporters, this marked the coach’s first victory against his former team Madrid, and, in typical fashion, it was achieved in a way that will be long remembered.
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Trubin is now only the fifth goalkeeper to score in the Champions League, joining the ranks of Hans-Jörg Butt (who accomplished this three times), Vincent Enyeama, Ivan Provedel, and Sinan Bolat.
Furthermore, Trubin’s header guarantees that Benfica will be included in the draw on Friday, where they will face either Inter Milan or … you guessed it … Real Madrid. Special.
Goal-den gloves: Every keeper to score in Champions League history
ESPN’s Chris Wright provides an overview of the other members of the UEFA Champions League’s Grand Order of Goal-Scoring Goalies (or ‘UCLGOGSG’ for short) and how they earned their recognition.
Ivan Provedel
🚨 LAZIO GOALKEEPER IVAN PROVEDEL SCORES WITH THE LAST TOUCH OF THE GAME 🚨
Only the second keeper in Champions League HISTORY to score a non-penalty. 😱 pic.twitter.com/wMpUhnMwg7
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) September 19, 2023
Ivan Provedel secured his place in Champions League history when he emerged as Lazio’s unexpected hero in a group stage match against Atlético Madrid during the 2023-24 season. The Italian team had been behind since the 29th minute, and it seemed they were headed for a disappointing home loss in their Group E opener as the final moments of stoppage time ticked away. However, with 94:19 minutes on the clock, their goalkeeper (wearing the No. 94 jersey, standing at 1.94 meters tall, and born in 1994) launched himself at Luis Alberto’s angled cross, directed it past his counterpart, and salvaged a 1-1 draw with the last action of the match. Remarkably, Provedel’s header against Atlético was actually the second 95th-minute equalizer of his professional career, having previously scored deep into stoppage time to secure a dramatic 2-2 draw for Juve Stabia against Ascoli in Italy’s Serie B back in 2020.
Vincent Enyeama
🇳🇬 Vincent Enyeama becomes the third goalkeeper to score in the Champions League 🧤#UCL pic.twitter.com/u24jZJeYvO
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) April 1, 2021
Before Provedel’s remarkable feat, Enyeama was the most recent addition to this exclusive group when the former Nigeria captain scored from the penalty spot for Hapoel Tel-Aviv against Lyon in 2010. After becoming Hapoel’s primary penalty taker in the 2008-09 season, Enyeama converted several spot kicks for the Israeli club, including a goal in the 2009-10 State Cup final. He then replicated this achievement in the Champions League, first scoring against FC Salzburg in the qualifying rounds before netting another against Lyon in the group stage—though it was little consolation in a 3-1 defeat.
Sinan Bolat
#OnThisDay in 2⃣0⃣0⃣9⃣
⏱️ 90. +5 @Standard_RSCL 🆚 @AZAlkmaar
⚽️ Sinan Bolat 😲👏👏👏
#UCL pic.twitter.com/ai8dOQIAWA
— UEFA.com DE (@UEFAcom_de) December 9, 2019
The second member of the UCLGOGSG made his mark in 2009 when Standard Liege’s Turkish international scored in a 1-1 draw against AZ Alkmaar. While not the first to score outright, Bolat was the first goalkeeper to achieve a non-penalty goal in the competition, doing so with a crucial 95th-minute header that secured a draw for the Belgian club, allowing them to qualify for the Europa League knockout phase at the expense of AZ, who finished last in Group H and exited European competition entirely.
Hans-Jörg Butt
DID YOU KNOW?
Goalkeeper Hans-Jörg Butt has scored three goals in the Champions League, including this penalty #OTD in 2002 🧤@bayer04_en | #UCL pic.twitter.com/ycy8INz82p
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) March 12, 2021
In simple terms, Butt is one of the most prolific goal-scoring goalkeepers in football history. The former Germany international netted 32 career goals across all competitions, a remarkable figure that places him among the top 10 all-time. He holds the record for the most goals scored in a single European professional league (26 goals in the Bundesliga) and the record for the most goals scored by a goalkeeper in the Champions League, with three to his credit.
Interestingly, all three of Butt’s Champions League penalty goals were scored for different clubs but against the same opponent, with Juventus being the recipient each time. His first goal came for Hamburg in a thrilling 4-4 draw against Juventus during the first group stage of the 2000-01 Champions League. The second contributed to Bayer Leverkusen’s surprising run to the 2001-02 final, as he opened the scoring in a 3-1 victory over Juve in the second group stage.
He then had to wait six years for his third, scoring Bayern’s first goal in a crucial 4-1 comeback win against the Bianconeri that secured the Bavarians’ advancement into the knockout phase.
