AC Milan's 2004-05 squad, featuring Paolo Maldini, Hernan Crespo, and Kaka, is widely regarded as one of the strongest teams never to lift the European Cup. The Rossoneri reached the Champions League final in Istanbul after dominating the competition, but suffered a dramatic collapse against Liverpool.
Milan led 3-0 at halftime thanks to goals from Maldini and a Crespo brace, only for Liverpool to equalize 3-3 in a six-minute second-half spell. The match ended 3-3 after extra time, with Liverpool winning 3-2 on penalties.
The defeat denied a star-studded Milan side — also including Andriy Shevchenko, Andrea Pirlo, and Clarence Seedorf — a seventh European crown. The 2005 final remains a defining moment in the club's history, often cited as the greatest comeback in Champions League history.
