By Stanley Ugagbe
Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau has eulogized Alphonso Davies after he cemented his place in Canadian sports history, becoming the first representative of the Canadian men’s national soccer team to win the coveted UEFA Champions League trophy.
Congratulating the 19-year-old, the Prime Minister on his official Twitter handle, wrote “A historic moment – you made Canadians proud out there. Congratulations on the big win, Alphonso”.
Davies, who signed for Bayern Munich just two years previously, was a solid presence in the German club’s defence as his side ran out 1-0 winners against Paris Saint-Germain, courtesy of a headed goal from Frenchman Kingsley Coman on 59 minutes. The header gave Bayern its sixth Champions League title, and for Davies it was what he hopes will be the first of many trophies to come.
The history maker, overwhelmed by the development, took to his Twitter handle and wrote: “Who would have guessed it a kid from Canada, Edmonton Alberta. Most people don’t even know where that. Where it snows I’m talking -40 weather, he’s now a champion league winner.”
“It feels really good. It’s everything you dream of as a kid to come to Europe and win the Champions League with a great club like Bayern,” said Davies, speaking to BT Sport after the game. “That just goes to show the team I have around me.”
“It shows that you can do anything you set your mind to. I am happy to be here with the Champions League medal around my neck and the trophy on the side.
“We know legends won this title before so as a young kid coming in you want to keep that going. Every young player at this club is hungry to win titles because they see their idols doing it.”
Born in 2000 in a refugee camp in Ghana, having escaped war in Liberia, Davies moved to Canada in 2005. He played for the Vancouver Whitecaps in 2016 — making him the second-youngest starting player ever in Major League Soccer — and moved to Bayern in 2017 for a record fee. Already, he is a German league winner and now, a champion of Europe.
Playing as a left-sided defender or as a left-winger, the youngster has swiftly emerged as one of the best young talents in the game.
His side, Bayern has enjoyed domestic dominance in Germany — it has now won eight consecutive Bundesliga titles — but success in Europe has been hard to come by since its last Champions League triumph in 2013.
However, under Hans-Dieter Flick, Bayern has been on an incredible unbeaten run and was favorite to triumph over PSG’s glittering stars.
With the recent victory in Lisbon, it became the first team to win all 11 Champions League games from the group stage, scoring 43 goals in those matches.
