showpiece

Three years later, Real Madrid kick-started a run of five successive Champions League titles for Spanish sides, which culminated in their 3-1 win against Liverpool in the 2018 Kiev showpiece.

That was no mean feat, given he had admitted he had achieved a "dream" in delivering Italy to Sunday's showpiece on home soil.

Both European giants needed only to draw to be sure of reaching the global footballing showpiece in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The 22-year-old Spaniard had already clinched the year-end world ranking going into Sunday's final, while a dominant performance in the US Open's showpiece match gave him a 10-5 lead over Sinner in their head-to-head record.

Later, Italy must overturn the odds to pip opponents Norway to the global footballing showpiece in the United States, Canada and Mexico when the top sides in Group I meet at the San Siro.