Real Madrid against the world!

Come June 1, when Real Madrid players line up for the UEFA Champions League's grand finale at the iconic Wembley Stadium, they will not only be up against the yellow army of Borussia Dortmund but against the entire footballing world -- and there are ample reasons for that.

The sheer dominance in Europe's most elite club competition, the unparalleled history of the club, and the manner in which they have repeatedly captured the most coveted title, ensure that Real Madrid's pursuit of a record-extending 15th Champions League title will only heighten the envy of clubs, managers, players, and their fanbases.

Real Madrid gunning for 15th UCL title, Dortmund dreaming of their second: Who will win the final showdown?

The record 14-time winners have established such supremacy that the Champions League is now almost synonymous with Real Madrid, often hailed as the greatest club ever due to their incredible success in this competition. As Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti remarked, "The fear, that's normal. I have experience. My team gives me confidence and hope. They look focused on the game. They're in Champions League mode. We're not on holiday yet, and the other teams are. They'll see the game on TV."

In just this decade, Real Madrid has lifted the coveted Champions League trophy five times out of ten, beginning with their quest for 'La Decima' and highlighted by Sergio Ramos' iconic '92:48' header in the 2014 final against Atletico Madrid. That victory ended Real's 12-year drought in the competition and opened the floodgates for an unprecedented three-peat from 2016 to 2018, a feat admired and aspired to by many.

Under Zinedine Zidane, with a core group including Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema, Luka Modric, Casemiro, and Toni Kroos, Real Madrid made winning three successive Champions League titles seem almost effortless, a dream run for most clubs. What particularly irks their rivals is how Real Madrid defied the odds during the 2022 campaign to win their 14th title, doubling the tally of AC Milan, the next closest club with seven titles.

Benzema's 17-minute hat-trick against a star-studded PSG in the 2022 round of 16, Modric's stunning trivela pass to Rodrygo against Chelsea, and the team's incredible comeback to eliminate Manchester City in the semifinal are moments that left experts dumbfounded. Real's defensive masterclass against City in this season's quarterfinal second leg, and Joselu's unexpected heroics against Bayern Munich in this year's semifinal, further showcased their knack for miraculous comebacks.

Pundits often dismiss these feats as 'lucky breaks', but Real Madrid's consistent ability to pull off such results suggests the existence of an intangible 'Real DNA' that shines through in moments of despair, transforming their players into footballing geniuses.

Real Madrid's repeated triumphs, often in dramatic fashion, have dashed the hopes of many, making their success feel like a taunt to those trailing behind. It's no surprise that the entire world might support Dortmund in the final, but that is unlikely to deter Real Madrid's determination to extend their Champions League legacy. They will also be motivated to give a fitting farewell to one of their legends, Toni Kroos.

Kroos, known as 'the German sniper' for his precise passing, will conclude his illustrious 10-year tenure at Real Madrid at Wembley today. Casemiro, his former teammate, once said, "Real Madrid games always follow the rhythm of Toni Kroos. If he wants the team to slow down, we slow down. If he wants us to speed up, we speed up. He decides everything."

The players in all-whites will hope to make their final dance to the tune of maestro Kroos both memorable and meaningful, even if it means facing a Dortmund side backed by the entire world.