Football careers are often defined by silverware, particularly in the elite cauldron of European club competitions. For André Onana, the Cameroonian goalkeeper known for his reflexes, distribution, and commanding presence between the posts, continental glory remains agonizingly elusive. Despite reaching three major European finals with three different clubs—Ajax, Inter Milan, and Manchester United—Onana has walked away with nothing but runners-up medals each time.
The recurring heartbreak across these campaigns has carved a curious and unfortunate pattern in the talented goalkeeper’s career. Each final told a different story, but the conclusion remained the same: Onana was on the losing side.
1. UEFA Europa League Final (2016–17): The Young Star Falls Short
The first of Onana’s three European final appearances came in the 2016–17 season, when he was just 21 years old. At the time, he was the starting goalkeeper for a youthful and fearless Ajax team that had stormed its way to the UEFA Europa League final. Managed by Peter Bosz, Ajax played an exciting brand of attacking football, built around emerging talents like Matthijs de Ligt, Donny van de Beek, and Frenkie de Jong. Onana, then still relatively unknown on the world stage, was at the heart of this promising revolution.
The final, however, was a lesson in pragmatism. Facing a more experienced Manchester United side led by José Mourinho, Ajax were outmaneuvered tactically. Goals from Paul Pogba and Henrikh Mkhitaryan sealed a 2-0 win for United in Stockholm. Onana did his part, making several saves to keep Ajax in the game, but the Dutch side ultimately lacked the steel to overcome their seasoned opponents.
While the loss stung, it was viewed as the beginning of something bigger for Onana and Ajax. For the goalkeeper, it was an early taste of the high-stakes pressure and bitter disappointment that European finals can bring.
2. UEFA Champions League Final (2022–23): Brave Inter Fall to the Treble-Winners
Fast forward six years, and Onana had reinvented himself after a career-threatening doping ban in 2021. Having left Ajax and later signed for Inter Milan, he quickly established himself as the first-choice keeper under Simone Inzaghi. His performances in the Champions League were particularly outstanding. Calm under pressure, assured with his feet, and capable of match-winning saves, Onana was instrumental in Inter’s surprising run to the 2022–23 UEFA Champions League Final.
Awaiting them in Istanbul was none other than Manchester City, the juggernaut under Pep Guardiola and winners of the English Premier League and FA Cup that season. City were chasing a historic treble, and Inter were widely viewed as underdogs. Despite this, Inter pushed City to the brink in one of the tensest Champions League finals in recent memory.
Onana was exceptional, keeping his side in the contest with a number of critical interventions. It took a single, well-taken goal from Rodri to decide the match in City’s favor. Though the scoreline read 1-0, it was a battle of tactical discipline and defensive resilience. Once again, Onana was left to rue how close he had come to European glory.
3. UEFA Europa League Final (2024–25): Another Narrow Defeat, This Time in Red
In a twist of fate, Onana found himself back in a Europa League final just two years later, now as Manchester United’s No. 1. After joining the club in the summer of 2023 to reunite with his former Ajax manager Erik ten Hag, Onana’s first season at Old Trafford was turbulent. But by the 2024–25 campaign, he had rediscovered his best form, playing a key role in United’s deep run in Europe.
The final in Dublin was set up as a tense all-English affair against Tottenham Hotspur, themselves in search of their first European trophy in decades. Despite United’s dominance in possession and several key saves by Onana to deny Spurs’ counterattacks, a solitary goal from Tottenham was enough to seal a 1-0 victory. Onana, once again, could only watch as his opponents celebrated on the biggest stage.
This third defeat, perhaps the most painful, emphasized a strange pattern in Onana’s career—strong performances, excellent shot-stopping, but no ultimate reward.
A Keeper of Great Quality, Shadowed by Final Heartache
It’s important to acknowledge that Onana has not underperformed in these finals. In all three matches, he displayed composure and skill, often emerging as one of the better players on the pitch. His ability to command his box, distribute the ball under pressure, and deliver crucial saves was evident in each of these high-stakes encounters.
Yet, football is not always fair. Goalkeepers, in particular, walk a thin line where brilliance can be overshadowed by a single moment or the failure of the team as a whole. Onana’s European final record speaks not to his lack of ability, but to the cruel nature of elite competition—where margins are razor-thin, and history only remembers the winners.
What’s Next?
At just 29, Onana still has several years at the top level ahead of him. There remains time to change the narrative and finally lift a European trophy. With Manchester United’s ongoing rebuild under Ten Hag and the goalkeeper’s evident desire to compete at the highest level, another shot at glory is not out of the question.
But for now, André Onana is the goalkeeper who has stood in three European finals—and lost them all. A record that doesn’t reflect his talent, but one that defines a haunting subplot in his otherwise impressive career.
