Saturday night in Madrid, all eyes will be on Bayern Munich's enigmatic midfielder Arjen Robben.
With French star Franck Ribery's suspension, combined with Robben's brilliant play in the Champions League to date, Robben is Bayern's first-choice attacking option -- and the man Inter Milan must contain to win this game.
The 26-year-old left-winger will be making his debut on Europe's biggest stage. Despite having played for some of the biggest names in club football, his tenures at both Chelsea and Real Madrid were filled with domestic glory -- and continental disappointment. Also of note, injury kept him out of some of those club's biggest games.
With such a history, it is perhaps unexpected that Robben would be the man who has led Bayern Munich to this point. Yet it was Robben's successive, heart-stopping performances that carried Bayern to their first European Cup final since 2001.
Twice this season, Bayern Munich escaped elimination on the away goals rule. Both times, Robben was the man on the spot.
Bayern wouldn't be in Madrid this May had Robben not saved the day in March. Down 3-1 in Florence, just one minute after Fiorentina's Stevan Jovetic appeared to have sent the Italians into the quarterfinals, Robben conjured a goal that still boggles.
Drifting in from the right, Robben lazily roamed sideways, a good 25 yards away from Sebastein Frey's net. Fiorentina's defenders stood off him, then suddenly realized the danger. As five purple-clad players surrounded him, Robben coolly unleashed a left-footed shot that curled just under the bar, in the top-left corner. Bayern was in on the away goals rule, and fans everywhere got the sense that there was more than a little magic about this man -- and this team.
Robben's path to greatness has not been smooth. It was clear early on that he possessed enormous technical gifts and that blistering shot. But what has made him one of the world's best is that most elusive of qualities: grace. Robben rarely seems to be working too hard, and like most great players, has a gift for being two steps ahead of his opponents off the ball.
That skill and preternatural calm was shown to devastating effect in the second leg of Bayern Munich's match against Manchester United. On a corner kick delivered by Ribery, Robben lingered just outside the penalty area, planting his feet and waiting for the drifting cross that everyone else thought would be punched deep into the six-yard box.
Robben took a single step, and blasted a left-footed volley to the far post, past a helpless Edwin van der Sar. The goal sealed Bayern's passage, and left Sir Alex Ferguson, who had once tried to sign the Dutchman, to rue the one got away.
Unfortunately, injuries have played too large a role in Robben's career, earning him a reputation for fragility despite his immense talent. Add in a personality that some would charitably describe as difficult, and it's easy to see how Robben has managed to get under the skin of both his opponents and his employers.
The injuries certainly wouldn't help anyone's temperament, and they have been a frustrating constant for a man who is often fouled to neuter his speed. Developed at Dutch club Groningen, his arrival at PSV saw him form the strike partnership with Serbia's Mateja Kezman that made his reputation. Jokingly referred to as "Batman and Robben," the duo lit up the Eredivisie in 2002-03 season, making both men the targets of bigger clubs.
But Robben's time at PSV would not end fortuitously: he injured his hamstring twice before his transfer to England's Chelsea, and ended the 2003-04 season quietly.
Robben's luck then worsened. His arrival at the English giants in 2004 was delayed after he broke a metarsal bone in his right foot during a preseason friendly against Roma.
Then, in the heart of the 2004-05 season, Robben was forced to sit out Chelsea's Champions League run when he suffered a broken left foot after a challenge from Blackburn's Aaron Mokoena. He was fortunate to have a healthy year in 2005-06, and was a steady contributor for Chelsea, but the following season he was forced to have season-ending knee surgery. That was enough for the Londoners, who bit on Real Madrid's extravagant $35M offer for the player.
His time at Madrid was unhappy. Despite being the best winger the team had, the election of Florentino Perez at Real meant that Robben was again on the block, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka moving to take his slot. Bayern was eager to acquire his services -- and got him at discount, a transaction that would lead Robben to tell the Spanish press that he was "forced out."
Finally, Robben has found a club where he fits in. He forms part of Munich's deadly attacking wedge, sitting on the right side with Thomas Mueller and Ivica Olic in front, and Ribery on the opposite wing. He led the team with 16 goals in the league en route to securing the club's 22nd German title.
He might also finally be happy.
After the game in Florence, Robben stood in front of his teammates, red gloves on his hands, fingers pointing skyward, and a sly smile on his face. It was a rare moment of celebration for a man who has known a great deal of disappointment over his career. And it is exactly what Inter Milan hope they don't see next Saturday night in Madrid.
Jamie Trecker is a senior writer for FoxSoccer.com covering the Champions League and European football.
