Recommendations of the editorial team
Linkin Park provided mixed reactions with her appearance before the Champions League final on Saturday evening (May 31st) in the Munich Allianz Arena. The band’s performance was part of the UEFA’s official pre-show and was broadcast internationally under the motto “Linkin Park Champions League”.
While fans on X (formerly Twitter) the appearance of the US band celebrated, the former Dutch international Marco van Basten saw it very differently. In the program “Ziggo Sport” he described Linkin Park’s show as “garbage, absolute garbage”, like that Picture reported.
“The boys are preparing for the most important game of their lives. It is ridiculous that they are bothered by them,” continued van Basten. Rafael van der Vaart, also an ex-international of the Netherlands, was therefore very enthusiastic: “You make your warm-up program, prepare yourself-and then there is half an hour idle because of the show.”
On the other hand, the tenor was often positive on social media. Under the hashtag “Linkin Park Champions League”, users praised the musical staging.
“History is written here,” wrote an enthusiastic fan.
Linkin Park Opening the Champions League Final 2025⚽️ History in the Making❤️pic.twitter.com/fs2WHKJPWC
– A.🍍 | fan account (@broodingananas) May 31, 2025
Even contradiction to Van Basten’s criticism was not long in coming:
“He does not Know Ball – Linkin Park Are Timeless, Man,” wrote another user.
Hey doesn’t know ball linkin park are timeless man https://t.co/9webmrrkjo
-. (@Az_capone1) May 31, 2025
🔴#Xtremo| ¡Linkin Park Presente en la Final de la Uefa Champions League! 🎤
|#Linkinpark |#Uefa |#Championsleague pic.twitter.com/zrfsqeuouq
Linkin Park: The setlist
Linkin Park played a medley of four pieces – partly only played briefly. The program included shortened versions of:
– The Emptiness Machine
– in the end
-Numb (with “Numb/Encore” intro)
-Heavy is the crown (with “Numb” Uefa-Champions League-Remix-Intro and “Up from the Bottom” -Snippet)
The appearance was part of the official show program before the final between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan-and should be remembered as a “Linkin Park Champions League” moment.