Crystal Palace legends shine on a historic day for the club, securing their first major trophy with a win against Manchester City.

Crystal Palace has etched its name into the annals of English football history by clinching their first major trophy, stunning Manchester City in the FA Cup final.

Pep Guardiola’s side, appearing in their third consecutive FA Cup final, were the overwhelming favourites heading into the match. However, it was Palace who delivered a performance for the ages, defying the odds and expectations.

Having suffered heartbreak in previous finals against Manchester United in 1990 and 2016, Palace was determined not to let this opportunity slip away. Eberechi Eze became the hero of the day, scoring a memorable goal early in the match that set the tone for the rest of the encounter.

Below, we take a look at the player ratings for Crystal Palace, and fans can have their say on who they believe was the standout performer.

Crystal Palace

Dean Henderson – 9 – Despite some controversy over his handling outside the box in the first half, the England goalkeeper was exceptional. He made a series of crucial saves, including a reflex stop to deny Erling Haaland and a heroic penalty save from Omar Marmoush, much to the delight of the Palace supporters.

Chris Richards – 8 – The 25-year-old defender rose to the occasion, making key interventions to thwart City’s attacks. His positioning and awareness were vital in keeping the opposition at bay.

Maxence Lacroix – 8 – The Frenchman delivered a commanding performance, showcasing strength and composure that frustrated City’s forwards throughout the match.

Marc Guehi – 8 – A solid presence at the back, the England international was largely untroubled until he had to be substituted in the second half due to a head injury.

Tyrick Mitchell – 7 – After a shaky start against Savinho, Mitchell made crucial tackles to deny both the Brazilian and Haaland. He did concede a penalty but was saved by Henderson’s heroics.

Daniel Munoz – 9 (player of the match) – The Colombian was a constant threat, providing the assist for Eze’s goal and defending resolutely. His performance was nothing short of heroic.

Daichi Kamada – 8 – The Japanese midfielder was impressive, linking up well with Adam Wharton and making vital challenges to disrupt City’s rhythm.

Adam Wharton – 8 – Although he saw less of the ball than he would have liked, Wharton worked tirelessly to protect the back four and earned applause for his efforts when substituted late on.

Ismaila Sarr – 8 – The 27-year-old put in a selfless shift, working hard to disrupt City’s build-up play and contributing defensively.

Eberechi Eze – 9 – The match-winner, Eze’s clinical finish sent the Palace fans into raptures. Despite being pushed deep into his own half, he made his mark when it mattered most.

Jean-Philippe Mateta – 8 – Leading the line, Mateta frustrated City’s defenders and played his role effectively, even with limited opportunities to get on the ball.

Subs

Will Hughes – 7 – Came on late to inject fresh energy into the midfield and fulfilled his role well.

Jefferson Lerma – 8 – Stepped in for Guehi and continued the solid defensive work, maintaining the team’s composure.

Eddie Nketiah – 7 – Made an impact after replacing Mateta, drawing a crucial foul from De Bruyne to relieve pressure late in the game.

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Manchester City

Stefan Ortega – 5 – The German goalkeeper had a quiet afternoon but was left stunned when he had to pick the ball out of the net early on.

Manuel Akanji – 5 – The Swiss defender lost track of Eze for the Palace goal, a costly mistake that proved decisive.

Josko Gvardiol – 6 – Solid defensively but should have done better with a header that went straight at Henderson.

Ruben Dias – 6 – Constantly involved but struggled to break down Palace’s resolute defence.

Nico O’Reilly – 5 – Caught out for the crucial assist and later booked for a cynical foul on Munoz.

Bernardo Silva – 6 – Won a penalty for City but ultimately saw the opportunity wasted.

Kevin De Bruyne – 6 – Showed flashes of brilliance but was unable to find the net, leaving him frustrated on what could have been a fitting farewell.

Savinho – 6 – Caused problems early on but faded as the match progressed.

Jeremy Doku – 5 – Had a couple of chances but struggled to make a significant impact.

Omar Marmoush – 5 – Missed a penalty that could have changed the game, leaving him visibly frustrated.

Erling Haaland – 5 – The talisman was unable to make his mark, with questions raised about his role in the penalty decision.

Subs

Claudio Echeverri – 5 – Made a late appearance but had little impact.

Phil Foden – 5 – Came on to a warm reception but failed to make a difference.

Ilkay Gundogan – 5 – Introduced late but could not influence the game.