The eyes of the world were on events in Moscow last night. A Champions League final between English sides might have put La Liga and Serie A in the shade, but nonetheless Italy and Spain were watching the match rather than sulking.

The game was, naturally, the main story on the website of Marca, the Spanish football daily, although as well as live score updates and a photo gallery there was also a report farther down the screen that Cristiano Ronaldo wanted to join Real Madrid.

The Milan-based Gazzetta dello Sport’s website was more diplomatic, not referring to rumours that Frank Lampard could be moving to Inter Milan, although a picture of the England midfield player’s equaliser was prominent in its coverage until it was able to announce “Manchester Campione”.

Even in the United States, where “soccer” comes way down the list of sporting priorities, the Champions League final was given serious coverage. It was broadcast live on ESPN 2, and topped the news column on the ESPN.com website: “Ronaldo missed a penalty but was saved by his club.”

But there would have been widespread dismay in South Korea when those who had stayed up into the early hours for the 3.45am kick-off learnt that Park Ji Sung was not even in Manchester United’s squad for the final. A sports producer of KBS, the country’s biggest broadcaster, said that “for football fans in Korea, Park and the Champions League is the biggest sports event of 2008”.

But giving up and going to bed was not an option for one worried business traveller to Seoul who was concerned about missing the game and posted a request for help on a message board. Fortunately he received plenty of suggestions of bars and 24-hour restaurants where the match was being televised.

The Jerusalem Post was also full of advice for Israeli football fans looking for “the perfect place to see Avraham Grant’s attempt to make history”. Banana Beach in Tel Aviv sounded the best bet, with “the largest screen in the country. Festivities will get under way more than two hours before the big match, with Israeli rap group Shabak Samech performing as the warm-up act to the main event. Expect beach babes and lots of beer.” It ended up being used to drown their sorrows.