The gut-wrenching feeling that no doubt swept over the entire Liverpool squad shortly after 11.30pm in Paris will have been a familiar one to many.
For the second time of Jurgen Klopp's reign at Anfield, it is Real Madrid who have bested him in a Champions League final and while there was a depressing feeling of inevitability about it all from their perspective, it is this one that really hurts.
Four years ago, the overriding emotion as Liverpool stormed their way to Kyiv in swashbuckling, thrill-seeking style was one of pride when they came up short to the Spanish royals of Madrid. In truth, they were the underdogs back then.
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Why the stinging sensation of this one is more acute is down to the squad that Klopp has assembled in those intervening years, one that flew just too close to the sun as it skirted the very edges of football immortality this month.
There's something about Real Madrid's white-shirted surety when it comes to this competition and given their mind-boggling sequence of results just to get here in the first place, maybe Liverpool were simply playing a bit-part role in the Spaniards' own story of destiny? They have now won this tournament a grand total of 14 times.
But the real story here is how the wonderful allure of Real Madrid versus Liverpool, in Paris, for the European Cup, was reduced to something of a sideshow. For what looked like at least hundreds of fans who handed over fortunes to attend this event, they were locked out, pepper-sprayed and tear-gassed.
The pre-match shambles that unfolded outside the Stade de France has cast a long, dark shadow over the events inside it on a night when the hype didn't live up to its cinematic billing.
Liverpool are understood to be furious with the claim from inside the ground on the night that the delay to kick-off of the biggest fixture in club football was caused by "the late arrival of fans". Supporters lined the pavements around the stadium hours before this game was initially slated to get underway.
Once more, UEFA and the football authorities as a whole have shown that supporters are to be endured rather than cherished. That some in Paris were forced to turn away and head back into the city centre after forking out fortunes to be here is nothing short of a disgrace.
This was supposed to be the brilliant final that was bright enough to light up the continent. Instead of offering a timely reminder of football's unique power to unite the masses, we have been left to reflect on a disorganised mess and the horrific treatment of the game's lifeblood.
The sight of dozens of riot police circling around the Liverpool end as stoppage time ticked away was indicative of it all.
The game itself was no classic. Vinicius Junior's second-half goal won it for Real Madrid as far as the history books go, but it was an inspired performance from Thibaut Courtois down the other end that really hurt Klopp and co.
The Reds started the brighter of the two sides but lacked a cutting edge in the final third before Sadio Mane forced Courtois into his first stunning save of about four on the night.
Mohamed Salah had earlier nearly poked one past the Belgium international too before the No.11 headed tamely at the goalkeeper later in the half.
The first-half drama was reserved for the final seconds when Karim Benzema bundled home after a mix-up involving an otherwise spectating Alisson Becker and Ibrahima Konate. After an agonisingly lengthy check from the fans' perspective, the France international was denied the goal.
In many ways, it was indicative of how Real have approached this entire campaign in the Champions League. They are a team that has dined on pure moments rather than more fulsome performances. That Liverpool survived should have served as a wake-up call for the second period. Sadly, it didn't.
Vinicius tapped home at the back post shortly before the hour mark after a surging run from Fede Valverde. Klopp sent on Diogo Jota for Luis Diaz and with under 15 remaining the manager brought on Roberto Firmino and Naby Keita, but as the chances continued to come, Liverpool found the inspired Courtois in unbeatable form.
Twice the former Chelsea man denied Salah before the final whistle brought an end to a 63-game season that has so often thrilled but ended on the most sour and sad notes.
Liverpool will be forced to accept that a domestic double is to the total sum of their haul. When the dust settles and the smoke clears, it will be remembered as a fantastic campaign.
But now is not the time to offer sizable statements about Liverpool dusting themselves off and going again next season. For now, it may not prove such a bad thing for the long term to wallow in this pain and frustration. They are feelings they will not want to experience again, so holding on to it now, if only briefly, may just serve a greater purpose when it all begins again in August.
