The 1997 Football League Cup Final was played between Middlesbrough and Leicester City.

The first game, at Wembley Stadium on Sunday 6 April 1997, ended in a 1–1 draw after extra time.

Fabrizio Ravanelli opened the scoring only for Leicester's Emile Heskey to equalise in the last minute of extra time.

Heskey was fortunate to be on the field, having committed what was a bookable foul on Boro captain Nigel Pearson after already being booked.

Leicester won the replay, and their second League Cup, in the game played at Hillsborough Stadium on 16 April 1997 with another extra-time goal, this time from Steve Claridge.