PARIS, May 25 (Reuters) - After a season with plenty to scowl about, Nicolas Anelka wore one of the biggest grins in Paris after helping Real Madrid lift their eighth European Cup.

The Frenchman's selfless performance in his home city capped a remarkable first season in Spain - three months ago, he looked certain to leave Real after he refused to train with the squad.

Real beat Valencia 3-0 in Wednesday's first final between teams from the same country and striker Anelka's pace and movement was a constant thorn in the side of Valencia's defence.

After seeing a sharp early header saved, Anelka was involved in the move that saw Fernando Morientes score the opening goal in the 39th minute.

In the second half Anelka dropped ever deeper, helping out in defence - something he has always been loath to do - and launching swift counter-attacks.

'Anelka the altruist,' the French sports daily L'Equipe headlined one of its stories on Thursday.

'For his return to Paris, the French striker did not score, but he proved he was more than an individualist.'

Anelka said: 'I never sought to be the finisher... I wasn't looking for revenge. We absolutely had to win to play in the Champions League next season.'

Anelka's involvement in Real's goal celebrations and his warm embrace with veteran defender Fernando Hierro at the final whistle would have been inconceivable a few months ago when his arrogant demands for tactical changes to suit his game, followed by his refusal to train with the squad, saw him fined and hit with a 45-day suspension.

But with the club struggling to play two fit strikers the ban was lifted early and he stormed back with two goals in their 3-2 aggregate semifinal victory over Bayern Munich.

'Winning the Champions League is a dream at 21, it's a good feeling,' Anelka said, his sunglasses perched on his forehead even after midnight in the bowels of the stadium.

Now Anelka, who narrowly missed out on a place in France's 1998 World Cup squad, is going to realise another dream that looked impossible two months ago and join his country for the Euro 2000 finals starting in three weeks.