UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, or simply known as the UCL for a football competition organized by UEFA, between some of the top club teams in Europe. The top team in the league comes out UEFA champions league every year. 32 teams will play the game and determines the best football club. At first, it was started by France, not the European Football Federation. It was played only as a home and away tournament, but a group stage was added from the 1991-92 season. The teams are selected because of good performances in their respective domestic leagues. The teams used to have to win their countries' league, but more than one team can play in the competition depending on how good their league is. For example: the Spanish League can get 4 Spanish clubs in the competition compared to the Kazakhstan League which can only get one team in the competition.
| Founded | 1955 (rebranded in 1992) |
|---|---|
| Region | Europe (UEFA) |
| Number of teams | 32 (group stage) 79 (total) |
| Qualifier for | UEFA Super Cup FIFA Club World Cup |
| Related competitions | UEFA Europa League (2nd tier) UEFA Europa Conference League (3rd tier) |
| Current champions | 23x15px Real Madrid CF (15th title) |
| Most successful club(s) | 23x15px Real Madrid (15 titles) |
| Website | Official website |
| 33px 2025–26 UEFA Champions League | |
Real Madrid won the Champions League the first five times it was held, still a record. They have also won the Champions League/European Cup 15 times, which is also a record.
A total of 23 clubs from 10 European countries won the Champions League. 12 clubs won it more than once: Real Madrid, Milan, Bayern, Liverpool, Barcelona, Ajax, Manchester United, Inter Milan, Juventus, Benfica, Porto, Chelsea and Nottingham Forest.
Records and statistics
Winners and runners-up
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By nation
| Nation | Title(s) | Runners-up | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23x15px Spain | 20 | 11 | 31 |
| 23x15px England | 15 | 11 | 26 |
| 23x15px Italy | 12 | 18 | 30 |
| 23x15px Germany[a] | 8 | 11 | 19 |
| 23x15px Netherlands | 6 | 2 | 8 |
| 23x15px Portugal | 4 | 5 | 9 |
| 23x15px France | 2 | 6 | 8 |
| 23x15px Romania | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 23x15px Scotland | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 23x15px [[|Yugoslavia]][b] | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 23x15px Belgium | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 23x15px Greece | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 23x15px Sweden | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Final venues
| Stadium | Hosts | Years |
|---|---|---|
| 23x15px Wembley Stadium, London | 8 | 1963, 1968, 1971, 1978, 1992, 2011, 2013, 2024 |
| 23x15px Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid | 5 | 1957, 1969, 1980, 2010 |
| 23x15px San Siro, Milan | 1965, 1970, 2001, 2016 | |
| 23x15px Stadio Olimpico, Rome | 1977, 1984, 1996, 2009 | |
| 23x15px Heysel Stadium, Brussels | 1958, 1966, 1974, 1985 | |
| 23x15px Praterstadion, Wien | 1964, 1987, 1990, 1995 | |
| 23x15px Parc des Princes, Paris | 3 | 1956, 1975, 1981 |
| 23x15px Stade de France, Saint-Denis | 2000, 2006, 2022 | |
| 23x15px Olympiastadion, Munich | 1979, 1993, 1997 | |
| 23x15px Hampden Park, Glasgow | 1960, 1976, 2002 | |
| 23x15px Olympic Stadium, Athens | 1983, 1994, 2007 | |
| 23x15px Camp Nou, Barcelona | 2 | 1989, 1999 |
| 23x15px Estádio da Luz, Lisbon | 2014, 2020 | |
| 23x15px De Kuip, Rotterdam | 1972, 1982 | |
| 23x15px Allianz Arena, Munich | 2012, 2025 | |
| 23x15px Neckarstadion, Stuttgart | 1959, 1988 | |
| 23x15px Atatürk Olympic Stadium, Istanbul | 2005, 2023 | |
| 23x15px Wankdorf Stadium, Bern | 1 | 1961 |
| 23x15px Olympisch Stadion, Amsterdam | 1962 | |
| 23x15px Estádio do Jamor, Lisbon | 1967 | |
| 23x15px Red Star Stadium, Belgrade | 1973 | |
| 23x15px Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán, Seville | 1986 | |
| 23x15px Stadio San Nicola, Bari | 1991 | |
| 23x15px Amsterdam Arena, Amsterdam | 1998 | |
| 23x15px Old Trafford, Manchester | 2003 | |
| 23x15px Arena AufSchalke, Gelsenkirchen | 2004 | |
| 23x15px Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow | 2008 | |
| 23x15px Olympiastadion, Berlin | 2015 | |
| 23x15px Millennium Stadium, Cardiff | 2017 | |
| 23x15px NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kyiv | 2018 | |
| 23x15px Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid | 2019 | |
| 23x15px Estádio do Dragão, Porto | 2021 | |
| 23x15px Puskás Arena, Budapest | 2026 |
All-time top goalscorers
UEFA Champions League Media
- Di stefano real madrid cf (cropped).png
Alfredo Di Stéfano (pictured in 1959) led Real Madrid to five consecutive European Cup titles between 1956 and 1960.
- Ajax-speler Barry Hulshoff met de cup, Bestanddeelnr 925-6412.jpg
Johan Cruyff (pictured in 1972) won the European Cup three times in a row with Ajax.
- Beginning Arsenal Sevilla.jpg
The two teams line up for the UEFA Champions League Anthem before each match and a flag of the Champions League "starball" logo is waved in the centre circle.
- Adidas Finale 20.jpg
The "starball" logo is incorporated into the design of the competition's official match ball, the Adidas Finale.
- UEFA members Champs League group stage.png
A map of UEFA countries whose teams have reached the league phase or group stage of the UEFA Champions League UEFA member state that has been represented in the league phase or group stage UEFA member state that has not been represented in the league phase or group stage
- Trofeo UEFA Champions League.jpg
Trofeo Champions League
- Heineken can 2011 UEFA Champions League Final.jpg
A can of Heineken with the branding of the 2011 UEFA Champions League final
- Eboue Ronaldo.JPG
Real Madrid were barred from wearing their bwin-sponsored jerseys when they played against Galatasaray in Turkey in April 2013, where gambling advertisements are banned.
Notes
- ↑ Includes clubs representing West Germany. No clubs representing East Germany appeared in a final.
- ↑ Both Yugoslav final appearances were by clubs from SR Serbia
Other websites
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