Champions League

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Introduced in 1955 as the European Champion Clubs' Cup, it was initially a straight knockout tournament open only to champions of Europe's domestic leagues. The competition took its current name in 1992, adding a round-robin group stage in 1991 and allowing multiple entrants from certain countries since the 1997–98 season. Spanish clubs have the most victories (20 wins), followed by England (15 wins), Italy (12 wins), Germany (8 wins), Netherlands (6 wins), Portugal (4 wins) and France (3 wins). Real Madrid is the most successful club, having won it 15 times. As of the last completed season (2023–24), Real Madrid are the current European champions, having won the 2024 final.

In Their Own Story

The 2021 final marked Barcelona's breakthrough on the European stage. Having already established domestic dominance, the team translated that form into continental success, securing the club's first Champions League trophy. The victory was historic not only for the club but for Spanish women's football, as Barcelona became the first Spanish side to achieve a continental treble. The 2023 final saw Barcelona repeat as champions, and with that win they achieved another first: a continental quadruple, winning the league, cup, Supercopa, and Champions League in the same season. The 2024 and 2026 titles further solidified their status as Europe's elite.

Reader's Guide

In its present format, the Champions League begins in early July with three qualifying rounds and a play-off round, all played over two legs. The seven surviving teams enter the league phase, joining 29 teams qualified in advance. The 36 teams each play eight opponents, four home and four away. The 24 highest-ranked teams proceed to the knockout phase that culminates with the final match in late May or early June. The winner automatically qualifies for the following season's Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup, the FIFA Intercontinental Cup, and the quadrennial FIFA Club World Cup.

Did You Know?

• The first European Cup match took place on 4 September 1955, ending in a 3–3 draw between Sporting CP and Partizan.
• Real Madrid won the first five editions of the European Cup, a record that still stands.
• Several clubs have won all of their matches in a single tournament en route to victory, including Bayern Munich in 2019–20 (11 wins), Real Madrid in 2013–14 (13 wins), and AC Milan in 1991–92 (9 wins).
• Since the tournament changed name and structure in 1992, only two clubs outside the Big Five European nations have reached the final: Porto (2003–04) and Ajax (1994–95 and 1995–96).