Champions League
The most prestigious club competition in European football.
The UEFA Champions League (UCL), commonly known as the Champions League, is an annual club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) that is contested by top-division European clubs. The competition begins with a round robin league phase to qualify for the two-legged knockout rounds and the single-leg final. It is the most-watched club competition in the world and the third most-watched football competition overall, after the FIFA World Cup and the UEFA European Championship. It is one of the most prestigious football tournaments in the world and the most prestigious club competition in European football, played by the national league champions (and, for some nations, one or more runners-up) of their national associations.
Quick Facts
- Most successful club
- Yes (All-time record)
- First victory
- 1956
- Recent era dominance
- 2014, 2016
Lore & Background
Introduced in 1955 as the European Champion Clubs' Cup and commonly known as the European Cup, it was initially a straight knockout tournament open only to the champions of Europe's domestic leagues, with its winner considered to be the European club champion. The competition took on 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 in the tournament's history, having won it 15 times. They are also the only club to have won it five times in a row (the first five editions). Only one club has won all of their matches in a single tournament en route to their tournament victory, Bayern Munich in the 2019–20 season. Paris Saint-Germain are the current European champions, having beaten Arsenal on penalties in the 2026 final for their second consecutive title.
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 of the Champions League 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?
- Real Madrid won the first five editions of the European Cup from 1955–56 to 1959–60.
- The first goal in European Cup history was scored by João Baptista Martins of Sporting CP.
- The 1960 final holds the record for the most goals scored, with Real Madrid beating Eintracht Frankfurt 7–3.
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