The UEFA Champions League is a seasonal football competition established in 1955. Prior to the 1992โ93 season, the tournament was named the European Cup.
๐ History and Format
The UEFA Champions League is open to the league champions of all UEFA member associations (except Liechtenstein), as well as to clubs finishing from second to fourth positions in the strongest leagues. Originally, only the champions of their respective national league and the defending champions were allowed to participate. This was changed in 1997 to allow runners-up of stronger leagues, and again in 1999 when third and fourth-placed teams also became eligible.
๐ Special Badges and Trophies
Teams that have won the UEFA Champions League three consecutive times, or five times overall, receive a multiple-winner badge. Six teams have earned this privilege: Real Madrid, Ajax, Bayern Munich, AC Milan, Liverpool, and Barcelona. Until 2009, clubs that earned that badge were allowed to keep the European Champion Clubs’ Cup; since 2009, the winning team each year receives a full-size replica of the trophy, while the original is retained by UEFA.
๐ Champions and Records
A total of 24 clubs have won the Champions League/European Cup. Real Madrid holds the record for the most victories, having won the competition 15 times, including the inaugural edition. They have also won the competition the most consecutive times, with five straight titles from 1956 to 1960. Juventus have been runners-up the most times, losing seven finals. Atlรฉtico Madrid is the only team to reach three finals without having won the trophy while Reims, Valencia, and Arsenal have finished as runners-up twice without winning.
๐ Nations and Finals
Spain has provided the most champions, with twenty wins from two clubs. England have produced fifteen winners from a record six clubs and Italy have produced twelve winners from three clubs. English teams were banned from the competition for five years following the Heysel disaster in 1985. The current champions are Paris Saint-Germain, who beat Arsenal 4โ3 on penalties following a 1โ1 draw after extra time in the 2026 final. Clubs from thirteen nations have reached the final, and clubs from ten of those have won the competition.
| Category | Record | Club/Country | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Most Wins | 15 titles | Real Madrid | Including inaugural edition |
| Most Consecutive Wins | 5 titles | Real Madrid | 1956 to 1960 |
| Most Runner-up Finishes | 7 finals lost | Juventus | Most times as runner-up |
| Most Winning Clubs | 6 clubs | England | Most clubs to have won the trophy |