About UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League (UCL) is an annual club association football competition organized by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), featuring Europe's top clubs. The competition begins with a round-robin group stage to qualify for a two-legged knockout stage, followed by a single-leg final. It is the most-watched club competition in the world and the third most-watched football event overall, behind only the FIFA World Cup and the UEFA European Championship. It is one of the most prestigious football tournaments globally and the most esteemed club competition in European football, participated in by the national league champions of their respective national associations (and for certain countries, one or more runners-up).
League History
Launched in 1955 under the name Coupe des Clubs Champions Européens (European Champion Clubs' Cup) in French, commonly known as the European Cup, it was initially a straight knockout tournament open exclusively to the champions of Europe's domestic leagues, with its winner recognized as the European club champion. The tournament adopted its current name in 1992, introduced a round-robin group stage in 1991, and has allowed multiple entrants from certain countries since the 1997-98 season. While only the winners of many European national leagues can participate, the top 5 leagues in the coefficient rankings each default to providing four teams, with the possibility of additional spots based on performance in the previous season. Clubs finishing below the qualifying spots are eligible for the secondary UEFA Europa League and, since 2021, the tertiary UEFA Conference League.
Current Competition Format
Under the current format, the Champions League begins in early July with three qualifying rounds and one play-off round, all played over two legs. The seven surviving teams enter the group stage, joining 29 teams that have qualified directly. The 36 teams each face eight opponents, with four home and four away matches. The top 24 teams progress to the knockout stage, culminating in a final in late May or early June. The Champions League winner automatically qualifies for the following year's UCL, the UEFA Super Cup, the Intercontinental Cup, and the FIFA Club World Cup.
Number of Championships
Spanish clubs have the most wins (20), followed by England (15), Italy (12), Germany (8), the Netherlands (6), and Portugal (4). England has the most winning teams, with six clubs having claimed the title. The competition has been won by 24 clubs, 13 of which have won it multiple times. Since the tournament's rebranding and restructuring in 1992, only two top football clubs outside Europe's top five nations (Spain, England, Italy, Germany, and France) have reached the final: Porto (2003-04) and Ajax (1994-95 and 1995-96).
Real Madrid is the most successful club in the tournament's history, having won it 15 times. Madrid is the only club to have won five consecutive titles (the first five editions). Only one club has won all their matches in a single campaign en route to winning the tournament: Bayern Munich in the 2019-20 season. Paris Saint-Germain are the current European champions, having defeated Inter Milan 5-0 in the 2025 final to claim their first title.