The most successful teams in the history of the Champions League
The Champions League, or the European Cup as it was known until 1992, is regarded as the most glamorous competition in the European game.
Some clubs have become synonymous with European football’s elite competition. Here are the teams who have shone the brightest in the European Cup:
Real Madrid (14-time winners in seasons in 1955–56, 1956–57, 1957–58, 1958–59, 1959–60, 1965–66, 1997–98, 1999–2000, 2001–02, 2013–14, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2021–22)
Los Blancos are by far and away the most successful club in the history of Europe’s elite competition, having lifted the trophy on 14 occasions, twice as many times as the second most successful team in the competition’s history.
Over the years, some of the game’s biggest stars have inspired the men from Madrid to European glory. Their first European Cup came in the 1955-56 season when the great Alfredo Di Stefano was amongst their star performers. The 4-3 final victory over French club Stade de Reims kicked off a run of five straight European Cup titles.
Madrid’s last triumph in the competition came in season 2021/22, when a Vinicius Junior goal was enough to see-off Liverpool in a 1-0 victory in Paris.
Los Blancos seem to be contenders to be European champions every season. And no doubt, triumph number 15 isn’t likely to be far away.
AC Milan (7-time winners in seasons 1962–63, 1968–69, 1988–89, 1989–90, 1993–94, 2002–03, 2006–07)
It could be argued that the Rossoneri are not enjoying the best period in the club’s history. However, to have won the biggest European prize on seven occasions is a massive achievement.
Milan claimed their first European Cup in 1963 by beating two-time defending champions Benfica 2-1 in the competition’s final at Wembley.
Striker Jose Altafini’s brace was enough to help Milan become the champions of Europe for the first time, with the great Eusebio scoring the Eagle’s solitary reply.
Altafini played a crucial role in their triumph, as he finished the competition with the Golden Boot, having fired home 14 goals.
Their most recent Champions League win came in 2007 when the Rossoneri recorded a 2-1 victory over Liverpool courtesy of a brace from Filippo Inzaghi.
The victory saw the Italian giants claim revenge for a penalty shootout defeat against the Merseysiders in the final two years earlier in Istanbul.
Liverpool (6-time winners in seasons 1976–77, 1977–78, 1980–81, 1983–84, 2004–05, 2018–19)
Like Real Madrid, English giants Liverpool have become synonymous with the Champions League.
The main reason for that association is the number of games in which the Reds have returned from deficits to claim victories in the competition. Please see the 2005 Champions League final for more details.
The first time Liverpool won the European Cup in 1977 was part of a golden age of English teams winning the competition, as the Reds recorded a 3-1 victory over Monchengladbach in the final held at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
They retained the trophy the following season while also winning the competition in 1981, 1984, 2005 and most recently, 2019, when they defeated compatriots Tottenham 2-0 in the final.
Bayern Munich (6-time winners in seasons 1973–74, 1974–75, 1975–76, 2000–01, 2012–13, 2019–20)
Now considered one of the giants of European football, Bayern was a relatively latecomer to the Champions League party.
Their first European Cup didn’t arrive until 1974 when they hammered Spanish outfit Atletico Madrid 4-0 in the final, with the competition’s top goalscorer Gerd Muller scoring a brace to take his goal tally to eight.
With Germany’s great leader, Franz Beckenbauer, playing a pivotal role, the Bavarians lifted the trophy in three straight seasons.
They also won the trophy in 2001, 2013 and most recently, 2020, when they hammered Catalan giants Barcelona 8-2 on their way to winning the competition.
Bayern is among a group of elite clubs at the top of the European football tree that always seem to be considered contenders to lift the trophy at the start of every new campaign.
Barcelona (Five-time winners in seasons 1991–92, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2014–15)
It may be slightly surprising that the Catalan giants have won the competition just five times, considering the success they have enjoyed in recent decades.
Their first European Cup success didn’t come until season 1991/92 when an extra-time Ronald Koeman free-kick saw the Blaugrana record a 1-0 win over Sampdoria.
Barcelona went on to lift the trophy in 2009, 2011 and most recently, 2015. The latest win was achieved with a 3-1 final victory over Juventus and was inspired by Barcelona’s lethal South American attacking trio Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar, nicknamed ‘The MSN’.