The UEFA Champions League was introduced in 1955 as the European Cup, which was initially a straight knockout competition, open only to the champion club of each nation. The European Cup was renamed to the UEFA Champions League from the 1992-93 season, after undergoing diverse changes in marketing and television rights. As of May 2025, Real Madrid are the holders of the Champions League, winning the 2023-24 final against Borussia Dortmund.
As of May 2025, 23 clubs have won the Champions League crown and 13 of them have won it more than once. Real Madrid have won the Champions League the most times with 15 titles. Cristiano Ronaldo is the all-time top goalcorer in the tournament's history with 141 goals, followed by Lionel Messi, who has scored 129 goals, as per the official UEFA website.
UEFA Champions League Winners List by Year
| Year | Winners | Runners-up | Score |
| 2023-24 | Real Madrid | Borussia Dortmund | 2-0 |
| 2022-23 | Manchester City | Inter Milan | 1-0 |
| 2021-22 | Real Madrid | Liverpool | 1-0 |
| 2020-21 | Chelsea | Manchester City | 1-0 |
| 2019-20 | Bayern Munich | Paris Saint-Germain | 1-0 |
| 2018-19 | Liverpool | Tottenham Hotspur | 2-0 |
| 2017-18 | Real Madrid | Liverpool | 3-1 |
| 2016-17 | Real Madrid | Juventus | 4-1 |
| 2015-16 | Real Madrid | Atletico Madrid | 1-1 (5–3) |
| 2014-15 | Barcelona | Juventus | 3-1 |
| 2013-14 | Real Madrid | Atletico Madrid | 4-1 |
| 2012-13 | Bayern Munich | Borussia Dortmund | 2-1 |
| 2011-12 | Chelsea | Bayern Munich | 1-1 (4–3) |
| 2010-11 | Barcelona | Manchester United | 3-1 |
| 2009-10 | Inter Milan | Bayern Munich | 2-0 |
| 2008-09 | Barcelona | Manchester United | 2-0 |
| 2007-08 | Manchester United | Chelsea | 1-1 (6–5) |
| 2006-07 | AC Milan | Liverpool | 2-1 |
| 2005-06 | Barcelona | Arsenal | 2-1 |
| 2004-05 | Liverpool | AC Milan | 3-3 |
| 2003-04 | Porto | AS Monaco | 3-0 |
| 2002-03 | AC Milan | Juventus | 0-0 |
| 2001-02 | Real Madrid | Bayer Leverkusen | 2-1 |
| 2000-01 | Bayern Munich | Valencia | 1-1 |
| 1999-00 | Real Madrid | Valencia | 3-0 |
| 1998-99 | Manchester United | Bayern Munich | 2-1 |
| 1997-98 | Real Madrid | Juventus | 1-0 |
| 1996-97 | Borussia Dortmund | Juventus | 3-1 |
| 1995-96 | Juventus | Ajax | 1-1 |
| 1994-95 | Ajax | AC Milan | 1-0 |
| 1993-94 | AC Milan | Barcelona | 4-0 |
| 1992-93 | Olympique de Marseille | AC Milan | 1-0 |
From 1992 to 2024, the Champions League boasted a round-robin group stage competed by 32 European clubs. However, the tournament's format was tweaked prior to the start of the 2024-25 season and is competed by 36 teams, as of May 2025. The top eight of the league phase directly progress to the last-16 stage, while teams placed ninth to 24th qualify for the knockout phase play-offs. Eight teams advance from the knockout phase play-offs to the last-16 stage, where eight winning teams make it to the quarter-finals. The knockout games are played in a two-legged format, except the final.
FAQs on UEFA Champions League
A. Real Madrid have won the UEFA Champions League 15 times, as of May 2025.
A. Real Madrid defeated Stade de Reims 4-3 in the 1955-56 UEFA Champions League final.
A. Real Madrid beat Borussia Dortmund 2-0 in the 2024 final and secured their 15th UEFA Champions League title.
A. Cristiano Ronaldo is the all-time top UEFA Champions League goalscorer with 141 goals.
