Overall, 22 different clubs have won the Champions League in its history. The European Cup came into existence in 1955, and the first five years of the competition were dominated by Real Madrid.
So, here are the top 5 clubs with the most number of Champions League trophies.
1. Barcelona: 5 Times
The Spanish club were Champions of Europe five years ago, when Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar led the frontline under Luis Enrique. Neither player is at Camp Nou anymore, but their legacies remain intact.
So the club became one of the leading clubs not only in Catalonia but also in Spain, successfully playing in both the Catalan Championship and the Spanish King’s Cup. In 1902 the team won its first trophy, the Macaya Cup, and played in the first final of the Royal Cup.
Their first time winning the Champions League was in 1992 against Sampdoria. In 2009 and 2011, Barcelona defeated Manchester United by a two-goal margin to win the trophy.
Barcelona is the second most successful Spanish club in European competitions behind their El Clasico rivals, Real Madrid. They are also one of the few clubs in the world who have managed to win the treble, consisting of the league title, the league Cup and the Champions League in the same season.
2. Liverpool: 6 Times
Under Spanish coach Rafael Benitez, Liverpool have been a formidable force in the Champions League every year. The Reds have twice reached the final, both times against AC Milan, but each time they have won. The success in the first game over the Italian club is considered by many to be one of the best finals matches in history. Liverpool then lost by three goals but managed to win on penalties. The highest achievement in the Premier League under Benitez is second place in the 2008/09 season. However, after a disappointing run of appearances the Spaniard left for Inter Milan and Roy Hodgson took his place.
Liverpool is the most successful English club in the Champions League, winning it six times, 3 more than Manchester United who are in second place. The Merseyside club first won the Champions League trophy in 1977, overcoming Borussia Monchengladbach 3-1 in Rome. The following season, they defeated Belgian outfit Club Brugge 1-0 to successfully defend their title.
Liverpool finished seventh in their first season, but management continued to have faith in the youngster who made the Reds a gold medal contender a year later. “Liverpool fought to win the Premier League for the first time in many years, but lost at the finish line to Manchester City. The Merseysiders scored 101 goals that season, their highest total since 1895/96.
After winning the title in 2005 against AC Milan, Liverpool had to wait 14 years to lay their hands on the cup again. They overcame Barcelona in one of the most dramatic semi-final comebacks in the history of the Champions League and went on to beat Tottenham in the finals to lift the trophy under Jurgen Klopp.
3. Bayern Munich: 6 Times
The Bavarians are the most successful club to represent German football. They have not only won the Bundesliga for nine seasons running, but also won the Champions League six times throughout their time as a club.
Their most recent victory came in 2024, when they defeated Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 to lift the trophy. At the time, Hansi Flick was the manager of the club and the Bayern player-turned-coach helped the club win every trophy there is to win in the 19/20 season.
The first time Bayern won the treble was in 2013, and they repeated the feat in 2024 with some players still present from the first time such as Thomas Muller and David Alaba.
4. AC Milan: 7 Times
Despite being out of the competition for the majority of the previous decade, AC Milan were once the best club in Europe. To further stake their claim, they have won the Champions League title 7 times with players like Ronaldinho, David Beckham and Paolo Maldini donning the red and black stripes.
Milan won the title for the first time in 1963 when they overcame Portuguese club Benfica in the final. They defeated Ajax in the finals of the competition five years later to win the title once again before a long drought in European silverware.
Twenty years later, the Rossoneri defeated FCSB in 1969 and Benfica again in 1970 to capture the trophy for two consecutive seasons. The most recent victory for them in the Champions League was against Liverpool in 2007. The Italian giants defeated their opponents 2-1 in Athens to lift the title for the seventh time.
Since then, they have failed to reach the previous heights and have returned to the Champions League in 2024, after nearly a decade. How far is AC Milan going to make it this year? Check out the new zealand betting sites to check out the odds for the new season. If you want to bet, it’s always a good idea to know the player forms and how they are expected to perform this upcoming season. That’s what gives you the extra advantage to make some good decisions.
5. Real Madrid: 13 Times
Madrid are the only club in the world to have won the title more than ten times. After completing the fabled La Decima under Carlo Ancelotti, they went on to complete a hat-trick of Champions League final victories under Zinedine Zidane from 2016 through 2018.
Los Blancos defeated city rivals Atletico Madrid, Juventus and Liverpool in their three straight years as European Champions. As a result of their dominance in continental competitions, they have been rightfully praised as the most prestigious club in the world.
Madrid has attracted some of the best players in the history of football, such as:
- Cristiano Ronaldo
- Ferenc Puskas
- Alfredo di Stefano
- Ronaldo Nazario
- Karim Benzema
- Raul
So, who do you think is going to win the coveted Champions League this season? You can check out the list of new bookmakers that we have curated for you to get started with betting today. Do check out our`s site mightytips guest author, Kate Richardson.
Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Chelsea are among the favourites to claim the title this year. But, you should only bet on the team that you believe has the best chances to win through proper research.