{{short description|European association football tournament}} {{redirect2|European Champions League|European Cup|other uses|Champions League (disambiguation)|and|European Cup (disambiguation)}} {{about|the men's competition|the women's competition|UEFA Women's Champions League}} {{redirect|UEFA CL|the third tier competition|UEFA Conference League}} {{protection padlock|reason=Persistent disruptive editing; requested at WP:RfPP See protection log. This has been going on for years.|small=yes}} {{Use British English|date=June 2024}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2024}} {{Infobox football tournament | name = UEFA Champions League | logo = frameless|200px|class=skin-invert | organiser = UEFA | founded = {{start date and age|df=yes|1955}}<br />(rebranded in 1992) | region = Europe | number of teams = {{ubl|36 (league phase)|81 (total)}} | qualifier for = {{ubl|UEFA Super Cup|FIFA Intercontinental Cup|FIFA Club World Cup}} | related comps = {{ubl|UEFA Europa League <br />(2nd tier)|UEFA Conference League<br />(3rd tier)<br />UEFA Youth League<br />(Youth competition)}} | current champions = {{nowrap|{{fbaicon|FRA}} Paris Saint-Germain<br />(2nd title)}} | most successful club = {{nowrap|{{fbaicon|ESP}} Real Madrid (15 titles)}} | broadcasters = List of broadcasters | website = {{URL|https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/|uefa.com/uefachampionsleague}} | current = 2025–26 UEFA Champions League }}
The '''UEFA Champions League''' ('''UCL''' or '''UEFA CL'''), commonly known as the '''Champions League''', is an annual club association football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) that is contested by top-division European clubs. The competition begins with a round robin league phase to qualify for the double-legged knockout rounds, and a single-leg final. It is the most-watched club competition in the world and the third most-watched football competition overall, behind only the FIFA World Cup and the UEFA European Championship. It is one of the most prestigious football tournaments in the world and the most prestigious club competition in European football, played by the national league champions (and, for some nations, one or more runners-up) of their national associations.
Introduced in 1955 as the '''European Champion Clubs' Cup''' ({{langx|fr|Coupe des Clubs Champions Européens}}), and commonly known as the '''European Cup''', it was initially a straight knockout tournament open only to the champions of Europe's domestic leagues, with its winner reckoned as the European club champion. The competition took on its current name in 1992, adding a round-robin group stage in 1991 and allowing multiple entrants from certain countries since the 1997–98 season.<ref name="UCL">{{cite news |date=31 January 2010 |title=Football's premier club competition |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/history/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100215233959/http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/history/index.html |archive-date=15 February 2010 |access-date=23 May 2010 |website=UEFA.com |publisher=Union of European Football Associations}}</ref> While only the winners of many of Europe's national leagues can enter the competition, the top 5 leagues by coefficient provide four teams each by default,<ref>{{cite report |url=https://documents.uefa.com/r/Regulations-of-the-UEFA-Champions-League-2024/25-Online |title=Regulations of the UEFA Champions League |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |access-date=23 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240401113857/https://documents.uefa.com/r/Regulations-of-the-UEFA-Champions-League-2024/25/Annex-A-Access-List-for-the-2024/25-UEFA-Club-Competitions-Online |archive-date=1 April 2024 |url-status=dead |section=Annex A - Access List for the 2024/25 UEFA Club Competitions |section-url=https://documents.uefa.com/r/Regulations-of-the-UEFA-Champions-League-2024/25/Annex-A-Access-List-for-the-2024/25-UEFA-Club-Competitions-Online |website=UEFA.com}}</ref> with a possibility for additional spots based on performance during the previous season.<ref>{{cite news |date=22 May 2024 |title=Do UEFA Europa League winners Atalanta automatically qualify for the league phase of the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League? |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/0275-152ea803235f-f90ebb18192d-1000--do-uefa-europa-league-winners-atalanta-automatically-quali/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240530190955/https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/0275-152ea803235f-f90ebb18192d-1000--do-uefa-europa-league-winners-atalanta-automatically-quali/ |archive-date=30 May 2024 |access-date=23 September 2024 |website=UEFA.com |publisher=Union of European Football Associations}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=2 June 2024 |title=2024/25 UEFA Champions League: Bologna and Dortmund secure next season's European Performance Spots |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/028a-1a386150ed4b-322dff667686-1000--2024-25-uefa-champions-league-bologna-and-dortmund-secure-/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240610112322/https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/028a-1a386150ed4b-322dff667686-1000--2024-25-uefa-champions-league-bologna-and-dortmund-secure-/ |archive-date=10 June 2024 |access-date=23 September 2024 |website=UEFA.com |publisher=Union of European Football Associations}}</ref> Clubs that finish below the qualifying spots are eligible for the second-tier UEFA Europa League competition, and since 2021, for the third-tier UEFA Conference League.<ref name="UEL2">{{cite press release |title=UEFA Executive Committee approves new club competition |date=2 December 2018 |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/024c-0e9941616a90-f26bd21de788-1000--uefa-executive-committee-approves-new-club-competition/ |access-date=2 December 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181202205801/https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/about-uefa/news/newsid=2585829.html |archive-date=2 December 2018}}</ref>
In its present format, the Champions League begins in early July with three qualifying rounds and a play-off round, all played over two legs. The seven surviving teams enter the league phase, joining 29 teams qualified in advance. The 36 teams each play eight opponents, four home and four away. The 24 highest-ranked teams proceed to the knockout phase that culminates with the final match in late May or early June.<ref name="Matches">{{cite news |title=Matches |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/fixtures-results/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200510225448/https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/fixtures-results/ |archive-date=10 May 2020 |access-date=12 May 2020 |website=UEFA.com |publisher=Union of European Football Associations}}</ref> The winner of the Champions League automatically qualifies for the following year's Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup, the FIFA Intercontinental Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup.<ref name="UEFA Super Cup">{{cite web |date=31 January 2010 |title=Club competition winners do battle |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefasupercup/history/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100701063110/http://www.uefa.com/uefasupercup/history/index.html |archive-date=1 July 2010 |access-date=23 May 2010 |website=UEFA.com |publisher=Union of European Football Associations}}</ref><ref name="FIFA Club World Cup">{{cite web |title=FIFA Club World Cup |url=https://www.fifa.com/clubworldcup/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011215036/https://www.fifa.com/clubworldcup/ |archive-date=11 October 2007 |access-date=30 December 2013 |publisher=FIFA}}</ref>
Spanish clubs have the most victories (20 wins), followed by England (15 wins), Italy (12 wins), Germany (8 wins), Netherlands (6 wins) and Portugal (4 wins).<ref>{{Cite web |title=UEFA Champions League {{!}} A country-wise look at the winners of Europe's premier club competition |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/football/uefa-champions-league-a-country-wise-look-at-the-winners-of-europes-premier-club-competition-3032185#8 |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}</ref> England has the most winning teams, with six clubs having won the title. The competition has been won by 24 clubs and 13 of them have won it more than once.<ref name="Winners">{{cite news |date=31 January 2010 |title=European Champions' Cup |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablese/ec1.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110208171501/http://rsssf.com/tablese/ec1.html |archive-date=8 February 2011 |access-date=23 May 2010 |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation}}</ref> Since the tournament changed name and structure in 1992, only two top-tier football clubs outside the Big Five European nations (Spain, England, Italy, Germany and France) have also 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.<ref name="winners">{{Cite web |title=Most titles |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/history/winners/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220606114318/https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/history/winners/ |archive-date=6 June 2022 |access-date=2025-06-12 |website=UEFA.com}}</ref> They are also the only club to have won it five times in a row (the first five editions).<ref name="winners"/> Only one club has won all of their matches in a single tournament en route to their tournament victory, Bayern Munich in the 2019–20 season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=A perfect 11! Flawless Bayern set new Champions League record with PSG victory |url=https://www.goal.com/en/news/a-perfect-11-flawless-bayern-set-new-champions-league-record/euc3smeomuej1nmdy0wy7xzpn |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200824001448/https://www.goal.com/en/news/a-perfect-11-flawless-bayern-set-new-champions-league-record/euc3smeomuej1nmdy0wy7xzpn/ |archive-date=24 August 2020 |access-date=2 August 2021 |website=Goal.com}}</ref> Paris Saint-Germain are the current European champions, having beaten Arsenal on penalties in the 2026 final for their second consecutive title.
==History== {{Main|History of the European Cup and UEFA Champions League}}
{{See also|List of European Cup and UEFA Champions League finals}} {| class="wikitable sortable floatright skin-nightmode-reset-color" style="text-align:center; font-size:85%" |+ Winners<br />European Cup / UEFA Champions League |- ! Season !!style="width:200px"| Winners |- !colspan="2"| European Cup |- | 1955–56 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|ESP|1945}} Real Madrid |- | 1956–57 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|ESP|1945}} Real Madrid {{small|(2)}} |- | 1957–58 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|ESP|1945}} Real Madrid {{small|(3)}} |- | 1958–59 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|ESP|1945}} Real Madrid {{small|(4)}} |- | 1959–60 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|ESP|1945}} Real Madrid {{small|(5)}} |- | 1960–61 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|POR}} Benfica |- | 1961–62 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|POR}} Benfica {{small|(2)}} |- | 1962–63 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|ITA}} AC Milan |- | 1963–64 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|ITA}} Inter Milan |- | 1964–65 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|ITA}} Inter Milan {{small|(2)}} |- | 1965–66 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|ESP|1945}} Real Madrid {{small|(6)}} |- | 1966–67 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|SCO}} Celtic |- | 1967–68 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|ENG}} Manchester United |- | 1968–69 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|ITA}} AC Milan {{small|(2)}} |- | 1969–70 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|NED}} Feyenoord |- | 1970–71 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|NED}} Ajax |- | 1971–72 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|NED}} Ajax {{small|(2)}} |- | 1972–73 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|NED}} Ajax {{small|(3)}} |- | 1973–74 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|FRG}} Bayern Munich |- | 1974–75 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|FRG}} Bayern Munich {{small|(2)}} |- | 1975–76 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|FRG}} Bayern Munich {{small|(3)}} |- | 1976–77 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|ENG}} Liverpool |- | 1977–78 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|ENG}} Liverpool {{small|(2)}} |- | 1978–79 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|ENG}} Nottingham Forest |- | 1979–80 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|ENG}} Nottingham Forest {{small|(2)}} |- | 1980–81 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|ENG}} Liverpool {{small|(3)}} |- | 1981–82 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|ENG}} Aston Villa |- | 1982–83 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|FRG}} Hamburger SV |- | 1983–84 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|ENG}} Liverpool {{small|(4)}} |- | 1984–85 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|ITA}} Juventus |- | 1985–86 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|ROU|1965}} Steaua București |- | 1986–87 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|POR}} Porto |- | 1987–88 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|NED}} PSV Eindhoven |- | 1988–89 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|ITA}} AC Milan {{small|(3)}} |- | 1989–90 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|ITA}} AC Milan {{small|(4)}} |- | 1990–91 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|YUG}} Red Star Belgrade |- | 1991–92 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|ESP}} Barcelona |- !colspan="2"| UEFA Champions League |- | 1992–93 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|FRA}} Marseille |- | 1993–94 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|ITA}} AC Milan {{small|(5)}} |- | 1994–95 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|NED}} Ajax {{small|(4)}} |- | 1995–96 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|ITA}} Juventus {{small|(2)}} |- | 1996–97 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|GER}} Borussia Dortmund |- | 1997–98 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|ESP}} Real Madrid {{small|(7)}} |- | 1998–99 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|ENG}} Manchester United {{small|(2)}} |- | 1999–2000 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|ESP}} Real Madrid {{small|(8)}} |- | 2000–01 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|GER}} Bayern Munich {{small|(4)}} |- | 2001–02 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|ESP}} Real Madrid {{small|(9)}} |- | 2002–03 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|ITA|2003}} AC Milan {{small|(6)}} |- | 2003–04 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|POR}} Porto {{small|(2)}} |- | 2004–05 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|ENG}} Liverpool {{small|(5)}} |- | 2005–06 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|ESP}} Barcelona {{small|(2)}} |- | 2006–07 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|ITA}} AC Milan {{small|(7)}} |- | 2007–08 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|ENG}} Manchester United {{small|(3)}} |- | 2008–09 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|ESP}} Barcelona {{small|(3)}} |- | 2009–10 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|ITA}} Inter Milan {{small|(3)}} |- | 2010–11 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|ESP}} Barcelona {{small|(4)}} |- | 2011–12 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|ENG}} Chelsea |- | 2012–13 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|GER}} Bayern Munich {{small|(5)}} |- | 2013–14 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|ESP}} Real Madrid {{small|(10)}} |- | 2014–15 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|ESP}} Barcelona {{small|(5)}} |- | 2015–16 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|ESP}} Real Madrid {{small|(11)}} |- | 2016–17 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|ESP}} Real Madrid {{small|(12)}} |- | 2017–18 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|ESP}} Real Madrid {{small|(13)}} |- | 2018–19 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|ENG}} Liverpool {{small|(6)}} |- | 2019–20 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|GER}} Bayern Munich {{small|(6)}} |- | 2020–21 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|ENG}} Chelsea {{small|(2)}} |- | 2021–22 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|ESP}} Real Madrid {{small|(14)}} |- | 2022–23 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|ENG}} Manchester City |- | 2023–24 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|ESP}} Real Madrid {{small|(15)}} |- | 2024–25 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|FRA}} Paris Saint-Germain |- | 2025–26 |style="text-align:left"| {{fbaicon|FRA}} Paris Saint-Germain {{small|(2)}} |} The first time the champions of two European leagues met was in what was nicknamed the 1895 World Championship, when English champions Sunderland beat Scottish champions Heart of Midlothian 5–3.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 September 2019 |title=When Sunderland met Hearts in the first ever 'Champions League' match |url=https://www.nutmegmagazine.co.uk/issue-5/when-sunderland-met-hearts-in-the-first-ever-champions-league-match/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200713130057/https://www.nutmegmagazine.co.uk/issue-5/when-sunderland-met-hearts-in-the-first-ever-champions-league-match/ |archive-date=13 July 2020 |work=Nutmeg Magazine}}</ref> The first pan-European tournament was the Challenge Cup, a competition between clubs in the Austro-Hungarian Empire.<ref>{{cite web |last1=García |first1=Javier |last2=Kutschera |first2=Ambrosius |last3=Schöggl |first3=Hans |last4=Stokkermans |first4=Karel |year=2009 |title=Austria/Habsburg Monarchy – Challenge Cup 1897–1911 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tableso/oost-habs-challenge.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220719110747/https://www.rsssf.org/tableso/oost-habs-challenge.html |archive-date=19 July 2022 |access-date=5 September 2011 |publisher=RSSSF}}</ref> Three years later, in 1900, the champions of Belgium, Netherlands and Switzerland, which were the only existing leagues in continental Europe at the time, participated in the Coupe Van der Straeten Ponthoz, thus being dubbed as the "club championship of the continent" by the local newspapers.<ref>{{cite web |title=European Cup Origins |url=http://europeancuphistory.com/origins.html |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105155959/http://www.europeancuphistory.com/origins.html |archive-date=5 November 2021 |access-date=13 July 2022 |website=europeancuphistory.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=10 February 2022 |title=Coupe Van der Straeten Ponthoz |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesc/coupe-vdsp.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220709122415/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesc/coupe-vdsp.html |archive-date=9 July 2022 |access-date=13 July 2022 |website=RSSSF}}</ref>
The Mitropa Cup, a competition modelled after the Challenge Cup, was created in 1927, an idea of Austrian Hugo Meisl, and played between Central European clubs.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Stokkermans |first1=Karel |year=2009 |title=Mitropa Cup |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesm/mit.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204164012/https://rsssf.org/tablesm/mit.html |archive-date=4 February 2023 |access-date=2 February 2023 |publisher=RSSSF}}</ref> In 1930, the Coupe des Nations ({{lit|Nations Cup}}), the first attempt to create a cup for national champion clubs of Europe, was played and organised by Swiss club Servette.<ref name="Nations Cup">{{cite web |last1=Ceulemans |first1=Bart |last2=Michiel |first2=Zandbelt |year=2009 |title=Coupe des Nations 1930 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesc/coupedesnations30.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220812140630/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesc/coupedesnations30.html |archive-date=12 August 2022 |access-date=5 September 2011 |publisher=RSSSF}}</ref> Held in Geneva, it brought together ten champions from across the continent. The tournament was won by Újpest of Hungary.<ref name="Nations Cup"/> Latin European nations came together to form the Latin Cup in 1949.<ref name="latin">{{cite web |last1=Stokkermans |first1=Karel |last2=Gorgazzi |first2=Osvaldo José |year=2006 |title=Latin Cup |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesl/latin.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170724080813/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesl/latin.html |archive-date=24 July 2017 |access-date=5 September 2011 |publisher=RSSSF}}</ref>
After receiving reports from his journalists over the highly successful South American Championship of Champions of 1948, Gabriel Hanot, editor of ''L'Équipe'', began proposing the creation of a continent-wide tournament.<ref>{{cite AV media |url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86xAxuxomoo |title=Primeira Libertadores – História (Globo Esporte 09/02/20.l.08) |date=18 February 2008 |access-date=14 August 2010 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/86xAxuxomoo |archive-date=11 December 2021 |url-status=live |via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In interviews, Jacques Ferran (one of the founders of the European Champions Cup, together with Gabriel Hanot),<ref>{{cite news |date=8 February 2019 |title=European Cup pioneer Jacques Ferran passes away |url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/024e-0f8e67f5343f-bd5cbc754de5-1000--european-cup-pioneer-jacques-ferran-passes-away/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210724085301/https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/about-uefa/news/024e-0f8e67f5343f-bd5cbc754de5-1000--european-cup-pioneer-jacques-ferran-passes-away/ |archive-date=24 July 2021 |access-date=1 January 2021 |website=UEFA.com |publisher=Union of European Football Associations}}</ref> said that the South American Championship of Champions was the inspiration for the European Champions Cup.<ref>{{Cite web |title=''Globo Esporte'' TV programme, Brazil, broadcast (in Portuguese) on 10/05/2015: ''Especial: Liga dos Campeões completa 60 anos, e Neymar ajuda a contar essa história''. Accessed on 06/12/2015. Ferran's speech goes from 5:02 to 6:51 in the video. |url=http://globotv.globo.com/globocom/liga-dos-campeoes-da-uefa/v/especial-liga-dos-campeoes-completa-60-anos-e-neymar-ajuda-a-contar-essa-historia/4168641/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304052701/http://globotv.globo.com/globocom/liga-dos-campeoes-da-uefa/v/especial-liga-dos-campeoes-completa-60-anos-e-neymar-ajuda-a-contar-essa-historia/4168641/ |archive-date=4 March 2016}}</ref> After Stan Cullis declared Wolverhampton Wanderers "Champions of the World" following a successful run of friendlies in the 1950s, in particular a 3–2 friendly victory against Budapest Honvéd, Hanot finally managed to convince UEFA to put into practice such a tournament.<ref name="UCL"/> It was conceived in Paris in 1955 as the European Champion Clubs' Cup.<ref name="UCL"/>
===1955–1967: Beginnings=== The first European Cup took place during the 1955–56 season.<ref name="1956S">{{cite news |date=31 January 2010 |title=1955/56 European Champions Clubs' Cup |url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1955/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110924091727/http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1955/index.html |archive-date=24 September 2011 |access-date=23 May 2010 |website=UEFA.com |publisher=Union of European Football Associations}}</ref><ref name="1956R">{{cite news |date=31 January 2010 |title=European Champions' Cup 1955–56 – Details |url=https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec195556det.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220717040058/https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec195556det.html |archive-date=17 July 2022 |access-date=23 May 2010 |publisher=RSSSF}}</ref> Sixteen teams participated (some by invitation): AC Milan (Italy), AGF Aarhus (Denmark), Anderlecht (Belgium), Djurgården (Sweden), Gwardia Warszawa (Poland), Hibernian (Scotland), Partizan (Yugoslavia), PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands), Rapid Wien (Austria), Real Madrid (Spain), Rot-Weiss Essen (West Germany), Saarbrücken (Saar), Servette (Switzerland), Sporting CP (Portugal), Reims (France) and Vörös Lobogó (Hungary).<ref name="1956S"/><ref name="1956R"/>
The first European Cup match took place on 4 September 1955, and ended in a 3–3 draw between Sporting CP and Partizan.<ref name="1956S"/><ref name="1956R"/> The first goal in European Cup history was scored by João Baptista Martins of Sporting CP.<ref name="1956S"/><ref name="1956R"/> The inaugural final took place at the Parc des Princes between Stade de Reims and Real Madrid on 13 June 1956.<ref name="1956S"/><ref name="1956R"/><ref name="Real Madrid">{{cite news |date=31 January 2010 |title=Trofeos de Fútbol |url=http://www.realmadrid.com/cs/Satellite/es/Club/1193040475224/PalmaresTotal/Palmares.htm |archive-url=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20091003154110/http://www.realmadrid.com/cs/Satellite/es/Club/1193040475224/PalmaresTotal/Palmares.htm |archive-date=3 October 2009 |access-date=23 May 2010 |publisher=Real Madrid CF}}</ref> The Spanish squad came back from behind to win 4–3 thanks to goals from Alfredo Di Stéfano and Marquitos, as well as two goals from Héctor Rial.<ref name="1956S"/><ref name="1956R"/><ref name="Real Madrid"/> Real Madrid successfully defended the trophy next season in their home stadium, the Santiago Bernabéu, against Fiorentina.<ref name="1957S">{{cite news |date=31 January 2010 |title=1956/57 European Champions Clubs' Cup |url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1956/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110924071336/http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1956/index.html |archive-date=24 September 2011 |access-date=23 May 2010 |website=UEFA.com |publisher=Union of European Football Associations}}</ref><ref name="1957R">{{cite news |date=31 January 2010 |title=Champions' Cup 1956–57 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec195657det.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404171739/https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec195657det.html |archive-date=4 April 2023 |access-date=23 May 2010 |publisher=RSSSF}}</ref> After a scoreless first half, Real Madrid scored twice in six minutes to defeat the Italians.<ref name="Real Madrid"/><ref name="1957S"/><ref name="1957R"/> In 1958, Milan failed to capitalise after going ahead on the scoreline twice, only for Real Madrid to equalise.<ref name="1958S">{{cite news |date=31 January 2010 |title=1957/58 European Champions Clubs' Cup |url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1957/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110924061512/http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1957/index.html |archive-date=24 September 2011 |access-date=23 May 2010 |website=UEFA.com |publisher=Union of European Football Associations}}</ref><ref name="1958R">{{cite news |date=31 January 2010 |title=Champions' Cup 1957–58 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec195758det.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129103236/https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec195758det.html |archive-date=29 November 2022 |access-date=23 May 2010 |publisher=RSSSF}}</ref> The final, held in Heysel Stadium, went to extra time where Francisco Gento scored the game-winning goal to allow Real Madrid to retain the title for the third consecutive season.<ref name="Real Madrid"/><ref name="1958S"/><ref name="1958R"/> [[File:Di stefano real madrid cf (cropped).png|thumb|left|Alfredo Di Stéfano (pictured in 1959) led Real Madrid to five consecutive European Cup titles between 1956 and 1960.]] In a rematch of the first final, Real Madrid faced Stade Reims at the Neckarstadion for the 1959 final, and won 2–0.<ref name="Real Madrid"/><ref name="1959S">{{cite news |date=31 January 2010 |title=1958/59 European Champions Clubs' Cup |url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1958/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110917155319/http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1958/index.html |archive-date=17 September 2011 |access-date=23 May 2010 |website=UEFA.com |publisher=Union of European Football Associations}}</ref><ref name="1959R">{{cite news |date=31 January 2010 |title=Champions' Cup 1958–59 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec195859det.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220801050547/https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec195859det.html |archive-date=1 August 2022 |access-date=23 May 2010 |publisher=RSSSF}}</ref> West German side Eintracht Frankfurt became the first team not to compete in the Latin cup to reach the European Cup final.<ref name=latin/><ref name="1960S">{{cite news |date=31 January 2010 |title=1959/60 European Champions Clubs' Cup |url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1959/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110924061517/http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1959/index.html |archive-date=24 September 2011 |access-date=23 May 2010 |website=UEFA.com |publisher=Union of European Football Associations}}</ref><ref name="1960R">{{cite news |date=31 January 2010 |title=Champions' Cup 1959–60 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec195960det.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230201093835/https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec195960det.html |archive-date=1 February 2023 |access-date=23 May 2010 |publisher=RSSSF}}</ref> The 1960 final holds the record for the most goals scored, with Real Madrid beating Eintracht Frankfurt 7–3 at Hampden Park, courtesy of four goals by Ferenc Puskás and a hat-trick by Alfredo Di Stéfano.<ref name="Real Madrid"/><ref name="1960S"/><ref name="1960R"/> This was Real Madrid's fifth consecutive title, a record that still stands today.<ref name="Winners"/>
Real Madrid's reign ended in the 1960–61 season when bitter rivals Barcelona dethroned them in the first round.<ref name="1961S">{{cite news |date=31 January 2010 |title=1960/61 European Champions Clubs' Cup |url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1960/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110924061523/http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1960/index.html |archive-date=24 September 2011 |access-date=23 May 2010 |website=UEFA.com |publisher=Union of European Football Associations}}</ref><ref name="1961R">{{cite news |date=31 January 2010 |title=Champions' Cup 1960–61 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec196061det.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920173136/https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec196061det.html |archive-date=20 September 2022 |access-date=23 May 2010 |publisher=RSSSF}}</ref> Barcelona were defeated in the final by Portuguese side Benfica 3–2 at the Wankdorf Stadium.<ref name="1961S"/><ref name="1961R"/><ref name="Benfica">{{cite news |date=31 January 2010 |title=Anos 60: A "década de ouro" |url=http://www.slbenfica.pt/Clube/Historia/DecadaaDecada/Decada60/decada60.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071005111812/http://www.slbenfica.pt/Clube/Historia/DecadaaDecada/Decada60/decada60.asp |archive-date=5 October 2007 |access-date=23 May 2010 |publisher=S.L. Benfica}}</ref> Reinforced by Eusébio, Benfica defeated Real Madrid 5–3 at the Olympic Stadium in Amsterdam and kept the title for a second consecutive season.<ref name="Benfica"/><ref name="1962S">{{cite news |date=31 January 2010 |title=1961/62 European Champions Clubs' Cup |url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1961/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110924091733/http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1961/index.html |archive-date=24 September 2011 |access-date=23 May 2010 |website=UEFA.com |publisher=Union of European Football Associations}}</ref><ref name="1962R">{{cite news |date=31 January 2010 |title=Champions' Cup 1961–62 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec196162det.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230223213129/https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec196162det.html |archive-date=23 February 2023 |access-date=23 May 2010 |publisher=RSSSF}}</ref> Benfica wanted to repeat Real Madrid's successful run of the 1950s after reaching the showpiece event of the 1962–63 European Cup, but a brace from Brazilian-Italian José Altafini at Wembley gave the spoils to Milan, making the trophy leave the Iberian Peninsula for the first time ever.<ref name="1963S">{{cite news |date=31 January 2010 |title=1962/63 European Champions Clubs' Cup |url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1962/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110924080456/http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1962/index.html |archive-date=24 September 2011 |access-date=23 May 2010 |website=UEFA.com |publisher=Union of European Football Associations}}</ref><ref name="1963R">{{cite news |date=31 January 2010 |title=Champions' Cup 1962–63 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec196263det.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220715121543/https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec196263det.html |archive-date=15 July 2022 |access-date=23 May 2010 |publisher=RSSSF}}</ref><ref name="ACMilan1963">{{cite news |date=31 January 2010 |title=Coppa Campioni 1962/63 |url=http://www.acmilan.com/it/club/palmares/cdc1962_63 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110405192330/http://www.acmilan.com/it/club/palmares/cdc1962_63 |archive-date=5 April 2011 |access-date=23 May 2010 |publisher=Associazione Calcio Milan}}</ref>
Inter Milan beat an ageing Real Madrid 3–1 at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion to win the 1963–64 season and replicate their local-rival's success.<ref name="1964S">{{cite news |date=31 January 2010 |title=1963/64 European Champions Clubs' Cup |url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1963/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110924091738/http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1963/index.html |archive-date=24 September 2011 |access-date=23 May 2010 |website=UEFA.com |publisher=Union of European Football Associations}}</ref><ref name="1964R">{{cite news |date=31 January 2010 |title=Champions' Cup 1963–64 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec196364det.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230218134207/https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec196364det.html |archive-date=18 February 2023 |access-date=23 May 2010 |publisher=RSSSF}}</ref><ref name="Inter1964">{{cite news |date=31 January 2010 |title=Palmares: Prima coppa dei campioni – 1963/64 |url=http://www.inter.it/aas/palmares/vitt?L=it&IDV=14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060518034450/http://www.inter.it/aas/palmares/vitt?L=it&IDV=14 |archive-date=18 May 2006 |access-date=23 May 2010 |publisher=FC Internazionale Milano |language=it}}</ref> The title stayed in Milan for the third year in a row after Inter beat Benfica 1–0 at their home ground, the San Siro.<ref name="1965S">{{cite news |date=31 January 2010 |title=1964/65 European Champions Clubs' Cup |url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1964/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110918123515/http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1964/index.html |archive-date=18 September 2011 |access-date=23 May 2010 |website=UEFA.com |publisher=Union of European Football Associations}}</ref><ref name="1965R">{{cite news |date=31 January 2010 |title=Champions' Cup 1964–65 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec196465det.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220912212227/https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec196465det.html |archive-date=12 September 2022 |access-date=23 May 2010 |publisher=RSSSF}}</ref><ref name="Inter1965">{{cite news |date=31 January 2010 |title=Palmares: Prima coppa dei campioni – 1964/65 |url=http://www.inter.it/aas/palmares/vitt?L=it&IDV=15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060518034512/http://www.inter.it/aas/palmares/vitt?L=it&IDV=15 |archive-date=18 May 2006 |access-date=23 May 2010 |publisher=FC Internazionale Milano |language=it}}</ref> Under the leadership of Jock Stein, Scottish club Celtic beat Inter Milan 2–1 in the 1967 final to become the first British club to win the European Cup.<ref>{{cite web |title=A Sporting Nation – Celtic win European Cup 1967 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/sportscotland/asportingnation/article/0045/print.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061209222246/http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/sportscotland/asportingnation/article/0045/print.shtml |archive-date=9 December 2006 |access-date=28 January 2016 |work=BBC Scotland}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |date=20 May 2003 |title=Celtic immersed in history before UEFA Cup final |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/news/2003/05/20/celtic_history/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111162522/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/news/2003/05/20/celtic_history/ |archive-date=11 January 2012 |access-date=15 May 2010 |magazine=Sports Illustrated}}</ref> The Celtic players that day, all of whom were born within {{convert|30|mi|km}} of Glasgow, subsequently became known as the "Lisbon Lions".<ref>{{cite book |last=Lennox |first=Doug |url=https://archive.org/details/nowyouknowsoccer0000lenn |title=Now You Know Soccer |publisher=Dundurn Press |year=2009 |isbn=978-1-55488-416-2 |page=[https://archive.org/details/nowyouknowsoccer0000lenn/page/143 143] |quote=now you know soccer who were the lisbon lions. |url-access=registration}}</ref>
=== 1968–1976 === The 1967–68 season saw Manchester United become the first English team to win the European Cup, beating two-times winners Benfica 4–1 in the final.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Man. United – Benfica 1967 History |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/62426--man-united-vs-benfica/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200619223620/https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/62426--man-united-vs-benfica/ |archive-date=19 June 2020 |access-date=20 June 2020 |website=UEFA.com |publisher=Union of European Football Associations}}</ref> In the 1968–69 season, Ajax became the first Dutch team to reach the European Cup final, but they were beaten 4–1 by Milan, who claimed their second European Cup, with Pierino Prati scoring a hat-trick.<ref>{{cite web |title=Milan-Ajax 1968 History |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/62526--milan-vs-ajax/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200608115812/https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/62526--milan-vs-ajax/ |archive-date=8 June 2020 |access-date=2 July 2020 |website=UEFA.com |publisher=Union of European Football Associations}}</ref>
The 1969–70 season saw the first Dutch winners of the competition. Feyenoord knocked out the defending champions, Milan in the second round,<ref>{{cite web |title=Feyenoord – Milan 1969 History |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/62614--feyenoord-vs-milan/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201203204143/https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/62614--feyenoord-vs-milan/ |archive-date=3 December 2020 |access-date=12 August 2020 |website=UEFA Champions League}}</ref> before beating Celtic in the final.<ref>{{cite web |title=Feyenoord – Celtic 1969 History |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/62801--feyenoord-vs-celtic/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200724154558/https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/62801--feyenoord-vs-celtic/ |archive-date=24 July 2020 |access-date=12 August 2020 |website=UEFA Champions League}}</ref> In the 1970–71 season, Ajax won the title, beating Greek side Panathinaikos in the final.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ajax – Panathinaikos 1970 History |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/63031--ajax-vs-panathinaikos/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210724085254/https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/63031--ajax-vs-panathinaikos/ |archive-date=24 July 2021 |access-date=12 August 2020 |website=UEFA.com |publisher=Union of European Football Associations}}</ref> The season saw a number of changes, with penalty shoot-outs being introduced, and the away goals rule being changed so that it would be used in all rounds except the final.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Zea |first1=Antonio |last2=Haisma |first2=Marcel |date=9 January 2008 |title=European Champions' Cup and Fairs' Cup 1970–71 – Details |url=https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec197071det.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090426213400/http://www.rsssf.com/ec/ec197071det.html |archive-date=26 April 2009 |access-date=12 August 2020 |website=RSSSF}}</ref> It was also the first time a Greek team reached the final, as well as the first season that Real Madrid failed to qualify, having finished sixth in La Liga the previous season.<ref>{{cite web |title=Classification First Division 1969–70 |url=https://www.bdfutbol.com/en/t/t1969-70.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190322094118/https://www.bdfutbol.com/en/t/t1969-70.html |archive-date=22 March 2019 |access-date=12 August 2020 |website=bdfutbol.com}}</ref> Ajax went on to win the competition three years in a row (1971 to 1973), which Bayern Munich emulated from 1974 to 1976.
The era was characterized by the dominance of football clubs from the Netherlands and West Germany, who together won 7 back-to-back European Cups between 1970 and 1976.
=== 1977–1997: Heysel Disaster and rebrand into Champions League === [[File:Ajax-speler Barry Hulshoff met de cup, Bestanddeelnr 925-6412.jpg|thumb|Johan Cruyff (pictured in 1972) won the European Cup three times in a row with Ajax.]] Liverpool won their first two titles in 1977 and 1978.<ref>{{cite news |title=Champions League final: Full list of all UCL and European Cup winners as Chelsea, Man City try to make history |url=https://www.cbssports.com/soccer/news/champions-league-final-full-list-of-all-ucl-and-european-cup-winners-as-chelsea-man-city-try-to-make-history/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029110446/https://www.cbssports.com/soccer/news/champions-league-final-full-list-of-all-ucl-and-european-cup-winners-as-chelsea-man-city-try-to-make-history/ |archive-date=29 October 2021 |access-date=29 October 2021 |agency=CBS Sports}}</ref> The following seasons saw victories in 1978–79 and 1979–80 for Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest. The following year Liverpool won their third title before Aston Villa continued the sense of English dominance in 1982. In 1982–83, Hamburger SV broke the English dominance. Liverpool regained it in 1983–84 before losing to Juventus (1984–85). All English clubs were banned for five years (Liverpool for six years) following the 1985 European Cup final due to the Heysel Stadium disaster.
Following the five-year ban on English teams, Steaua București won the European Cup in 1985–86, followed by Porto in 1986–87, PSV Eindhoven in 1987–88; AC Milan (2), Red Star Belgrade and Barcelona became champions before the competition was re-formulated as the '''UEFA Champions League'''. The 1996-97 season was the final Champions League tournament in which only European league champions were allowed to compete; the tournament was won by Borussia Dortmund.
The era was characterized by the dominance of football clubs from England between 1977 and 1984, winning seven European Cup finals, and later the dominance of Italian football clubs in the 1990s; in a nine-year period from 1989 to 1998, Italian clubs reached nine Champions League finals.
=== 1998–present: League expansion === The era was characterized by the dominance of football clubs from Spain, who won 3 out of 5 finals from 1998–2002 and dominated the competition from 2014–18, with Real Madrid winning three back-to-back Champions League titles in 2016, 2017, and 2018, and England, who won 3 times between 2005–12 (as did Barcelona) and had 3 wins from 2018–23. From the expansion of the Champions League in 1997–98 to the 2023-24 final, Spanish clubs reached 17 finals and English clubs reached 16 finals.
During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, the tournament was suspended in mid-March 2020 and resumed in August 2020. Games were played at neutral venues and without spectators.
==Anthem== {{main|UEFA Champions League Anthem}}
{{quote box|align=center|quote="Magic...it's magic above all else. When you hear the anthem it captivates you straight away."|source=—Zinedine Zidane<ref>{{cite AV media |url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2d4KVnVuRDY |title=The story of the UEFA Champions League anthem |date=8 March 2016 |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |access-date=17 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201120121143/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2d4KVnVuRDY&app=desktop |archive-date=20 November 2020 |url-status=live |via=YouTube}}</ref>}} [[File:Beginning Arsenal Sevilla.jpg|thumb|The two teams line up for the UEFA Champions League Anthem before each match and a flag of the Champions League "starball" logo is waved in the centre circle.]] The UEFA Champions League anthem, officially titled simply as "Champions League", was written by Tony Britten, and is an adaptation of George Frideric Handel's 1727 anthem ''Zadok the Priest'' (one of his Coronation Anthems).<ref name="CL Anthem"/><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TAQDxYxQDU8C&pg=PA129 |title=Media, democracy and European culture |date=2009 |publisher=Intellect Books |isbn=978-1-84150-247-2 |page=129 |access-date=14 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231207113728/https://books.google.com/books?id=TAQDxYxQDU8C&pg=PA129 |archive-date=7 December 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref> UEFA commissioned Britten in 1992 to arrange an anthem, and the piece was performed by London's Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and sung by the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields.<ref name="CL Anthem"/> Stating that "the anthem is now almost as iconic as the trophy", UEFA's official website adds it is "known to set the hearts of many of the world's top footballers aflutter".<ref name="CL Anthem">{{cite news |title=UEFA Champions League anthem |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/022d-0e1636f1244a-c916aa410dad-1000--champions-league-anthem/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818100731/https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/022d-0e1636f1244a-c916aa410dad-1000--champions-league-anthem/ |archive-date=18 August 2020 |access-date=12 May 2020 |website=UEFA.com |publisher=Union of European Football Associations}}</ref>
The chorus contains the three official languages used by UEFA: English, German, and French.<ref name="Music">{{cite news |title=What is the Champions League music? The lyrics and history of one of football's most famous songs |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/tv/what-champions-league-music-lyrics-13133370 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180817125007/https://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/tv/what-champions-league-music-lyrics-13133370 |archive-date=17 August 2018 |access-date=17 August 2018 |agency=Wales Online}}</ref> The climactic moment is set to the exclamations 'Die Meister! Die Besten! Les Grandes Équipes! The Champions!'.<ref>{{cite book |last=Fornäs |first=Johan |url=https://www.intellectbooks.co.uk/MediaManager/File/7%20-%20Anthem.pdf |title=Signifying Europe |publisher=intellect |year=2012 |location=Bristol, England |pages=185–187 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210072345/https://www.intellectbooks.co.uk/MediaManager/File/7%20-%20Anthem.pdf |archive-date=10 February 2018}}</ref> The anthem's chorus is played before each UEFA Champions League game as the two teams are lined up, as well as at the beginning and end of television broadcasts of the matches. In addition to the anthem, there is also entrance music, which contains parts of the anthem itself, which is played as teams enter the field.<ref>{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nz0nhZfbhLQ |title=UEFA Champions League entrance music |date=29 September 2016 |publisher=Daniel Pichliński |access-date=17 August 2018 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/Nz0nhZfbhLQ |archive-date=11 December 2021 |url-status=live |via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The complete anthem is about three minutes long, and has two short verses and the chorus.<ref name="Music"/>
Special vocal versions have been performed live at the Champions League final with lyrics in other languages, changing over to the host nation's language for the chorus. These versions were performed by Andrea Bocelli (Italian; Rome 2009, Milan 2016 and Cardiff 2017), Juan Diego Flores (Spanish; Madrid 2010), All Angels (Wembley 2011), Jonas Kaufmann and David Garrett (Munich 2012) and Mariza (Lisbon 2014). In the 2013 final at Wembley, the chorus was played twice. In the 2018 and 2019 finals, held in Kyiv and Madrid respectively, the instrumental version of the chorus was played, by 2Cellos (2018) and Asturia Girls (2019).<ref>{{cite news |date=18 May 2018 |title=2Cellos to perform UEFA Champions League anthem in Kyiv |url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0245-0f8e60897b00-eadbfb0bfc6c-1000--2cellos-to-perform-uefa-champions-league-anthem-in-kyiv/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180525022115/https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/about-uefa/news/newsid=2559940.html |archive-date=25 May 2018 |access-date=17 August 2018 |website=UEFA.com |publisher=Union of European Football Associations}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=21 May 2019 |title=Asturia Girls to perform UEFA Champions League anthem in Madrid |url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0251-0e99b52f226f-9a8ee59428cb-1000--asturia-girls-to-perform-uefa-champions-league-anthem-in-m/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190523165059/https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/newsid=2606194.html |archive-date=23 May 2019 |access-date=19 June 2019 |website=UEFA.com |publisher=Union of European Football Associations}}</ref> In the 2023 final, held in Istanbul, Hungarian pianist Ádám György performed the piano version of the anthem.<ref>{{cite web |date=7 June 2023 |title=Hungarian Pianist to Open Champions League Final |url=https://hungarytoday.hu/hungarian-pianist-to-open-champions-league-final/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230607153444/https://hungarytoday.hu/hungarian-pianist-to-open-champions-league-final/ |archive-date=7 June 2023 |access-date=25 June 2023 |website=Hungary today}}</ref> The anthem has been released commercially in its original version on iTunes and Spotify with the title of Champions League Theme. In 2018, composer Hans Zimmer remixed the anthem with rapper Vince Staples for EA Sports' video game ''FIFA 19'', with it also featuring in the game's reveal trailer.<ref>{{cite web |date=12 June 2018 |title=Behind the Music: Champions League Anthem Remix with Hans Zimmer |url=https://www.easports.com/fifa/news/2018/hans-zimmer-champions-league-remix |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180628200253/https://www.easports.com/fifa/news/2018/hans-zimmer-champions-league-remix |archive-date=28 June 2018 |access-date=13 August 2018 |publisher=Electronic Arts}}</ref> <div style="clear:left"></div>
==Branding== [[File:Adidas Finale 20.jpg|thumb|The "starball" logo is incorporated into the design of the competition's official match ball, the Adidas Finale.]]
In 1991, UEFA asked its commercial partner, Television Event and Media Marketing (TEAM), to help brand the Champions League. This resulted in the anthem, "house colours" of black and white or silver and a logo, and the "starball". The starball was created by Design Bridge, a London-based firm selected by TEAM after a competition.<ref>{{cite journal |last=King |first=Anthony |year=2004 |title=The new symbols of European football |journal=International Review for the Sociology of Sport |location=London; Thousand Oaks, CA; New Delhi |volume=39 |issue=3 |pages=323–336 |doi=10.1177/1012690204045599 |issn=1012-6902 |s2cid=145168911}}</ref> TEAM gives particular attention to detail in how the colours and starball are depicted at matches. According to TEAM, "Irrespective of whether you are a spectator in Moscow or Milan, you will always see the same stadium dressing materials, the same opening ceremony featuring the 'starball' centre circle ceremony, and hear the same UEFA Champions League Anthem". Based on research it conducted, TEAM concluded that by 1999, "the starball logo had achieved a recognition rate of 94 percent among fans".<ref>{{citation |title=UEFA Champions League: Season Review 1998/9 |year=1999 |location=Lucerne |publisher=TEAM}}</ref>
==Format== thumb|upright=1.35|A map of UEFA countries whose teams have reached the league phase or group stage of the UEFA Champions League {{legend|#67E863|UEFA member state that has been represented in the league phase or group stage}} {{legend|#6085EF|UEFA member state that has not been represented in the league phase or group stage}}
===Qualification=== {{See also|UEFA coefficient}}
The UEFA Champions League used to begin with a double round-robin group stage of 32 teams until it evolved into a league phase of 36 teams, which is preceded by two qualification 'streams' for teams that do not receive direct entry to the tournament proper. The two streams are divided between teams qualified by virtue of being league champions, and those qualified by virtue of finishing second, third or fourth in their national championship.
The number of teams that each association enters into the UEFA Champions League is based upon the UEFA coefficients of the member associations. These coefficients are generated by the results of clubs representing each association during the previous five Champions League, Europa League and Conference League seasons. The higher an association's coefficient, the more teams represent the association in the Champions League, and the fewer qualification rounds the association's teams must compete in.
Five of the remaining seven qualifying places are granted to the winners of a four-round qualifying tournament between the remaining 43 or 44 national champions, within which those champions from associations with higher coefficients receive byes to later rounds. The other two are granted to the winners of a three-round qualifying tournament between ten and eleven clubs from the associations ranked 5–6 through 15, which have qualified based upon finishing second, third or fourth in their respective national league.
In addition to sporting criteria, any club must be licensed by its national association to participate in the Champions League. To obtain a licence, the club must meet certain stadium, infrastructure and finance requirements.
In 2005–06, Liverpool and Artmedia Bratislava became the first teams to reach the Champions League group stage after playing in all three qualifying rounds. Real Madrid and Barcelona hold the record for the most appearances in the group stage, having qualified 29 times, followed by Bayern Munich on 28.<ref>{{cite web |date=12 February 2025 |title=Champions League group stage/league phase records and statistics |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0257-0e994d4dc7ad-61a6d5d372dd-1000--champions-league-group-stage-league-phase-records-and-stati/ |access-date=20 May 2025 |website=UEFA.com |publisher=Union of European Football Associations}}</ref>
Between 1999 and 2008, no differentiation was made between champions and non-champions in qualification. The 16 top-ranked teams spread across the biggest domestic leagues qualified directly for the tournament group stage. Prior to this, three preliminary knockout qualifying rounds whittled down the remaining teams, with teams starting in different rounds.
An exception to the usual European qualification system happened in 2005, after Liverpool won the Champions League the year before, but did not finish in a Champions League qualification place in the Premier League that season. UEFA gave special dispensation for Liverpool to enter the Champions League, giving England five qualifiers.<ref>{{cite news |date=10 June 2005 |title=Liverpool get in Champions League |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/4613695.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051013141511/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/4613695.stm |archive-date=13 October 2005 |access-date=11 December 2007 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> UEFA subsequently ruled that the defending champions qualify for the competition the following year regardless of their domestic league placing. However, for those leagues with four entrants in the Champions League, this meant that, if the Champions League winner fell outside of its domestic league's top four, it would qualify at the expense of the fourth-placed team in the league. Until 2015–16, no association could have more than four entrants in the Champions League.<ref>{{cite news |date=20 May 2008 |title=New coefficient system |url=http://www.uefa.com/uefa/keytopics/kind=64/newsid=698237.html?cid=rssfeed&att=index |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080521053931/http://www.uefa.com/uefa/keytopics/kind%3D64/newsid%3D698237.html?cid=rssfeed&att=index |archive-date=21 May 2008 |access-date=12 September 2010 |publisher=Union of European Football Associations}}</ref> In May 2012, Tottenham Hotspur finished fourth in the 2011–12 Premier League, two places ahead of Chelsea, but failed to qualify for the 2012–13 Champions League, after Chelsea won the 2012 final.<ref name="Spurs_Chelsea"/> Tottenham were demoted to the 2012–13 UEFA Europa League.<ref name="Spurs_Chelsea">{{cite news |date=20 May 2012 |title=Harry Redknapp and Spurs given bitter pill of Europa League by Chelsea |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2012/may/20/harry-redknapp-spurs-europa-league |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517121840/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2012/may/20/harry-redknapp-spurs-europa-league |archive-date=17 May 2014 |access-date=24 November 2012 |work=The Guardian |publisher=Guardian News and Media}}</ref>
In May 2013,<ref name="Uefa-May2013a">{{cite web |date=24 May 2013 |title=Added bonus for UEFA Europa League winners |url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0253-0d7eeaa6f83e-2abd852aed6e-1000--added-bonus-for-uefa-europa-league-winners/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210625015940/https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/about-uefa/news/0253-0d7eeaa6f83e-2abd852aed6e-1000--added-bonus-for-uefa-europa-league-winners/ |archive-date=25 June 2021 |access-date=18 June 2021 |publisher=Union of European Football Associations}}</ref> it was decided that, starting from the 2015–16 season (and continuing at least for the three-year cycle until the 2017–18 season), the winners of the previous season's UEFA Europa League would qualify for the UEFA Champions League, entering at least the play-off round, and entering the group stage if the berth reserved for the Champions League title holders was not used. The previous limit of a maximum of four teams per association was increased to five, meaning that a fourth-placed team from one of the top three ranked associations would only have to be moved to the Europa League if both the Champions League and Europa League winners came from that association and both finished outside the top four of their domestic league.<ref name="2015AccessExplained">{{cite web |title=UEFA Access List 2015/18 with explanations |url=http://kassiesa.net/uefafiles/2015-18-uefa-access-list-explanations.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024224020/http://kassiesa.net/uefafiles/2015-18-uefa-access-list-explanations.pdf |archive-date=24 October 2014 |publisher=Bert Kassies}}</ref> Starting from the 2018–19 season, the Europa League winner would receive automatic qualification for the Champions League group stage, with no additional entries required.<ref>{{cite news |last=Kelly |first=Ryan |date=18 April 2018 |title=Champions League 2018–19 explained: How UEFA's changes impact qualification spots |url=https://www.goal.com/en/news/champions-league-2018-19-explained-how-uefas-changes-impact-qualification-spots/1m5pkx9eax9021wegmgutisiti |work=Goal.com}}</ref> Starting from the 2024–25 season, the two associations with the highest coefficients from the previous season would receive an extra Champions League spot (known as European Performance Spot) into the league phase. The Champions League and Europa League winners would not be able to fill the European Performance Spots, and they would still receive an additional spot if one or both came from the same top-five association and finished outside of the top four of their domestic league, though the fourth-placed team of the league would no longer go to the Europa League, thus increasing the maximum number of teams per association from five to seven.<ref>{{cite news |last=Johnson |first=Dale |date=8 April 2026 |title=How 11 Premier League teams could qualify for Europe |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c8r40164ne4o |work=BBC Sport}}</ref>
In 2007, Michel Platini, the UEFA president, had proposed taking one place from the three leagues with four entrants and allocating it to that nation's cup winners. This proposal was rejected in a vote at a UEFA Strategy Council meeting.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bond |first=David |date=13 November 2007 |title=Clubs force UEFA's Michel Platini into climbdown |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2007/11/13/sfnuef113.xml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071113232046/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2007/11/13/sfnuef113.xml |archive-date=13 November 2007 |access-date=2 December 2007 |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph}}</ref> In the same meeting, however, it was agreed that the third-placed team in the top three leagues would receive automatic qualification for the group stage, rather than entry into the third qualifying round, while the fourth-placed team would enter the play-off round for non-champions, guaranteeing an opponent from one of the top 15 leagues in Europe. This was part of Platini's plan to increase the number of teams qualifying directly into the group stage, while simultaneously increasing the number of teams from lower-ranked nations in the group stage.<ref>{{cite news |date=12 December 2007 |title=Platini's Euro Cup plan rejected |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/7090646.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071113065729/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/7090646.stm |archive-date=13 November 2007 |access-date=11 December 2007 |publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> In the reforming plan for the 2018–21 cycle, which was announced in August 2016 and confirmed in December, the top four teams in the top four leagues would receive automatic qualification for the group stage.<ref>{{cite news |last=Staunton |first=Peter |date=26 August 2016 |title=UEFA announces top four leagues to get four guaranteed Champions League spots |url=https://www.goal.com/en/news/uefa-announces-top-four-leagues-to-get-four-guaranteed-champions-/blt7fd4ffdcda3f7ba5 |work=Goal.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=9 December 2016 |title=Official: Uefa confirm reforms to Champions League 2018–21 |url=https://en.as.com/en/2016/12/09/soccer/1481314103_008421.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250515154911/https://en.as.com/en/2016/12/09/soccer/1481314103_008421.html |archive-date=15 May 2025 |work=Diario AS |agency=AFP}}</ref>
In 2012, Arsène Wenger referred to qualifying for the Champions League by finishing in the top four places in the Premier League as the "4th Place Trophy". The phrase was coined after a pre-match conference when he was questioned about Arsenal's lack of a trophy after exiting the FA Cup. He said "The first trophy is to finish in the top four".<ref>{{cite news |title=Arsène Wenger says Champions League place is a 'trophy' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2012/feb/19/arsene-wenger-arsenal-fourth-place |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517151342/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2012/feb/19/arsene-wenger-arsenal-fourth-place |archive-date=17 May 2014 |access-date=15 May 2014 |newspaper=Guardian}}</ref> At Arsenal's 2012 AGM, Wenger was also quoted as saying: "For me there are five trophies every season: Premier League, Champions League, the third is to qualify for the Champions League..."<ref>{{cite web |date=26 October 2012 |title=Arsenal's Trophy Cabinet |url=http://talksport.com/magazine/virals/121026/picture-arsenals-trophy-cabinet-redesigned-include-new-fourth-place-trop-183898 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131118063346/http://talksport.com/magazine/virals/121026/picture-arsenals-trophy-cabinet-redesigned-include-new-fourth-place-trop-183898 |archive-date=18 November 2013 |access-date=15 May 2014 |website=Talksport}}</ref>
===League phase and knockout phase=== Beginning with the 2024–25 season, UEFA changed the format of their three club competitions, abandoning the group stage in favour of an expanded league phase.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Grounds |first=Ben |date=14 August 2024 |title=Champions League 2024/25: Everything you need to know about the new format of Europe's most prestigious club competition |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/13143876/champions-league-2024-25-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-new-format-of-europes-most-prestigious-club-competition |access-date=22 August 2024 |website=Sky Sports}}</ref> The number of participating teams was increased from 32 to 36 teams. Teams are no longer divided into groups of four teams each but are ranked in a single table resembling the Swiss-system tournament format.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-12-09 |title=What is the Swiss Model in Champions League? UEFA's new UCL format to replace group stage explained |url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/soccer/news/swiss-model-champions-league-uefa-debut-ucl-format-group-stage/a2d1e16bb0f0d24b364d4db4 |access-date=2025-05-08 |website=Sporting News |language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-10 |title=New Champions League format explained: How does 'Swiss' system work, number of teams, league phase |url=https://www.cbssports.com/soccer/news/new-champions-league-format-explained-how-does-swiss-system-work-number-of-teams-league-phase/ |access-date=2025-05-08 |website=CBSSports.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Ames |first=Nick |date=2024-08-28 |title=Everything you need to know about the new 'Swiss model' Champions League |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/article/2024/aug/28/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-new-swiss-model-champions-league |access-date=2025-05-08 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Each team plays eight matches against eight different opponents. For the draw of the league phase, teams are divided into four seeding pots according to their UEFA coefficient. Each team will play against two teams from each pot, one home and one away. The league phase is played from September to January, while the knockout phase begins in February, with matches predominantly played on Tuesday and Wednesday nights.
After the league phase, a two-legged knockout play-off round is played between teams finishing 9–16 (seeded) and 17–24 (unseeded) in the league phase. Teams finishing in the top eight of the league phase receive a bye to the round of 16 as seeded teams, while the eight winning teams from the knockout play-off round will enter the round of 16 draw as unseeded teams. Teams finishing 25th–36th place in the league phase and the eight losers of the knockout play-offs are eliminated from the competition and from European football since it is no longer possible to enter the Europa League from the league phase onwards.
After the round of 16 the competition follows the traditional knockout format with quarter-finals, semi-finals (both two legged and without association draw protection) and then the final at a venue chosen prior to the season. The final is typically held in late May or early June.
Prior to the 2024–25 season, there was a group stage of 32 teams, divided into eight groups of four.<ref name="CL Format">{{cite news |title=Champions League explained |url=https://www.premierleague.com/uefa-champions-league-explained |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200116055207/https://www.premierleague.com/uefa-champions-league-explained |archive-date=16 January 2020 |access-date=16 January 2020 |website=PremierLeague.com}}</ref> The draw to determine which teams entered each group was seeded based on each team's UEFA coefficient, and no group could contain more than one club from each association. Each team played six group stage games, meeting the other three teams in its group home and away in a round-robin format.<ref name="CL Format"/> The first place team and the runners-up from each group then progressed to the next round. The third-placed teams entered the Europa League's knockout round and the fourth-placed teams were eliminated from the competition.
For the next stage—the last 16—the winning team from one group played against the runners-up from another group, but teams from the same association could not be drawn against each other (see random two-sided matching). From the quarter-finals onwards, the draw was entirely random, without association protection.<ref>{{cite web |title=Regulations of the UEFA Champions League 2011/12 |url=https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/Regulations/competitions/Regulations/01/63/02/44/1630244_DOWNLOAD.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616163203/https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/Regulations/competitions/Regulations/01/63/02/44/1630244_DOWNLOAD.pdf |archive-date=16 June 2011 |website=UEFA.com |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |page=10}}</ref>
The group stage was played from September to December, whilst the knockout stage began in February, with matches usually played on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. The knockout ties were played in a two-legged format, with the exception of the final. In the 2019–20 season, due to the COVID-19 pandemic the tournament was suspended for five months. The format of the remainder of the tournament was temporarily amended as a result, with the quarter-finals and semi-finals being played as single match knockout ties at neutral venues in Lisbon, Portugal in the summer with the final taking place on 23 August 2020.<ref>{{cite web |date=23 August 2020 |title=Bayern Munich beat Paris Saint-Germain to win Champions League |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/report?gameId=573698 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107084610/https://www.espn.com/soccer/report?gameId=573698 |archive-date=7 November 2020 |access-date=23 August 2020 |publisher=ESPN}}</ref>
===Distribution=== The following is the default access list.
{| class="wikitable sortable" |+Access list for UEFA Champions League from 2024−25 season<ref>{{cite news |date=10 May 2022 |title=UEFA approves final format and access list for its club competitions as of the 2024/25 season |url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0275-151c779310c3-b92bbf0d24f9-1000--format-access-list-for-24-25-onwards-approved/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220511080232/https://www.uefa.com/returntoplay/news/0275-151c779310c3-b92bbf0d24f9-1000--format-access-list-for-24-25-onwards-approved/ |archive-date=11 May 2022 |website=UEFA.com |publisher=Union of European Football Associations}}</ref> |- !colspan="2"| !Teams entering in this round !Teams advancing from the previous round |- !colspan="2"|First qualifying round<br />(32 teams) | * 32 champions from associations 23–55 (except Liechtenstein) | |- !rowspan="2"|Second qualifying round !Champions Path<br />(24 teams) | * 8 champions from associations 15–22 | * 16 winners from the first qualifying round |- !League Path<br />(6 teams) | * 6 runners-up from associations 10–15 | |- !rowspan="2"|Third qualifying round !Champions Path<br />(12 teams) | | * 12 winners from the second qualifying round (Champions Path) |- !League Path<br />(8 teams) | * 3 runners-up from associations 7–9 * 1 third-placed team from association 6 * 1 fourth-placed team from association 5 | * 3 winners from the second qualifying round (League Path) |- !rowspan="2"|Play-off round !Champions Path<br />(10 teams) | * 4 champions from associations 11–14 | * 6 winners from the third qualifying round (Champions Path) |- !League Path<br />(4 teams) | | * 4 winners from the third qualifying round (League Path) |- !colspan="2"|League phase<br />(36 teams) | * UEFA Champions League title holders * UEFA Europa League title holders * 10 champions from associations 1–10 * 6 runners-up from associations 1–6 * 5 third-placed teams from associations 1–5 * 4 fourth-placed teams from associations 1–4 * 2 teams from associations with the highest 1-year association coefficient | * 5 winners from the play-off round (Champions Path) * 2 winners from the play-off round (League Path) |- ! colspan="2" |Preliminary knockout round<br />(16 teams) | | * 16 teams ranked from 9−24 in league phase |- ! colspan="2" |Knockout phase<br />(16 teams) | | * 8 Winners from previous play-off * 8 Teams ranked from 1−8 in league phase |} Changes will be made to the access list above if the Champions League or Europa League title holders qualify for the tournament via their domestic leagues. * If the Champions League title holders qualify for the league phase via their domestic league's standard berth allocation, the best champions in qualifying rounds enter the league phase, and champions of the highest-ranked associations in earlier rounds are also promoted accordingly. * If the Europa League title holders qualify for the league phase via their domestic league's standard berth allocation, the best club in qualifying rounds enters the league phase, except for the runners-up of associations 11–15, as they have a higher-ranked domestic team in the qualifiers, and teams of the highest-ranked associations in earlier rounds are also promoted accordingly. * If the Champions League or Europa League title holders qualify for the qualifying rounds via their domestic league, their spot in the qualifying rounds is vacated, and teams of the highest-ranked associations in earlier rounds are promoted accordingly.
==Prizes== ===Trophy and medals=== {{main|European Champion Clubs' Cup}}
thumb|The trophy Each year, the winning team is presented with the European Champion Clubs' Cup, the current version of which has been awarded since 1967. From the 1968–69 season and prior to the 2008–09 season any team that won the Champions League three years in a row or five times overall was awarded the official trophy permanently.<ref name="trophy"/> Each time a club achieved this, a new official trophy had to be forged for the following season.<ref>{{cite book |url=http://www.uefa.com/newsfiles/19071.pdf |title=Regulations of the UEFA Champions League |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |page=4 |chapter=Article 2.01 {{ndash}} Cup |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030424060610/http://www.uefa.com/newsfiles/19071.pdf |archive-date=24 April 2003}}</ref> Five clubs own a version of the official trophy: Real Madrid, Ajax, Bayern Munich, Milan and Liverpool.<ref name="trophy">{{cite web |title=How UEFA honours multiple European Cup winners |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0250-0c511b10d395-72f38b4cbce0-1000--how-uefa-honours-multiple-european-cup-winners/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731191945/https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/newsid=2478341.html |archive-date=31 July 2017 |access-date=25 December 2019 |publisher=Union of European Football Associations}}</ref> Since 2008, the official trophy has remained with UEFA and the clubs are awarded a replica.<ref name="trophy"/>
The current trophy is {{convert|74|cm|in|abbr=on}} tall and made of silver, weighing {{convert|11|kg|lb|abbr=on}}. It was designed by Jürg Stadelmann, a jeweller from Bern, Switzerland, after the original was given to Real Madrid in 1966 in recognition of their six titles to date, and cost 10,000 Swiss francs.
50 gold medals are presented to the Champions League winners, and 50 silver medals to the runners-up.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/Regulations/competitions/Regulations/01/79/68/69/1796869_DOWNLOAD.pdf |title=Regulations of the UEFA Champions League: 2012–15 Cycle |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |page=8 |chapter=2012/13 Season |access-date=22 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120708134514/https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/Regulations/competitions/Regulations/01/79/68/69/1796869_DOWNLOAD.pdf |archive-date=8 July 2012}}</ref>
===Prize money=== Starting with the 2024–25 season, the distribution of the prize money is as follows.<ref>{{cite web |date=22 March 2024 |title=Distribution to clubs from the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League and the UEFA Super Cup for the 2024–27 cycle (2024/25 season) |url=https://editorial.uefa.com/resources/028b-1a7880138a24-7a993e2e33d1-1000/20240322_circular_2024_13_en.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240328091952/https://editorial.uefa.com/resources/028b-1a7880138a24-7a993e2e33d1-1000/20240322_circular_2024_13_en.pdf |archive-date=28 March 2024 |access-date=22 April 2024}}</ref> * Play-off round: €4,290,000 * Base fee for league phase: €18,620,000 * League phase victory: €2,100,000 * League phase draw: €700,000 * Bonus based on league phase ranking: €275,000 - €9,900,000 * League phase top 8: €2,000,000 * League phase ranked 9 through 16: €1,000,000 * Knockout round play-offs: €1,000,000 * Round of 16: €11,000,000 * Quarter-finals: €12,500,000 * Semi-finals: €15,000,000 * Runners-up: €18,500,000 * Champions: €25,000,000
A large part of the distributed revenue from the UEFA Champions League is linked to the "market pool", the distribution of which is determined by the value of the television market in each nation. For the 2019–20 season, Paris Saint-Germain, who were the runners-up, earned nearly €126.8 million in total, of which €101.3 million was prize money, compared with the €125.46 million earned by Bayern Munich, who won the tournament and were awarded €112.96 million in prize money.<ref>{{cite news |last=Trullols |first=Javier |date=23 April 2021 |title=Así repartió la Uefa los 2.419 millones en ingresos de la Champions 2019-2020 |url=https://www.palco23.com/competiciones/asi-repartio-la-uefa-los-2419-millones-en-ingresos-de-la-champions-2019-2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211206013155/https://www.palco23.com/competiciones/asi-repartio-la-uefa-los-2419-millones-en-ingresos-de-la-champions-2019-2020 |archive-date=6 December 2021 |access-date=18 March 2023 |work=Palco23 |language=es}}</ref>
==Sponsorship== [[File:Heineken can 2011 UEFA Champions League Final.jpg|thumb|A can of Heineken with the branding of the 2011 UEFA Champions League final]] {{multiple image | footer = During the 2011–12 UEFA Champions League, bwin were the shirt sponsors for Real Madrid (left), however, the club were barred from wearing their bwin-sponsored jerseys when they played against CSKA Moscow in Russia in February 2012, where gambling advertisements were banned (right). | image1 = Cristiano Ajax.jpg | width1 = 158 | image2 = Kaká 2012.jpg | width2 = 200 }}
Like the FIFA World Cup, the UEFA Champions League is sponsored by a group of multinational corporations, in contrast to the single main sponsor typically found in national top-flight leagues. When the Champions League was created in 1992, it was decided that a maximum of eight companies should be allowed to sponsor the event, with each corporation being allocated four advertising boards around the perimeter of the pitch, as well as logo placement at pre- and post-match interviews and a certain number of tickets to each match. This, combined with a deal to ensure tournament sponsors were given priority on television advertisements during matches, ensured that each of the tournament's main sponsors was given maximum exposure.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Thompson |first1=Craig |last2=Magnus |first2=Ems |date=February 2003 |title=The Uefa Champions League Marketing |url=http://www.ekospor.com/Sports-Marketing/Sport%20Marketing%20uefa.pdf |journal=Fiba Assist Magazine |pages=49–50 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080528155330/http://www.ekospor.com/Sports-Marketing/Sport%20Marketing%20uefa.pdf |archive-date=28 May 2008 |access-date=19 May 2008}}</ref>
From the 2012–13 knockout phase, UEFA used LED advertising hoardings installed in knockout participant stadiums, including the final. From the 2015–16 season onwards, UEFA has used such hoardings from the play-off round until the final.<ref>{{cite web |title=Regulations of the UEFA Champions League 2015–18 Cycle – 2015/2016 Season – Article 66 – Other Requirements |url=http://www.uefa.org/MultimediaFiles/Download/Regulations/uefaorg/Regulations/02/23/57/51/2235751_DOWNLOAD.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518101130/http://www.uefa.org/MultimediaFiles/Download/Regulations/uefaorg/Regulations/02/23/57/51/2235751_DOWNLOAD.pdf |archive-date=18 May 2015 |access-date=30 June 2015 |website=UEFA}}</ref> Since 2021, the UEFA also used Virtual Board Replacement (VBR) technology to offer region-based advertising; regional sponsors are inserted into the hoardings as shown on the broadcast feed in specific regions along with the global sponsors.<ref>{{cite web |date=13 April 2021 |title=Uefa offers regional Champions League packages in China, US using virtual LED ads |url=https://www.sportbusiness.com/news/uefa-offers-regional-champions-league-packages-in-china-us-using-virtual-led-ads/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230504114646/https://www.sportbusiness.com/news/uefa-offers-regional-champions-league-packages-in-china-us-using-virtual-led-ads/ |archive-date=4 May 2023 |access-date=4 May 2023 |website=SportBusiness}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=UEFA Circular Economy Guidelines |url=https://editorial.uefa.com/resources/0287-19687e946432-280d53c9ac66-1000/uefa_circular_economy_guidelines_low_res.pdf}}</ref>
Individual clubs may wear jerseys with advertising. However, only two sponsorships are permitted per jersey in addition to that of the kit manufacturer, at the chest and the left sleeve.<ref>{{Cite web |title=UEFA Documents |url=https://documents.uefa.com/r/4W_2d4J1wzeSliUijD1~kg/jT6ByA7x9dsfPye5Rz1z6w |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731031204/https://documents.uefa.com/r/4W_2d4J1wzeSliUijD1~kg/jT6ByA7x9dsfPye5Rz1z6w |archive-date=31 July 2021 |access-date=31 July 2021 |website=UEFA.com |publisher=Union of European Football Associations}}</ref> Exceptions are made for non-profit organisations, which can feature on the front of the shirt, incorporated with the main sponsor or in place of it; or on the back, either below the squad number or on the collar area.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/Tech/uefaorg/General/01/75/63/78/1756378_DOWNLOAD.pdf |title=UEFA Kit Regulations Edition 2012 |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |location=Nyon |pages=37, 38 |access-date=29 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120417151027/https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/Tech/uefaorg/General/01/75/63/78/1756378_DOWNLOAD.pdf |archive-date=17 April 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref>
If a club plays a match in a nation where the relevant sponsorship category is restricted (such as France's alcohol advertising restriction), then they must remove that logo from their jerseys. For example, when Rangers played French side Auxerre in the 1996–97 Champions League, they wore the logo of the holiday chain Center Parcs instead of their primary sponsor, McEwan's Lager (both companies at the time were subsidiaries of Scottish & Newcastle).<ref name="Alternative to alcohol">{{cite web |last=Devlin |first=John |date=3 July 2009 |title=An alternative to alcohol |url=http://www.truecoloursfootballkits.com/articles/an-alternative-to-alcohol |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090912193509/http://www.truecoloursfootballkits.com/articles/an-alternative-to-alcohol |archive-date=12 September 2009 |access-date=5 June 2013 |work=truecoloursfootballkits.com |publisher=True Colours |quote=Rangers have actually sported the Center Parcs logo during the course of two seasons.}}</ref>
==Media coverage== {{main|List of UEFA Champions League broadcasters}}
The competition attracts an extensive television audience, not just in Europe, but throughout the world. The final of the tournament has been, in recent years, the most-watched annual sporting event in the world.<ref>{{cite news |date=31 January 2010 |title=Champions League final tops Super Bowl for TV market |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/8490351.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100203170057/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/8490351.stm |archive-date=3 February 2010 |access-date=25 February 2010 |work=BBC Sport |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation}}</ref> The final of the 2012–13 tournament had the competition's highest TV ratings to date, drawing approximately 360 million television viewers.<ref name="record">{{cite web |last=Chishti |first=Faisal |date=30 May 2013 |title=Champions League final at Wembley drew TV audience of 360 million |url=http://www.sportskeeda.com/2013/05/30/champions-league-final-at-wembley-drew-tv-audience-of-360-million/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230233636/http://www.sportskeeda.com/2013/05/30/champions-league-final-at-wembley-drew-tv-audience-of-360-million/ |archive-date=30 December 2013 |access-date=31 December 2013 |work=Sportskeeda |publisher=Absolute Sports}}</ref>
==Team records and statistics== {{main|European Cup and UEFA Champions League records and statistics}}
{{see also|UEFA Champions League clubs performance comparison}}
===Performances by club=== {{main|List of European Cup and UEFA Champions League finals}}
{{UEFA Champions League performance by club}}
===Performances by nation=== {{#section-h:List of European Cup and UEFA Champions League finals|By nation}} '''Notes''' {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
==Player records== {{Main|European Cup and UEFA Champions League records and statistics#Players}}
===Most wins=== {{#section-h:European Cup and UEFA Champions League records and statistics|Most wins}}
===Most appearances=== {{Main|List of footballers with 100 or more UEFA Champions League appearances}} {{#section-h:List of footballers with 100 or more UEFA Champions League appearances|Players}}
===Most goals=== {{Main|List of UEFA Champions League top scorers}} {{#section-h:List of UEFA Champions League top scorers|All-time top scorers}} ===Most assists=== {{Main|European Cup and UEFA Champions League records and statistics#Players}}
{{updated|15 April 2026|<ref>{{Cite web |title=All-time Player - Most assists Stats - UEFA Champions League |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/history/rankings/players/assists/ |access-date=2025-08-22 |work=UEFA}}</ref>}} Players that are still active in Europe are highlighted in '''boldface'''. {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ !Rank !Player !Assists !Apps !Ratio !Years !Club(s) (Assists/Apps) |- |1 ! scope="row" data-sort-value="Ronaldo, Cristiano" | {{flagicon|POR}} Cristiano Ronaldo |42 |183 |0.22 |2003–2022 | style="text-align:left;" | Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus |- |2 ! scope="row" data-sort-value="Di Maria" | {{flagicon|ARG}} Ángel Di María |41 |116 |0.35 |2010–2025 | style="text-align:left;" | Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus, Benfica |- |3 ! scope="row" data-sort-value="Messi, Lionel" | {{flagicon|ARG}} Lionel Messi |40 |163 |0.25 |2005–2023 | style="text-align:left;" | Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain |- |4 ! scope="row" data-sort-value="Neymar" | {{flagicon|BRA}} Neymar |33 |81 |0.41 |2013–2023 | style="text-align:left;" | Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain |- |5 ! scope="row" data-sort-value="Junior, Vinicius" | {{flagicon|BRA}} '''Vinícius Júnior''' |32 |82 |0.39 |2018– | style="text-align:left;" | '''Real Madrid''' |- | rowspan="2" |6 ! scope="row" data-sort-value="De Bruyne, Kevin" | {{flagicon|BEL}} '''Kevin De Bruyne''' | rowspan="2" |31 |79 |0.37 |2011– | style="text-align:left;" | Genk, Chelsea, Manchester City, '''Napoli''' |- ! scope="row" data-sort-value="Giggs" | {{flagicon|WAL}} Ryan Giggs |141 |0.22 |1990–2014 | style="text-align:left;" | Manchester United |- | rowspan="2" |8 ! scope="row" data-sort-value="Xavi" | {{flagicon|ESP}} Xavi | rowspan="2" |30 |151 |0.20 |1998–2015 | style="text-align:left;" | Barcelona |- ! scope="row" data-sort-value="Müller, Thomas" | {{flagicon|GER}} Thomas Müller |160 |0.19 |2009–2025 | style="text-align:left;" | Bayern Munich |- | rowspan="2" |10 ! scope="row" data-sort-value="Iniesta" | {{flagicon|ESP}} Andrés Iniesta | rowspan="2" |29 |130 |0.22 |2002–2018 | style="text-align:left;" | Barcelona |- ! scope="row" data-sort-value="Benzema, Karim" | {{flagicon|FRA}} Karim Benzema |152 |0.19 |2005-2023 | style="text-align:left;" | Lyon, Real Madrid |}
==Awards==
===Player of the Season===
Starting from the 2021–22 edition, UEFA introduced the UEFA Champions League Player of the Season award.
The jury is composed of the coaches of the clubs that participated in the group stage of the competition, as well as 55 journalists selected by the European Sports Media (ESM) group, one from each UEFA member association.
{| class="wikitable" |+UEFA Champions League Player of the Season |- !Season !Player !Club |- |2021–22 |{{flagicon|FRA}} Karim Benzema |{{fbaicon|ESP}} Real Madrid |- |2022–23 |{{flagicon|ESP}} Rodri |{{fbaicon|ENG}} Manchester City |- |2023–24 |{{flagicon|BRA}} Vinícius Júnior |{{fbaicon|ESP}} Real Madrid |- |2024–25 |{{flagicon|FRA}} Ousmane Dembélé |{{fbaicon|FRA}} Paris Saint-Germain |- |2025–26 |{{flagicon|GEO}} Khvicha Kvaratskhelia |{{fbaicon|FRA}} Paris Saint-Germain |}
===Young Player of the Season=== In the same season, UEFA also introduced the UEFA Champions League Young Player of the Season award.
{| class="wikitable" |+UEFA Champions League Young Player of the Season |- !Season !Player !Club |- |2021–22 |{{flagicon|BRA}} Vinícius Júnior |{{fbaicon|ESP}} Real Madrid |- |2022–23 |{{flagicon|GEO}} Khvicha Kvaratskhelia |{{fbaicon|ITA}} Napoli |- |2023–24 |{{flagicon|ENG}} Jude Bellingham |{{fbaicon|ESP}} Real Madrid |- |2024–25 |{{flagicon|FRA}} Désiré Doué |{{fbaicon|FRA}} Paris Saint-Germain |- |2025–26 |{{flagicon|TUR}} Arda Güler |{{fbaicon|ESP}} Real Madrid |}
== See also == * Continental football championships * List of association football competitions
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{Official website|https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/}} {{in lang|en|fr|de|ru|es|it|pt}} * {{Official website|https://www.uefa.com/|name=UEFA – Official website}}
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Category:UEFA Champions League 1 Champions League Category:1955 establishments in Europe 1 Category:Sports leagues established in 1955 1