What is the Champions League?
The UEFA Champions League is Europe's top club soccer competition. The best teams from Europe's leagues compete each season, ending with a final in late May or June.
The competition began in 1955 as the European Champion Clubs' Cup, usually called the European Cup, and was renamed the Champions League in 1992. At first, only the champions of each country could enter. Today, the strongest leagues, such as England, Spain, Germany and Italy, send up to four or five teams.
Since 2024, the competition has used a new format. Thirty-six teams play in a single league phase, each facing eight different opponents. The top teams advance to knockout rounds, played over two legs, and the season ends with a single-match final at a stadium chosen in advance.
Most successful clubs
Real Madrid have won the trophy far more than any other club, with 15 titles, including five in a row from 1956 to 1960. AC Milan has won seven and Bayern Munich and Liverpool six each. Paris Saint-Germain won back-to-back titles in 2025 and 2026, beating Arsenal on penalties in the 2026 final. The famous Champions League anthem, based on music by Handel, is played before every match.
Did You Know?
The Champions League trophy is nicknamed Big Ears because of its large handles. A club that wins it five times, or three in a row, may keep the original trophy.