Since its founding in 1955, the UEFA Champions League has evolved into Europe’s premier club competition, uniting the top teams from each country to compete for one of the sport’s most prestigious trophies. Originally known as the European Cup until 1992, the tournament has a list of numerous champions over its rich history.
The format has undergone significant changes over the decades. In its inaugural 1955–56 season, the tournament featured just 16 teams—primarily national league winners and a few invited clubs—competing in a straight knockout format. Today, the competition includes 36 teams in a league phase before transitioning into knockout rounds, reflecting the Champions League’s ongoing evolution.
Each season, Europe’s elite clubs crisscross the continent in pursuit of Champions League glory. To make sure you don’t miss a moment, follow every game on the World Soccer Talk Champions League TV schedule. For fans looking to understand not only the current format but also the legacy of the tournament, the Champions League Beginner’s Guide is a great place to start.
List of Champions League winners
With the competition established in the mid-20th century, here’s the complete year-by-year list of UEFA Champions League winners:
- 2024-2025: Paris Saint-Germain
- 2023-2024: Real Madrid
- 2022-2023: Manchester City
- 2021-2022: Real Madrid
- 2020-2021: Chelsea
- 2019-2020: Bayern Munich
- 2018-2019: Liverpool
- 2017-2018: Real Madrid
- 2016-2017: Real Madrid
- 2015-2016: Real Madrid
- 2014-2015: Barcelona
- 2013-2014: Real Madrid
- 2012-2013: Bayern Munich
- 2011-2012: Chelsea
- 2010-2011: Barcelona
- 2009-2010: Inter
- 2008-2009: Barcelona
- 2007-2008: Manchester United
- 2006-2007: AC Milan
- 2005-2006: Barcelona
- 2004-2005: Liverpool
- 2003-2004: Porto
- 2002-2003: AC Milan
- 2001-2002: Real Madrid
- 2000-2001: Bayern Munich
- 1999-2000: Real Madrid
- 1998-1999: Manchester United
- 1997-1998: Real Madrid
- 1996-1997: Borussia Dortmund
- 1995-1996: Juventus
- 1994-1995: Ajax
- 1993-1994: AC Milan
- 1992-1993: Olympique Marseille
- 1991-1992: Barcelona
- 1990-1991: Red Star Belgrade
- 1989-1990: AC Milan
- 1988-1989: AC Milan
- 1987-1988: PSV Eindhoven
- 1986-1987: Porto
- 1985-1986: Steaua Bucharest
- 1984-1985: Juventus
- 1983-1984: Liverpool
- 1982-1983: Hamburg
- 1981-1982: Aston Villa
- 1980-1981: Liverpool
- 1979-1980: Nottingham Forest
- 1978-1979: Nottingham Forest
- 1977-1978: Liverpool
- 1976-1977: Liverpool
- 1975-1976: Bayern Munich
- 1974-1975: Bayern Munich
- 1973-1974: Bayern Munich
- 1972-1973: Ajax
- 1971-1972: Ajax
- 1970-1971: Ajax
- 1969-1970: Feyenoord
- 1968-1969: AC Milan
- 1967-1968: Manchester United
- 1966-1967: Celtic
- 1965-1966: Real Madrid
- 1964-1965: Inter
- 1963-1964: Inter
- 1962-1963: AC Milan
- 1961-1962: Benfica
- 1960-1961: Benfica
- 1959-1960: Real Madrid
- 1958-1959: Real Madrid
- 1957-1958: Real Madrid
- 1956-1957: Real Madrid
- 1955-1956: Real Madrid
Most Champions League titles
Topping the Champions League winners list, Real Madrid stands as the most successful club in the competition’s history, with a record 15 titles since their triumph in the inaugural 1955–56 edition. The Spanish giants are followed by other multiple-time champions:
- Real Madrid: 15
- AC Milan: 7
- Bayern Munich: 6
- Liverpool: 6
- Barcelona: 5
- Ajax: 4
- Manchester United: 3
- Inter: 3
- Chelsea: 2
- Benfica: 2
- Nottingham Forest: 2
- Juventus: 2
- Porto: 2
- Celtic: 1
- Hamburg: 1
- Steaua Bucharest: 1
- Aston Villa: 1
- Olympique Marseille: 1
- Feyenoord: 1
- Borussia Dortmund: 1
- Red Star Belgrade: 1
- PSV Eindhoven: 1
- Manchester City: 1
- Paris Saint-Germain: 1
