List of UEFA Champions League winners: All the clubs to win Europe's top trophy by year

Kieran Francis

List of UEFA Champions League winners: All the clubs to win Europe's top trophy by year image

The UEFA Champions League is the pinnacle of club competition for teams based in Europe.

Manchester City finally put their name alongside the greatest teams to ever play after beating Inter Milan in the 2023 final. In 2024, Real Madrid extended their record as the most successful team in the competition's history after defeating Borussia Dortmund at Wembley Stadium.

Clubs from every European league have the opportunity to participate in the tournament by finishing high enough in their domestic competitions, and/or advancing in qualifying matches prior to the group phase starting. However, as the list below shows, heavyweight nations Spain, Germany, Italy and England tend to dominate.

But which teams have won the coveted Champions League, or its previous iteration, the European Cup, since the first edition back in 1955/56?

The Sporting News takes you through the list of teams that have been crowned kings of Europe.

MORE: Which coaches and players have won the UEFA Champions League the most

All-time Champions League & European Cup winners 

The competition was known as the European Cup until 1992/93 when it was revamped and rebranded as the UEFA Champions League.

SeasonWinnerRunner-upScore
202324Real MadridBorussia Dortmund2-0
2022/23Manchester CityInter Milan1-0
2021/22Real MadridLiverpool1-0
2020/21ChelseaManchester City1-0
2019/20Bayern MunichParis Saint-Germain1-0
2018/19LiverpoolTottenham Hotspur2-0
2017/18Real MadridLiverpool3-1
2016/17Real MadridJuventus4-1
2015/16Real MadridAtletico Madrid1-1 (5–3 pens)
2014/15BarcelonaJuventus3-1
2013/14Real MadridAtletico Madrid4-1 (a.e.t.)
2012/13Bayern MunichBorussia Dortmund2-1
2011/12ChelseaBayern Munich1-1 (4–3 pens)
2010/11BarcelonaManchester United3-1
2009/10InterBayern Munich2-0
2008/09BarcelonaManchester United2-0
2007/08Manchester UnitedChelsea1-1 (6–5 pens)
2006/07MilanLiverpool2-1
2005/06BarcelonaArsenal2-1
2004/05LiverpoolMilan3-3 (3-2 pens)
2003/04PortoMonaco3-0
2002/03MilanJuventus0-0 (3-2 pens)
2001/02Real MadridBayer Leverkusen2-1
2000/01Bayern MunichValencia1-1 (5-4 pens)
1999/2000Real MadridValencia3-0
1998/99Manchester UnitedBayern Munich2-1
1997/98Real MadridJuventus1-0
1996/97Borussia DortmundJuventus3-1
1995/96JuventusAjax1-1 (4-2 pens)
1994/95AjaxMilan1-0
1993/94MilanBarcelona4-0
1992/93MarseilleMilan1-0
1991/92BarcelonaSampdoria1-0 (a.e.t.)
1990/91Red Star BelgradeMarseille0-0 (5-3 pens)
1989/90MilanBenfica1-0
1988/89MilanSteaua Bucharest4-0
1987/88PSV EindhovenBenfica0-0 (6-5 pens)
1986/87PortoBayern Munich2-1
1985/86Steaua BucharestBarcelona0-0 (2-0 pens)
1984/85JuventusLiverpool1-0
1983/84LiverpoolRoma1-1 (4-2 pens)
1982/83HamburgJuventus1-0
1981/82Aston VillaBayern Munich1-0
1980/81LiverpoolReal Madrid1-0
1979/80Nottingham ForestHamburg1-0
1978/79Nottingham ForestMalmo1-0
1977/78LiverpoolClub Brugge1-0
1976/77LiverpoolBorussia Monchengladbach3-1
1975/76Bayern MunichSaint-Etienne1-0
1974/75Bayern MunichLeeds United2-0
1973/74Bayern MunichAtletico Madrid4-0 (replay)
1972/73AjaxJuventus1-0
1971/72AjaxInter2-0
1970/71AjaxPanathinaikos2-0
1969/70FeyenoordCeltic2-1 (a.e.t.)
1968/69MilanAjax4-1
1967/68Manchester UnitedBenfica4-1 (a.e.t.)
1966/67CelticInter2-1
1965/66Real MadridPartizan2-1
1964/65InterBenfica1-0
1963/64InterReal Madrid3-1
1962/63MilanBenfica2-1
1961/62BenficaReal Madrid5-3
1960/61BenficaBarcelona3-2
1959/60Real MadridEintracht Frankfurt7-3
1958/59Real MadridReims2-0
1957/58Real MadridMilan3-2 (a.e.t.)
1956/57Real MadridFiorentina2-0
1955/56Real MadridReims4-3

History of the Champions League and European Cup

The European Cup was first established in 1955, and it remained under that name until the 1992/93 season, when the competition was revamped and rebranded as the Champions League.

Originally, the competition was only open to the champions of Europe's domestic leagues, as well as the defending champion of the European Cup.

However, in 1997, the league runners-up from Europe's strongest leagues were permitted to enter and then, in 1999, a selection of teams that finished third and fourth in their domestic league competitions were also granted qualification.

Following the rebranding of the competition to the Champions League in 1992, the defending champions of the competition did not automatically qualify for the following season's edition. This changed in 2005, allowing the participation of then holders Liverpool.

Gareth Bale Real Madrid Champions League Final Trophy

Who won the most Champions League trophies?

A total of 23 clubs have won the Champions League and/or the European Cup, with Real Madrid lifting the title a record 15 times so far.

AC Milan (seven titles), Bayern Munich (six titles), Liverpool (six titles) and Barcelona (five titles) round out the top five.

Since it was rebranded the UEFA Champions League in 1992/93, the winners have come from the following countries: 

  • Spain (13): Barcelona (4), Real Madrid (9)
  • England (7): Chelsea (2), Liverpool (2), Manchester United (2), Manchester City (1)
  • Italy (5): AC Milan (3), Inter Milan (1), Juventus (1)
  • Germany (4): Bayern Munich (3), Borussia Dortmund (1)
  • France (1): Olympique Marseille
  • Netherlands (1): Ajax
  • Portugal (1): FC Porto

Clubs that won most UEFA Champions League trophies

No. of
titles
ClubSeasons champion
15Real Madrid1955/56, 1956/57, 1957/58, 1958/59,
1959/60, 1965/66, 1997/98, 1999/00,
2001/02, 2013/14, 2015/16, 2016/17,
2017/18, 2021/22, 2023/24
7AC Milan1962/63, 1968/69, 1988/89, 1989/90,
1993/94, 2002/03, 2006/07
6Bayern Munich1973/74, 1974/75, 1975/76, 2001/01,
2012/13,2019/20
6Liverpool1976/77, 1977/78, 1980/81, 1983/84,
2004/05, 2018/19
5Barcelona1991/92, 2005/06, 2008/09, 2010/11,
2014/15
4Ajax1970/71, 1971/72, 1972/73, 1994/95
3Inter Milan1963/64, 1964/65, 2009/10
3Manchester United1967/68, 1998/99, 2007/08
2Benfica1960/61, 1961/62
2Chelsea2011/12, 2020/21
2Juventus1984/85, 1995/96
2Nottingham Forest1978/79, 1979/80
2Porto1986/87, 2003/04
1Aston Villa1981/82
1Borussia Dortmund1996/97
1Celtic1966/67
1Feyenoord1969/70
1Hamburg1982/83
1Manchester City2022/23
1Olympique Marseille1992/93
1PSV Eindhoven1987/88
1Red Star Belgrade1990/91
1Steaua Bucharest1985/86

Kieran Francis

Kieran Francis Photo

Kieran Francis is a senior editor at The Sporting News based in Melbourne, Australia. He started at Sportal.com.au before being a part of the transition to Sporting News in 2015. Just prior to the 2018 World Cup, he was appointed chief editor of Goal.com in Australia. He has now returned to The Sporting News where his passions lay in football, AFL, poker and cricket - when he is not on holiday.