Who has won the most UEFA Champions League titles? Most successful clubs in Europe

Joshua Thomas

Who has won the most UEFA Champions League titles? Most successful clubs in Europe image

Real Madrid's UEFA Champions League trophy haul

The UEFA Champions League title is something every club in Europe dreams of lifting.

A competition for the very best teams on the continent, Champions League triumph requires season-long consistency and an ability to perform when the pressure is on. 

Some clubs have proven their UCL quality over the years, while others have stuttered when it matters most.

The Sporting News looks at which teams have enjoyed the most success and most failure in the Champions League.

MORE: The all-time leading goalscorers in UEFA Champions League history

Which club has won the most UEFA Champions League titles?

Real Madrid are the undisputed kings of the Champions League, with their victory over Borussia Dortmund at Wembley Stadium on June 1 securing their 15th trophy.

The Spanish club dominated the Champions League from the outset — when it was known as the European Cup — picking up five straight titles from the competitions inception. More recently, they also claimed three straight between 2016-2018, before winning again in 2022 and 2024.

Italian giants AC Milan are the next best performing club, with seven titles to their name, but they haven't tasted success in the competition since 2007.

Liverpool and Bayern Munich are tied for third with six wins.

ClubTitlesFinals won
Real Madrid151956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1966, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2024
AC Milan71963, 1969, 1989, 1990, 1994, 2003, 2007
Liverpool61977, 1978, 1981, 1984, 2005, 2019
Bayern Munich61974, 1975, 1976, 2001, 2013, 2020
Barcelona51992, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2015
Ajax41971, 1972, 1973, 1995
Manchester United31968, 1999, 2008
Inter31964, 1965, 2010
Juventus21985, 1996
Benfica21961, 1962
Chelsea22012, 2021
Nottingham Forest21979, 1980
Porto21987, 2004
Celtic11967
Hamburg11983
Steaua Bucharest11986
Marseille11993
Borussia Dortmund11997
Feyenoord11970
Aston Villa11982
PSV Eindhoven11988
Red Star Belgrade11991
Manchester City12023

Which club has lost the most UEFA Champions League finals?

While some sides have enjoyed plenty of success in the Champions League, others have had to endure their fair share of heartbreak.

Despite winning two UEFA Champions League titles, Juventus have also lost a record seven finals.

The Serie A side has been defeated in their past five finals in the competition with their most recent loss coming in 2017 against Real Madrid.

MORE: Every UEFA Champions League winner in history

Bayern Munich and Benfica are next worst when it comes to defeats in finals, having both lost on five occasions. 

Atletico Madrid have also notably lost all three Champions League finals they have made to date, while Inter Milan have won three and lost three of theirs, most recently in 2023.

ClubRunners-upFinals lost
Juventus71973, 1983, 1997, 1998, 2003, 2015, 2017
Bayern Munich51982, 1987, 1999, 2010, 2012
Benfica51963, 1965, 1968, 1988, 1990
Milan41958, 1993, 1995, 2005
Liverpool41985, 2007, 2018, 2022
Real Madrid31962, 1964, 1981
Barcelona31961, 1986, 1994
Atletico Madrid31974, 2014, 2016
Inter Milan31967, 1972, 2023

Joshua Thomas

Joshua Thomas Photo

Josh has been covering sport for nearly a decade now having fallen in love with football at a young age. A UTS graduate, Josh has previously worked for GOAL and now covers football closely for The Sporting News.