Real Madrid holds the record as the most successful club in the combined history of the European Cup and UEFA Champions League, having won a total of 15 titles. Since the inception of the Champions League format in the 1992–93 season, Real Madrid has claimed the trophy nine times, while Barcelona has won it four times. Cristiano Ronaldo is the top scorer in Champions League history with 140 goals, and Carlo Ancelotti is the most successful coach, having won five titles.
In European club football’s most prestigious competition, the UEFA Champions League, Spain’s Real Madrid ranks as the most successful team. Counting the earlier European Cup as part of this history, Real Madrid has secured 15 titles. The Italian club AC Milan follows in second place with seven titles, while Liverpool and Bayern Munich each have six.
Started in the 1955–56 season as the European Cup, the competition was rebranded as the UEFA Champions League in 1992–93. To date, 24 clubs from 10 countries have won the European champion title. Real Madrid notably won three consecutive titles from 2016 to 2018. Most recently, in 2024, Real Madrid claimed their 15th title by defeating Borussia Dortmund in the final.
Cristiano Ronaldo holds the individual record for most goals in the UEFA Champions League, having scored 140 goals in the tournament. As a coach, Carlo Ancelotti has won the European Cup and Champions League five times, making him the most successful manager in the competition’s history.
