When you look at the list of winners of the champions league, it’s basically just a map of European royalty. But honestly? It’s also a graveyard of dreams. For every Real Madrid lifting the trophy like it’s a birthright, there’s an Atletico Madrid or a Juventus wondering why the universe hates them.
The tournament started back in 1955 as the European Cup. It was simpler then. Straight knockout. Only the actual champions of each league got in. Now, we’ve got league phases, coefficient rankings, and a whole lot of math. But the goal is still the same: getting your hands on "Ol' Big Ears."
The Titans of the Trophy Cabinet
Real Madrid is the boss. There's no other way to put it.
They won the first five in a row starting in 1956. Then, after a few decades of relative quiet, they went on a tear in the modern era. You’ve probably seen the stats: 15 titles. They won it in 2024 by beating Dortmund 2-0, a game where they honestly looked second best for long stretches. But that's Madrid. They don't need to be better; they just need to win.
Then you have AC Milan with seven. They haven’t won since 2007, which feels like a lifetime ago for a club that used to own the 90s. Liverpool and Bayern Munich sit right behind them with six each.
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Barcelona has five, but four of those came during the Messi era. Since he left, the list of winners of the champions league hasn't featured them once. It's a stark reminder that even the biggest clubs are mortal.
Recent History and New Blood
The last few years have seen the "State-funded" clubs finally break the ceiling. Manchester City did it in 2023. More recently, in May 2025, Paris Saint-Germain finally got their first.
It wasn't even close. PSG absolutely dismantled Inter Milan 5-0 in the 2025 final in Munich. Luis Enrique, the man who previously won it with Barca, became the mastermind behind Paris finally etching their name on the cup. Before that, it felt like they were cursed.
Here is how the dominance breaks down by country:
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- Spain: 20 wins (Real Madrid and Barca carry the whole country)
- England: 15 wins (A record six different clubs have won it here)
- Italy: 12 wins (AC Milan, Inter, and Juve)
- Germany: 8 wins (Bayern, Dortmund, and Hamburg)
What People Get Wrong About the Winners List
Most fans think the most successful clubs are just the richest ones.
Money helps, obviously. But look at Nottingham Forest. They have two Champions League titles. That’s more than Manchester City, Arsenal, and PSG combined for a very long time. They won back-to-back in 1979 and 1980 under Brian Clough.
There's also the "Juve Curse." Juventus has reached nine finals. They’ve lost seven of them. That is a statistical nightmare. Imagine being one of the best teams in the world for decades and having the same number of trophies as Chelsea or Benfica.
Then you have the managers. Carlo Ancelotti has five titles as a coach. Five. He’s won with Milan and Real Madrid across multiple decades. While tactical geniuses like Pep Guardiola spend years overthinking lineups, Ancelotti basically just raises an eyebrow and wins.
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The Full Roll of Honour (1956–2025)
The list of winners of the champions league isn't just about the giants. It's about the one-hit wonders too. Steaua București won it in '86. Red Star Belgrade took it in '91.
1956-1960: Real Madrid (The 5-peat)
1961-1962: Benfica
1963: AC Milan
1964-1965: Inter Milan
1966: Real Madrid
1967: Celtic (The first British team)
1968: Manchester United
1969: AC Milan
1970: Feyenoord
1971-1973: Ajax (Cruyff era)
1974-1976: Bayern Munich
1977-1978: Liverpool
1979-1980: Nottingham Forest
1981: Liverpool
1982: Aston Villa
1983: Hamburg
1984: Liverpool
1985: Juventus (The Heysel tragedy year)
1986: Steaua București
1987: Porto
1988: PSV Eindhoven
1989-1990: AC Milan
1991: Red Star Belgrade
1992: Barcelona (The last "European Cup")
1993: Marseille (First "Champions League" winner)
1994: AC Milan
1995: Ajax
1996: Juventus
1997: Borussia Dortmund
1998: Real Madrid
1999: Manchester United (The Treble)
2000: Real Madrid
2001: Bayern Munich
2002: Real Madrid
2003: AC Milan
2004: Porto (The Mourinho arrival)
2005: Liverpool (The Miracle of Istanbul)
2006: Barcelona
2007: AC Milan
2008: Manchester United
2009: Barcelona
2010: Inter Milan
2011: Barcelona
2012: Chelsea
2013: Bayern Munich
2014: Real Madrid (La Decima)
2015: Barcelona
2016-2018: Real Madrid (The modern 3-peat)
2019: Liverpool
2020: Bayern Munich
2021: Chelsea
2022: Real Madrid
2023: Manchester City
2024: Real Madrid
2025: Paris Saint-Germain
It’s a weird, prestigious, and often unfair list. But that’s football.
If you're looking to track the next set of winners, the best thing to do is watch the "Big Five" leagues. Since 2004, every single winner except for PSG in 2025 has come from England, Spain, Germany, or Italy. The gap between the elite and the rest is only getting wider.
Keep an eye on the coefficient rankings. They determine how many teams each country gets, and more teams usually means a better chance of staying on that list. You should also look at squad depth charts; the new format requires more games, meaning the teams with the biggest benches are the ones most likely to be lifting the trophy in May.