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

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Champions League trophies Real Madrid display museum
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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.

Club Titles Finals won
Real Madrid 15 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1966, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2024
AC Milan 7 1963, 1969, 1989, 1990, 1994, 2003, 2007
Liverpool 6 1977, 1978, 1981, 1984, 2005, 2019
Bayern Munich 6 1974, 1975, 1976, 2001, 2013, 2020
Barcelona 5 1992, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2015
Ajax 4 1971, 1972, 1973, 1995
Manchester United 3 1968, 1999, 2008
Inter 3 1964, 1965, 2010
Juventus 2 1985, 1996
Benfica 2 1961, 1962
Chelsea 2 2012, 2021
Nottingham Forest 2 1979, 1980
Porto 2 1987, 2004
Celtic 1 1967
Hamburg 1 1983
Steaua Bucharest 1 1986
Marseille 1 1993
Borussia Dortmund 1 1997
Feyenoord 1 1970
Aston Villa 1 1982
PSV Eindhoven 1 1988
Red Star Belgrade 1 1991
Manchester City 1 2023

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.

Club Runners-up Finals lost
Juventus 7 1973, 1983, 1997, 1998, 2003, 2015, 2017
Bayern Munich 5 1982, 1987, 1999, 2010, 2012
Benfica 5 1963, 1965, 1968, 1988, 1990
Milan 4 1958, 1993, 1995, 2005
Liverpool 4 1985, 2007, 2018, 2022
Real Madrid 3 1962, 1964, 1981
Barcelona 3 1961, 1986, 1994
Atletico Madrid 3 1974, 2014, 2016
Inter Milan 3 1967, 1972, 2023
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Josh is a content producer for The Sporting News Australia.
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