The 10 most successful teams in Champions League history

Real Madrid are aiming for their 15th Champions League title when they take on Borussia Dortmund at Wembley tonight.
Los Blancos remain the most successful team in the competition’s history and will relish the chance to record another historic night.
Borussia Dortmund are the previous winners, but have not reached the final since 2013 and are huge underdogs with the bookies against Carlo Ancelotti’s men.
As two of football’s giants prepare to battle it out, we take a look at the 10 most successful teams in the competition.
Chelsea – 2 titles
At number 10 on our list is London’s most successful European club, Chelsea.
The Blues have won the Champions League twice and both victories took place in the last 15 years.
Their first title came in 2012 against German giants Bayern Munich in one of the most famous matches in Chelsea’s history.
Chelsea 2021 ⚽️#UCLfinal pic.twitter.com/LJyK3ux0CG
– UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) May 24, 2024
Didier Drogba’s header in extra time earned the Blues victory at Bayern Stadium, leaving the club’s fans and players stunned.
In 2021, they won it again. Kai Havertz’s effort was enough to defeat Manchester City, who were on course to win the competition for the first time before it ends the streak in 2023.
Inter Milan – 3 titles
Inter Milan is not the most successful Italian team in the Champions League but having three titles should not be underestimated.
The Nerazzurri won their first final in 1964 before returning a year later to win it again.
Inter’s first success came against Real Madrid in a thrilling match that saw the Serie A side win 3-1 before they overcame Benfica with a more impressive 1-0 victory.
Most recently, the title turned to San Siro in 2010.
It was a golden era for the club under Jose Mourinho and that year they were simply unstoppable, edging out Bayern Munich in the final to add the Champions League to their collection and become the first Italian team to win the Treble.
On this day, in 2010, José Mourinho’s Inter Milan side won the Champions League and completed the treble thanks to a brilliant brace from Diego Milito.
It remains the only Italian club to have completed the treble.
🏆🏆🏆 pic.twitter.com/JM1ntGJwbE
— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) May 22, 2024
Manchester United – 3 titles
When you look at the success and history behind Manchester United, it is perhaps surprising that they have only won the Champions League three times.
It’s still a remarkable achievement, but they haven’t appeared in the finals since 2011.
In fact, they have lost twice in the finals since winning their last Champions League trophy in 2008.
Both losses were to a formidable Barcelona side but there are still fond memories for Red Devils fans to look back on from this tournament.
Chelsea were United’s latest victims, losing on penalties in the famous match where John Terry slipped while kicking the ball.
Their other wins were against Bayern Munich in 1999 – the end of another famous Treble – and Benfica in 1968.
Ajax – 4 articles
Ajax’s golden boys of ’95 🏆
⚪️🔴⚪️ 123 years of history!@AFCAjax || #UCL pic.twitter.com/Zc3O5YQSOg
– UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) March 18, 2023
Ajax have a rich history when it comes to the Champions League and sit sixth on our list with four titles.
The Amsterdam club has yet to win a trophy in the current decade but was very prominent in the 1970s.
They’ve won the competition three times in ten years, but that’s not the most impressive part.
Ajax went back to back in a row between 1971-1973, beating Panathinaikos, Inter Milan and Juventus and not conceding a single goal.
Their other success came in 1995 against AC Milan and that remains their most recent Champions League achievement.
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Barcelona – 5 titles
Spanish giants Barcelona are in the top five and like Ajax, they enjoyed a golden era in the Champions League.
Three of Barca’s five titles came between 2009-2015, most recently beating Juventus nine years ago.
Their first win came in 1992 against Sampdoria before denying Arsenal their maiden title in 2006.
La Blaugrana went on to beat Manchester United twice in three years, including the previous one at Wembley, where tonight’s clash takes place.
Barca played one of the most prominent teams in this tournament including Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta, Xavi, David Villa and many other famous names in football.
Bayern Munich – 6 titles
🔴 Bayern lifted the trophy #OTD in 2013 🏆
⚽️ Mario Mandžukić, Mr. Wembley #UCL | #MondayMotivation | @FCBayernEN pic.twitter.com/OzkNeYotee
– UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) May 25, 2020
Only two teams have won the Champions League six times and Bayern Munich is one of the teams with a rich history in this competition.
They, like Ajax, can boast that they have won the cup three times in a row.
And as an Eredivisie team, their heyday came in the 1970s.
After beating Atletico Madrid 4-0 in 1974, Bayern then beat Leeds 2-0 the following year, before thrashing St-Etienne 12 months later.
They famously beat rivals Borussia Dortmund and Wembley in 2013 but had to wait seven years after that to lift the trophy again.
The Bundesliga giants beat Paris Saint-Germain in 2020 and were set to make the final again after four years but were stunned by Real Madrid’s late comeback in the semi-finals.
Liverpool – 6 titles
Sitting in the top three is Liverpool.
They are responsible for the biggest comeback of the Champions League and you will have a hard time finding a football fan who has not heard of that famous night in Istanbul.
Liverpool were beaten 3-0 by AC Milan in 2005 but managed to fight back and win on penalties.
It was their fifth title at the time and their previous victories came in 1977, 1978, 1981 and 1984.
In 2019, the Reds beat Tottenham to a sixth win but could have more honors to their name.
They have made the final nine times, including in 2022 when they lost to Real Madrid.
🔴 Liverpool reached 6th on this day in 2019 🏆#UCLfinal pic.twitter.com/BqkP1k3Y8I
– UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) June 1, 2023
AC Milan – 7 titles
Coming in at number 2 in the list of the most successful teams in the Champions League is Italian officials AC Milan.
With seven trophies in their cabinet, it may come as a bit of a shock to hear that the Rossoneri are without a UCL title since 2007.
The 17-year wait to regain their European throne will continue for at least another 12 months but fans will always be able to remember their great history in the competition.
Milan’s first title came in 1963 and four more followed before the new millennium.
In 2003, they beat Serie A rivals Juventus on penalties before exacting revenge on Liverpool in 2007 with their famous Istanbul comeback.
Real Madrid – 14 titles
Real Madrid are in a league of their own when it comes to European pedigree.
14 Champions League titles is unprecedented and it would not be surprising if they add to their tally in 2024.
Real Madrid won the Champions League 10 years ago 🌟 pic.twitter.com/4W4OPQIZlo
– B/R Football (@brfootball) May 30, 2024
Their first title came in 1956 when they beat Reims, but that’s not the impressive part.
Los Blancos then went on to win the competition four times in a row and five times in a row, a remarkable achievement.
Since 2000, the Spanish giants have won the coveted trophy seven times, including the latest in 2022.
To put it simply, they are the most successful team in Champions League history but a long, long way to go.
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