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UEFA Champions League

Continental Championships

The UEFA Champions League is the annual club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations for the top-division clubs of Europe, and it is regarded as the most prestigious club tournament in European football. It began in 1955 as the European Champion Clubs' Cup, a straight knockout open only to national league champions, and took its present name in 1992. Today it opens with qualifying rounds in early July, moves to a league phase in which each of 36 teams plays eight opponents, and ends with knockout rounds and a single-leg final in late May or early June. Its winner qualifies automatically for the following season, the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup, and Real Madrid hold the record with fifteen titles.

Facts

Frequency

Frequency (category)

Annual 1

Classification

Scope

Continental 1

Founding Year

1955 1

Connections

Competitors Include

Source Wikipedia, AC Milan

Source Wikipedia: AFC Ajax

Source Alex Ferguson (Wikipedia)

Source Arjen Robben (Wikipedia)

Source Wikipedia: Arsenal FC

Bafétimbi Gomis

Source Bafetimbi Gomis (Wikipedia)

Bastian Schweinsteiger

Source Bastian Schweinsteiger (Wikipedia)

Borussia Dortmund

Source Wikipedia: Borussia Dortmund

Source Carles Puyol (Wikipedia)

Source Celtic FC (Wikipedia)

Source Wikipedia: Chelsea FC

Daniel Van Buyten

Source Daniel Van Buyten (Wikipedia)

Source David Alaba (Wikipedia)

Source David Bellion (source article)

Source Eric Abidal (Wikipedia)

Source Wikipedia, FC Barcelona

FC Bayern Munich

Source Wikipedia, FC Bayern Munich

Source Gerard Piqué (Wikipedia)

Source Gerd Müller (Wikipedia)

Source Iker Casillas (Wikipedia)

Source Jens Lehmann (Wikipedia)

Jérémy Ménez

Source Jérémy Ménez (Wikipedia)

Jordan Henderson

Source Jordan Henderson (Wikipedia)

José Manuel Pinto

Source Jose Manuel Pinto (Wikipedia)

Source Juan Bernat (Wikipedia)

Source Wikipedia, Juventus FC

Source Karim Benzema (Wikipedia)

Source Kieran Gibbs (Wikipedia)

Source Wikipedia, Liverpool FC

Manchester United FC

Source Wikipedia, Manchester United FC

Source Maniche (Wikipedia)

Source Manuel Almunia (source article)

Source Manuel Neuer (Wikipedia)

Marcelo (footballer, born 1988)

Source Marcelo (footballer, born 1988) (Wikipedia)

Source Marquinhos (Wikipedia)

Martin Kelly (footballer)

Source Martin Kelly (footballer) (source article)

Mathieu Valbuena

Source Mathieu Valbuena (Wikipedia)

Source Mats Hummels (Wikipedia)

Michael Reiziger

Source Michael Reiziger (Wikipedia)

Ottmar Hitzfeld

Source Ottmar Hitzfeld (source article)

Paris Saint-Germain FC

Source Wikipedia, Paris Saint-Germain FC

Source Patrice Evra (Wikipedia)

Source Wikipedia, Real Madrid CF

Sébastien Squillaci

Source Sébastien Squillaci (Wikipedia)

Thiago Alcântara

Source Thiago Alcântara (Wikipedia)

Source Thomas Müller (Wikipedia)

Vikash Dhorasoo

Source Vikash Dhorasoo (Wikipedia)

Features

Association Football

Source Wikipedia: UEFA Champions League

Long-Form Articles

From a newspaper idea to the Champions League: how the European Cup began

Sources

1. Wikipedia: UEFA Champions League

Lead

Quote, Lead

Introduced in 1955 as the European Champion Clubs' Cup

View the Source

Karim Benzema (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Karim Benzema, Lead section, career summary [competed-in]

Quote, Competitors Include: Karim Benzema, Lead section, career summary [competed-in]

five UEFA Champions League titles

View the Source

Jordan Henderson (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Jordan Henderson, Lead paragraphs [competed-in]

Quote, Competitors Include: Jordan Henderson, Lead paragraphs [competed-in]

Henderson won the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup in 2019

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Thomas Müller (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Thomas Müller, Lead paragraphs [competed-in]

Quote, Competitors Include: Thomas Müller, Lead paragraphs [competed-in]

He is both the all-time German top goalscorer and assist provider in the UEFA Champions League.

View the Source

Arjen Robben (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Arjen Robben, Lead paragraph, competition

Quote, Competitors Include: Arjen Robben, Lead paragraph, competition

ranks second for the all-time Dutch top goalscorers (32) in the UEFA Champions League

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Bastian Schweinsteiger (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Bastian Schweinsteiger, Lead paragraph, competition

Quote, Competitors Include: Bastian Schweinsteiger, Lead paragraph, competition

a UEFA Champions League title

View the Source

Maniche (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Maniche, Lead paragraph, career [competed-in]

Quote, Competitors Include: Maniche, Lead paragraph, career [competed-in]

he helped Porto to the Champions League

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David Alaba (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: David Alaba, Lead, Bayern Munich honours

Quote, Competitors Include: David Alaba, Lead, Bayern Munich honours

winning 27 honours including ten Bundesliga titles and two UEFA Champions League titles in 2013 and 2020

View the Source

Iker Casillas (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Iker Casillas, Lead paragraph [competed-in]

Quote, Competitors Include: Iker Casillas, Lead paragraph [competed-in]

the youngest goalkeeper to play in the final of the Champions League

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Gerard Piqué (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Gerard Piqué, Lead paragraph, second paragraph

Quote, Competitors Include: Gerard Piqué, Lead paragraph, second paragraph

three UEFA Champions League titles

View the Source

Gerd Müller (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Gerd Müller, Lead paragraph, first paragraph

Quote, Competitors Include: Gerd Müller, Lead paragraph, first paragraph

the UEFA Champions League

View the Source

Patrice Evra (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Patrice Evra, Lead paragraph [competed-in]

Quote, Competitors Include: Patrice Evra, Lead paragraph [competed-in]

reached the 2004 UEFA Champions League Final

View the Source

Thiago Alcântara (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Thiago Alcântara, Lead paragraph

Quote, Competitors Include: Thiago Alcântara, Lead paragraph

the UEFA Champions League

View the Source

Marquinhos (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Marquinhos, Lead, competitions [competed-in]

Quote, Competitors Include: Marquinhos, Lead, competitions [competed-in]

He was part of PSG's team that reached the 2020 UEFA Champions League final

View the Source

Manuel Neuer (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Manuel Neuer, Lead paragraph [competed-in 2]

Quote, Competitors Include: Manuel Neuer, Lead paragraph [competed-in 2]

two UEFA Champions League titles in 2013 and 2020

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Carles Puyol (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Carles Puyol, Lead paragraph [competed-in]

Quote, Competitors Include: Carles Puyol, Lead paragraph [competed-in]

three Champions Leagues

View the Source

Mats Hummels (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Mats Hummels, Lead paragraph 2 [competed-in]

Quote, Competitors Include: Mats Hummels, Lead paragraph 2 [competed-in]

finishing runner-up in the UEFA Champions League in 2013 and 2024

View the Source

Marcelo (footballer, born 1988) (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Marcelo (footballer, born 1988), Lead paragraph 2

Quote, Competitors Include: Marcelo (footballer, born 1988), Lead paragraph 2

five UEFA Champions League titles

View the Source

Eric Abidal (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Eric Abidal, Lead, second paragraph [competed-in 2]

Quote, Competitors Include: Eric Abidal, Lead, second paragraph [competed-in 2]

two Champions Leagues

View the Source

Mathieu Valbuena (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Mathieu Valbuena, Lead, second paragraph

Quote, Competitors Include: Mathieu Valbuena, Lead, second paragraph

UEFA Champions League

View the Source

Juan Bernat (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Juan Bernat, Lead paragraph [competed-in]

Quote, Competitors Include: Juan Bernat, Lead paragraph [competed-in]

playing in the 2020 UEFA Champions League final

View the Source

Kieran Gibbs (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Kieran Gibbs, Career, Arsenal [competed-in]

Quote, Competitors Include: Kieran Gibbs, Career, Arsenal [competed-in]

He made his UEFA Champions League debut on 10 December 2008

View the Source

Jérémy Ménez (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Jérémy Ménez, Lead, career paragraph

Quote, Competitors Include: Jérémy Ménez, Lead, career paragraph

featured in the UEFA Champions League for the first time

View the Source

Martin Kelly (footballer) (source article)

Competitors Include: Martin Kelly (footballer), Club career, Liverpool [competed-in]

Quote, Competitors Include: Martin Kelly (footballer), Club career, Liverpool [competed-in]

he was an unused substitute in Liverpool's UEFA Champions League group stage match against Marseille

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David Bellion (source article)

Competitors Include: David Bellion, Club career, Manchester United

Quote, Competitors Include: David Bellion, Club career, Manchester United

he made his Champions League debut when he came on as a substitute

View the Source

Manuel Almunia (source article)

Competitors Include: Manuel Almunia, Club career, Arsenal [competed-in]

Quote, Competitors Include: Manuel Almunia, Club career, Arsenal [competed-in]

he replaced Robert Pires in the 20th minute of the final of the UEFA Champions League against FC Barcelona

View the Source

Ottmar Hitzfeld (source article)

Competitors Include: Ottmar Hitzfeld, Lead section [competed-in 3]

Quote, Competitors Include: Ottmar Hitzfeld, Lead section [competed-in 3]

He won the 1996-97 Champions League with Dortmund

View the Source

Sébastien Squillaci (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Sébastien Squillaci, Lead paragraph [competed-in 3]

Quote, Competitors Include: Sébastien Squillaci, Lead paragraph [competed-in 3]

reached the 2004 UEFA Champions League Final

View the Source

Michael Reiziger (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Michael Reiziger, Lead section

Quote, Competitors Include: Michael Reiziger, Lead section

he won one Champions League

View the Source

Bafetimbi Gomis (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Bafétimbi Gomis, Career section [competed-in]

Quote, Competitors Include: Bafétimbi Gomis, Career section [competed-in]

He's the third fastest hat-trick scorer in UEFA Champions League history

View the Source

Daniel Van Buyten (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Daniel Van Buyten, Career section [competed-in]

Quote, Competitors Include: Daniel Van Buyten, Career section [competed-in]

Van Buyten became the first-ever Belgian winner of the UEFA Champions League

View the Source

Jose Manuel Pinto (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: José Manuel Pinto, Career section

Quote, Competitors Include: José Manuel Pinto, Career section

being part of squads that won numerous titles, including three national championships and two Champions Leagues

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Wikipedia, Real Madrid CF

WikipediaCompetitors Include: Real Madrid CF, Lead or history section

Quote, Competitors Include: Real Madrid CF, Lead or history section

In International football, Real Madrid have won a record 35 trophies: a record 15 European Cup/UEFA Champions League titles, a record six UEFA Super Cups, two UEFA Cups, a joint-record two Latin Cups, a record one Iberoamerican Cup, and a record nine world championships.

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Wikipedia, FC Barcelona

WikipediaCompetitors Include: FC Barcelona, Lead or history section

Quote, Competitors Include: FC Barcelona, Lead or history section

In international club football, Barça has won 22 European and worldwide titles: five UEFA Champions League titles, a record four UEFA Cup Winners' Cups, a record three Inter-Cities Fairs Cups, five UEFA Super Cups, a joint record two Latin Cups and three FIFA Club World Cups.

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Wikipedia, Manchester United FC

WikipediaCompetitors Include: Manchester United FC, Lead or history section

Quote, Competitors Include: Manchester United FC, Lead or history section

Additionally, in international football, they have won the European Cup/UEFA Champions League three times, and the UEFA Europa League, the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, the UEFA Super Cup, the Intercontinental Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup once each.

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Wikipedia, Liverpool FC

WikipediaCompetitors Include: Liverpool FC, Lead or history section

Quote, Competitors Include: Liverpool FC, Lead or history section

Liverpool is the most successful British club in international football with fourteen trophies, having won the European Cup/UEFA Champions League (UEFA's premier club competition) six times, an English record that is only surpassed by Real Madrid and AC Milan.

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Wikipedia, FC Bayern Munich

WikipediaCompetitors Include: FC Bayern Munich, Lead or history section

Quote, Competitors Include: FC Bayern Munich, Lead or history section

Overall, Bayern have won six European Cup/UEFA Champions League titles (a German record), winning their sixth title in the 2020 final as part of the treble, and it became the second European club to achieve this feat twice.

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Wikipedia, Juventus FC

WikipediaCompetitors Include: Juventus FC, Lead or history section

Quote, Competitors Include: Juventus FC, Lead or history section

Internationally, the club has won two European Cup/UEFA Champions League titles, one European Cup Winners' Cup, three UEFA Cups, two Intercontinental Cups, two UEFA Super Cups, and one UEFA Intertoto Cup.

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Wikipedia, Paris Saint-Germain FC

WikipediaCompetitors Include: Paris Saint-Germain FC, Lead or history section

Quote, Competitors Include: Paris Saint-Germain FC, Lead or history section

Internationally, PSG is the most decorated French club, having won six major trophies: a French-record two UEFA Champions League titles, the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, two UEFA Super Cup, the UEFA Intertoto Cup, and the FIFA Intercontinental Cup.

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Wikipedia: AFC Ajax

WikipediaCompetitors Include: AFC Ajax, Lead or history section

Quote, Competitors Include: AFC Ajax, Lead or history section

The 2018-19 season for Ajax involved a remarkable run in the UEFA Champions League.

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Wikipedia: Arsenal FC

WikipediaCompetitors Include: Arsenal FC, Lead or history section

Quote, Competitors Include: Arsenal FC, Lead or history section

Between 1998 and 2017, Arsenal qualified for the UEFA Champions League for an English football record of nineteen consecutive seasons.

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Wikipedia: Chelsea FC

WikipediaCompetitors Include: Chelsea FC, Lead or history section

Quote, Competitors Include: Chelsea FC, Lead or history section

Internationally, their honours include two UEFA Champions Leagues, two UEFA Europa Leagues, two UEFA Cup Winners' Cups, two UEFA Super Cups, two FIFA Club World Cups, and one UEFA Conference League.

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Wikipedia: Borussia Dortmund

WikipediaCompetitors Include: Borussia Dortmund, Lead or history section

Quote, Competitors Include: Borussia Dortmund, Lead or history section

Internationally, they won the UEFA Champions League in 1997, the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1966, and the Intercontinental Cup in 1997, in addition, to being the runners-up in the Champions League in 2013 and 2024 and UEFA Europa League (formerly the UEFA Cup) in 1993 and 2002.

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Jens Lehmann (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Jens Lehmann, Lead paragraph (competition)

Quote, Competitors Include: Jens Lehmann, Lead paragraph (competition)

He holds the UEFA Champions League record for the most consecutive clean sheets, not conceding a single goal in eight consecutive full matches while he played for Arsenal.

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Alex Ferguson (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Alex Ferguson, Lead paragraph (competition)

Quote, Competitors Include: Alex Ferguson, Lead paragraph (competition)

During his 26 years with Manchester United, he won 38 trophies, including 13 Premier League titles, five FA Cups, and two UEFA Champions League titles, in 1999, which completed the first continental treble by an English club, and in 2008.

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Wikipedia, AC Milan

WikipediaCompetitors Include: AC Milan, Lead paragraph

Quote, Competitors Include: AC Milan, Lead paragraph

Two years later, the two teams met again in the 2007 Champions League final, with Milan winning 2-1 to lift the title for a seventh time.

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Celtic FC (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Celtic FC, Lead paragraph

Quote, Competitors Include: Celtic FC, Lead paragraph

The club enjoyed their greatest successes during the 1960s and 70s under Jock Stein, when they won nine consecutive league titles and the 1967 European Cup.

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Vikash Dhorasoo (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Vikash Dhorasoo, Lead, second paragraph

Quote, Competitors Include: Vikash Dhorasoo, Lead, second paragraph

where he reached the 2005 UEFA Champions League Final

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