Over the years, several records have been etched into the annals of history of the UEFA Champions League.
Players have displayed brilliance, clubs have shown their domineering status, while greats have forged their path, leaving an indelible mark that can never be blotted out from history.
Cristiano Ronaldo is arguably the face of the competition, and he accentuated quality in the tournament for many years.
He and Karim Benzema, Dani Carvajal, and Luka Modric amongst a few others are currently the most successful players in the competition.
Carvajal, Modric, and Toni Kroos are gunning for their 6th Champions League title, as they will be representing Real Madrid against Borussia Dortmund in the final which will be played on June 1, 2024.
This will see them make history by becoming the most successful side in the tournament’s history.
However, for the European Cup, which was renamed as the Champions League, Real Madrid great Francisco Gento leads the way with 6 titles.
Moreover, Paolo Maldini is the player with the most appearances in the UEFA Champions League and he is tied for the top spot with Cristiano Ronaldo.
The pair have made 6 Champions League appearances, closely followed by Karim Benzema, Dani Carvajal, Luka Modric, Patrice Evra, Clarence Seedorf, Edwin Van der Sar and Toni Kroos, with these players making 5 final appearances.
In terms of all-time appearances in the European Cup, which the Champions League is its equivalent, Francisco Gento and Paolo Maldine both made 8 appearances, while Alfredo di Stefano made 7 final appearances.
Interestingly, Cristiano Ronaldo is only behind these other greats, having made 6 final appearances.
Most Goals In The UEFA Champions League finals
Let’s drive you through to the player with the most goals in the UEFA Champions League finals.
For the modern-day competition, goal machine Cristiano Ronaldo has netted in 4 finals, and he is followed by Gareth Bale, who has netted in 3 finals.
Samuel Eto’o, Filippo Inzaghi, Daniele Massaro, Lionel Messi, Sergio Ramos, Raul Gonzalez, Mario Mandzukic, Hernán Crespo, Diego Milito, and Karl-Heinz Riedle have all found the back of the net in two finals.
If the European Cup is included, Real Madrid legends Alfredo di Stefano and Ferenc Puskas scored in 7 different finals.
Recall Cristiano Ronaldo has netted in 4, while Gareth Bale, Eusebio, Sandro Mazzola, Gerd Müller, Pierino Prati, and Héctor Rial have all netted in 3 separate finals.
Carlo Ancelotti Has Won The Most UEFA Champions League Titles
Definitely, the records of coaches in the UEFA Champions League would interest you, as two coaches affiliated with Real Madrid are present among the top 3.
Carlo Ancelotti has won the most UEFA Champions League titles (4), winning the trophy in 2003 and 2007 with AC Milan.
Ancelotti has also guided Real Madrid to the trophy in 2014 and 2022, and he is on the verge of winning his 5th, as Real Madrid play Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League final on June 1, 2024, as earlier indicated.
Zinedine Zidane sits joint 2nd with 3 UEFA Champions League titles, having three-peated the trophy by winning it in 2016, 2017, and 2018.
Pep Guardiola, who shares the 2nd spot with Zidane, has also won the trophy on three different occasions, winning it in 2009 and 2011 with Barcelona.
He recently led Manchester City to the title in the 2022/23 campaign.
Additionally, for the European Cup, Bob Paisley won three times, leading Liverpool to the crown in 1977, 1978, and 1981.
How Many Clubs Have Won The Prestigious Club Competition
Furthermore, 23 clubs have clinched the title since it was created in 1955, with Real Madrid winning it a staggering 14 times in history.
AC Milan, who are the second most successful side in the competition have won it 7 times, while Bayern Munich and Liverpool have been champions on 6 different occasions.
Barcelona have won the titles 5 times previously, while Dutch giants Ajax have won the trophy 4 times in history.
Inter Milan and Manchester United have won the UEFA Champions League 3 times, while Juventus, Benfica, Nottingham Forest, Porto, and Chelsea have won it twice in the past.
Celtic, Hamburger SV, Steaua București, Marseille, Borussia Dortmund, Manchester City, Feyenoord, Aston Villa, PSV Eindhoven, and Red Star Belgrade have won it once in the competition’s stellar history.
Here Are Some Fascinating UEFA Champions League Records
Players with most UEFA Champions League titles:
5 Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)
– 5 Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid)
5 Luka Modrić (Real Madrid)
5 Cristiano Ronaldo (Man United, Real Madrid)
– 4 Gareth Bale (Real Madrid)
4 Casemiro (Real Madrid)
4 Andrés Iniesta (Barcelona)
– 4 Isco (Real Madrid)
4 Toni Kroos (Real Madrid)
4 Marcelo (Real Madrid)
– 4 Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid)
4 Clarence Seedorf (Ajax, Real Madrid, Milan)
Note: Kroos and Casemiro have five Champions League titles to their name but took part in just four finals, having been absent in 2013 and 2014 respectively.
Bale, Isco, and Marcelo have also won five titles, but only appeared in four final victories, having stayed on the bench for the 2022 decider.
Nacho has also been a member of five victorious squads but only played in the 2018 final, while several other top players have four titles to their name but only three final appearances:
Lionel Messi: 2006*, 2009, 2011, 2015 (Barcelona)
Gerard Piqué: 2008*, 2009, 2011, 2015 (Man United, Barcelona)
Raphaël Varane: 2014, 2016*, 2017, 2018 (Real Madrid)
Xavi Hernández: 2006*, 2009, 2011, 2015 (Barcelona)
The “*” symbol indicates that the player did not feature in the final.
Additionally, Real Madrid’s Lucas Vázquez has been part of four victorious squads but only played in the final in 2016 and 2022.
Meanwhile, Mateo Kovačić has four winners’ medals but has featured in only a single final, playing in Chelsea’s 1-0 win over Manchester City.
Which coach has won the most consecutive Champions League finals?
UEFA Champions League
3 Zinédine Zidane (Real Madrid 2016, 2017, 2018)
European Cup (overall)
3 Zinédine Zidane (Real Madrid 2016, 2017, 2018)
2 Luis Carniglia (Real Madrid 1958, 1959)
– 2 Brian Clough (Nottingham Forest 1979, 1980)
2 Béla Guttman (Benfica 1961, 1962)
2 Helenio Herrera (Inter 1964, 1965)
– 2 Ștefan Kovács (Ajax 1972, 1973)
2 Dettmar Kramer (Bayern 1975, 1976)
– 2 Bob Paisley (Liverpool 1977, 1978)
2 Arrigo Sacchi (AC Milan 1989, 1990)
2 José Villalonga (Real Madrid 1956, 1957)
Who has coached several clubs in the Champions League final?
UEFA Champions League
4 Carlo Ancelotti (AC Milan 2003, 2007; Real Madrid 2014, 2022)
2 Jupp Heynckes (Real Madrid 1998; Bayern 2013)
– 2 Ottmar Hitzfeld (Dortmund 1997; Bayern 2001)
- – 2 Jürgen Klopp (Dortmund 2013; Liverpool 2018, 2019, 2022)
- – 2 José Mourinho (Porto 2004; Inter 2010)
– 2 Pep Guardiola (Barcelona 2009, 2011; Man City 2021, 2023)
Which team has been defeated the most in the Champions League finals?
UEFA Champions League
5 Juventus
3 Bayern
3 AC Milan
– 3 Liverpool
- – 2 Atlético Madrid
2 Man United
– 2 Valencia
European Cup (overall)
7 Juventus
5 Bayern
5 Benfica
– 4 AC Milan
4 Liverpool
3 Atlético
– 3 Barcelona
- – 3 Inter
3 Real Madrid
