The Champions League is the most prestigious tournament in European soccer and is often called “the biggest club competition in the world.” It is also known as UEFA’s top-tier league championship. Only the winners of the best domestic leagues in Europe are eligible to compete in this tournament. It is a knockout competition with multiple rounds.
During the tournament’s early years, it was known as the European Cup. Initially, it only included the champions of different national leagues in Europe. Later, the tournament was expanded to include all top-ranked clubs in Europe. Throughout its history, it has been dominated by clubs from Spain and Germany. The most dominant of these has been Real Madrid, which won 15 titles in the modern era of the competition, beginning with its first win in 1992-93.
Real Madrid is the only team to win three back-to-back titles. It has won nine since then. This has helped the club become one of the most popular in the world.
During the 2024-25 season, the Champions League had a major revamp. The tournament dropped the traditional group stage that had been in place for 21 seasons. Instead, the tournament now has a 36-team league phase in which teams play eight matches against opponents from four seeding pots. Those who finish in the top eight qualify for the last 16 and those who finish ninth to 24th will compete in a two-legged knockout playoff. In the league phase, clubs will face all other teams twice – once at home and once away.