UEFA Champions League: Real Madrid finals and history

There's an aura of invincibility to Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League.

Victorious in the first five editions of the European Cup, Real Madrid's superiority in the competition has extended to modern day with Los Blancos claiming their 15th title in 2024; more than double of the next best club, Milan.

Real Madrid UEFA Champions League finals

How many UEFA Champions League titles have Real Madrid won?

Real Madrid have been crowned champions of Europe on a record 15 occasions. Winning the European Cup in 1956, Los Blancos triumphed six more times before the turn of the century and have won a further eight since, including an historic three-peat between 2016 and 2018.

Real Madrid UEFA Champions League history

With the idea of a continental cup competition conceived by Gabriel Hanot, a former football editor of the French sports newspaper L'Equipe, Real Madrid pledged their interest in the newly-founded European Cup and immediately imposed their authority amongst Europe's elite.

Their all-conquering side consisted of legendary figures in Alberto Di Stefano, Raymond Kopa and Paco Gento before being further bolstered with the prize capture of Ferenc Puskas.

Toppling Reims 4-3 in the final of the inaugural edition, Los Blancos would retain the European Cup crown for five consecutive seasons, overcoming Fiorentina, Milan, Reims once more and Eintracht Frankfurt, with their showdown remaining arguably one of the greatest finals with 127,000 in attendance for a 10-goal thriller at Hampden Park.

The ever-increasing popularity of the European Cup prompted greater competition and Real Madrid succumbed to their first two-legged defeat in the competition against rivals Barcelona in the 1960/61 first round.

Final heartache followed in the subsequent years as former Madridista Puskás inspired Benfica to a 5-3 triumph in 1962 before a brace from Sandro Mazzola helped Inter secure their maiden success in the competition in 1964.

A 2-1 win over Partizan Belgrade saw Real Madrid claim their sixth European Cup title in 1966, though very few foreseen the barren spell that would unfold.

Real Madrid went 15 years before their next final appearance, falling to the great Bob Paisley's Liverpool side at the Parc des Princes.

With the unveiling of the UEFA Champions League in 1992, Real Madrid were absent for the first three editions of the rebranded competition but soon began to make their mark on Europe's elite stage.

Success over Juventus in the 1998 final preceded an all-Spanish affair against Valencia in 2000, with Vicente del Bosque's men marking the new century with an eighth European crown.

A 2-1 victory over Bayer Leverkusen in the 2002 final put Real Madrid to within touching distance of 'La Decima' and yet despite entering the 'Galacticos' phase, Los Blancos failed to advance beyond the Round of 16 in six consecutive campaigns between 2004 and 2010.

Semi-final heartache would ensue in three successive seasons before Real Madrid, under the stewardship of Carlo Ancelotti, finally got their hands on a 10th title at the expense of city rivals Atletico in 2014.

The two Madrid clubs would reacquaint themselves two years later, though on this occasions Real Madrid had the legendary Zinedine Zidane at the helm.

A penalty shootout triumph at the San Siro marked the first of an unprecedented three-peat as Real Madrid successfully defended their crown for two years running by overcoming Juventus in the 2017 final and Liverpool in the 2018 showpiece.

A 14th title beckoned in 2022 as Real Madrid were reacquainted with another European powerhouse in Liverpool. Ancelotti, in his second stint as Real boss, avenged the previous Paris meeting between the two sides in 1981 as Vinicius Junior's second half goal secured a fifth UEFA Champions League title in nine years.

In 2024, Real Madrid were at their indomitable best once again, conquering Manchester City and Bayern Munich en route to a 15th trophy with a 2-0 success over Borussia Dortmund at Wembley, further enhancing their reputation as the undisputed kings of the competition.

Check out the bet365 betting hub for all the latest UEFA Champions League betting odds.

Jaquob Crooke

• Real Madrid CF
• European Football
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