What does the winner of the UEFA Champions League get?

The UEFA Champions League is the most prestigious club competition in European soccer.

The best of the best across Europe compete to lift the trophy, which is the ultimate indicator of a successful club.

But, what benefits does a club earn for winning the UEFA Champions League?

Here, we'll tell you all you need to know about that.

UEFA Champions League qualification

When a team wins the UEFA Champions League, they automatically qualify for the league phase (formerly the group stage) of the next season's edition of the tournament.

This is especially beneficial if the winning team has a down year in their domestic league. For example, Chelsea FC finished sixth in the Premier League in 2011/12 — outside the UEFA Champions League qualification spots — but earned a place in the 2012/13 UEFA Champions League because they beat Bayern Munich in the 2012 Final.

Prize money

Teams earn large sums of money for appearing in each knockout round, and it's no different for the UEFA Champions League Final.

In 2025, the tournament winner receives just over $29 million, while the runner-up gets just under $21.5 million.

A European trophy

In the eyes of many fans, there's no greater club team accomplishment out there than lifting the UEFA Champions League trophy.

Even decades after winning it, fans of UEFA Champions League winners will often point out the fact that their club has a European trophy.

In the case of Real Madrid and its record 15 UEFA Champions League titles, the club's resume in the competition serves as a benchmark for the rest of the continent to aspire to.