Europe has the best and the toughest club competition in the world. The only thing which separates an elite club from a normal club is the Champions League title. Clubs all around Europe dream of winning this competition. Clubs with the most Champions League titles earn more bragging rights than the others. Let's take a look at the top clubs that have won the most number of Champions League titles in the tournament's history.

Champions League Finalists and Winners List since 1956

Top clubs with the most Champions League titles (3 or more)

1. Real Madrid CF (15 UCL titles)

Everyone considers Real Madrid C.F. as the most successful club in world football. This club has achieved great heights both in recent times and in the past. Real Madrid won the first-ever European Cup in 1955-56 which was also the founding year of the competition. Back then it was formally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup. The current format has been around since 1992. Real Madrid has won 15 UEFA Champions League titles which is more than any club in the world.

They won the tournament five consecutive times in the first five seasons of the tournament. Their recent achievement includes a three-peat of winning the UCL under Zinedine Zidane (2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18).

Cristiano Ronaldo was their star performer with the most impact in the competition. He further tops the chart of the most goal scorers and assists providers in the competition as well.

Also Read: Ronaldo records: Only player to be top scorer of the season in three different leagues

Real Madrid CF's Title winning years

2. AC Milan (7 UCL Titles)

AC Milan is an Italian giant with a rich history and glories. They produced players like Maldini, Dida, Nesta and many more. They dominated world football in the past few decades, but things have changed drastically since then. Milan has fallen from the folds of great clubs in recent times but their UCL glory is still more than others just behind Real Madrid. They have beaten the likes of Juventus, Liverpool, and Barcelona to win the Champions League in the past. Milan won the Champions League 7 times in their history.

AC Milan's Title winning years

Also Read: Most Champions League Goals In History

3. FC Bayern Munich (6 UCL titles)

Bayern Munich has been the dominant force in Europe for quite a long time. They dominate the Bundesliga and the domestic cup titles too. Recently, they have been one of the most prominent sides in Europe to deal with. Bayern humiliated Barcelona with an 8-2 defeat in the UCL quarter-finals and won the 2019-20 Champions League beating PSG comfortably by 1-0.

Robert Lewandowski was their main man in recent years with the most number of goals. However, they have consistently produced players like Robben, Franck Ribery, Thomas Muller and others who helped them win the trebles and sextuples.

Bayern Munich's Title winning years

4. Liverpool FC (6 UCL titles)

Liverpool has turned the tables beautifully in recent times. They were a great force in the European competition but suddenly went numb. Liverpool had a rough patch where they went trophyless for many years. With the appointment of Jurgen Klopp as manager, Liverpool slowly redeemed themselves. In the 2017-18 season, they reached the UCL finals but failed to win against Real Madrid.

Next season they came back stronger, from a 3-0 defeat in the first leg to win 4-0 in the second leg and knocked Barcelona out of the UCL semis. Liverpool went on to be the champions defeating Spurs by 2-0 in the all-English final to win their 6th UCL trophy. Their great comeback against Milan in 2005 at Istanbul still gives goosebumps to every football fan.

Liverpool's Title winning years

5. FC Barcelona (5 UCL Titles)

FC Barcelona are one of the biggest clubs in Europe with a great history in the UCL. They have won the title 5 times, while three of them came in the last decade. Their famous Lamasia - The FC Barcelona academy produced world-class players at the time. Players like Andres Iniesta, Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, Gerard Pique and many more were a part of the academy.

Coach Pep Guardiola conquered the world with some beautiful football. He managed to win both the Treble and Sextuple during his reign. A few years later Luis Enrique guided them to their 5th UCL title and also a treble. That was Barcelona's last high run in the UCL. After that, they have faced some problems and have not been able to continue their dominance in European football.

Read Also: Top 10: Most Free-kick Goals In Football History

FC Barcelona's Title winning years

6. Ajax (4 UCL Titles)

AFC Ajax has a great history. They are the only team to win the UCL 4 times which is not from the top 5 leagues. Football maestro Johan Cruyff was from this team, he later changed the definition of playing football. Introducing Tiki-taka football to the world, Ajax had a great run in the past. He later influenced Barcelona to play that type of football which brought them huge success in the end.

They last won the title in 1995 when the likes of Van der Sar, and Rijkaard used to play for them. Since then they have reached the UCL semifinal in 2019 upsetting big teams and then lost to the Spurs in the semifinal in the dying minutes. Ajax's run is considered one of the greatest underdogs in the history of the UEFA Champions League.

Ajax's Title winning years

7. Manchester United (3 UCL Titles)

Manchester United one of the greatest clubs in the world has won three Champions League titles. They looked like the best team in the world during their reign. Players like David Beckham, Ryan Gigs, and Wayne Rooney were part of the golden team when United lifted their 3rd European title. Sir Alex Ferguson, the manager of this team is one of the greatest ever in the history of the sport. He introduced one of the recent footballing greats Cristiano Ronaldo in top-flight football, who was also part of that 2007-08 team.

Manchester United have also won the treble and enlisted themselves in an elite list in World Football. Since then they qualified for two Champions League finals but faced defeat against FC Barcelona.

Read Also: 10 Most FA Cup Winners List: FA Cup in detail

Manchester United's Title winning years

8. Internazionale (3 UCL Titles)

Internazionale won two of their three trophies back in the 1960s. Since then they have been having disappointing year in and year out. Their recent UCL title was in 2009-10 when Jose Mourinho took charge. They were not the favourites in that season yet they went on to win the UCL.

Jose Mourinho at that time was emerging as one of the best coaches in the world. He played typical defensive football frustrated his opponents which created mistakes. They capitalised on those mistakes and went on to win their 3rd Champions League. They defeated the heavy-weights Barcelona in the semis and Bayern Munich in the final to clinch their title.

Internazionale's Title winning years

Clubs with less than three Champions League titles:

Hello and welcome to another LIVE coverage of Spanish football at Sportz Point. Tonight, we will bring you a classic match between two of the biggest teams in Spanish football, FC Barcelona and Atletico Madrid. 

This is Koushik Biswas, who will bring you the FC Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid Copa del Rey 2025 semi-final 1st leg LIVE Updates from the web desk, as both team prepares for the early advantage in the race to the final. 

Read Also | Most Goals In a UEFA Champions League Match

Barcelona have been solid in the tournament so far, conceding just one goal so far in the tournament this season. Meantime, Atletico Madrid also have been in tremendous form as they thrashed Getafe by 5-0 to enter the final four. 

As both teams look to get the first leg win before the second leg gets played nearly after a month, we welcome you to the coverage. Stay tuned and keep refreshing the page for the latest updates. 

The European Golden Shoe is one of the most prestigious awards in World Football and is awarded to the leading goalscorer in the top European leagues in each season. Although the ranking is based on a points system that was introduced in 1996, it never discredits the goalscoring attributes achieved by the footballers.

However, many renowned figures in world football history have achieved the Golden Shoe or Golden Boot. showcasing the legacy of this accolade.

This season's European Golden Boot race is taking shape, as leading names are eyeing to lift the Boot at the end of the season. Last season, Harry Kane won the Golden Shoe with 36 goals to his name. In the 2022-23 season, Erling Haaland won the Boot with the same number of goals.

However, there was only one instance when a footballer won the European Golden Shoe with a staggering 50 goals, a record which is still untouched. 

In this article, find when was the only time a player scored 50 goals to win the European Golden Shoe.

The only time a player scored 50 goals to win the European Golden Shoe

It was Lionel Messi, who accumulated a staggering 50 goals in the 2011-12 Laliga to acquire the European Golden Shoe at the end of the season.

The then-FC Barcelona forward registered 50 goals in a single LaLiga season, which is still a record in the league's history for the most goals scored by a player in a season.

Messi's incredible goalscoring tally that season earned him 100 points in total, which helped him earn his second Golden Boot of his career as the first came in the 2009-10 season.

Lionel Messi was directly involved in 102 goals across all competitions in 2011/12:

• 60 games
• 73 goals
• 29 assists

We just had to take a closer look. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/gtk5zSpdBv

— Squawka (@Squawka) February 16, 2019

Lionel Messi went on to win the Golden Shoe four more times eventually, and now he holds the record for winning the most Golden Boot awards (6), with the last one coming in the 2018-19 season.

Even Messi himself could not replicate the inhuman feat he achieved by scoring 50 goals a season. The Argentine sensation came close to the fifty-goal mark in the 2012-13 season when he won his third Golden Shoe award with 46 goals.

However, it was another superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, who came the closest to the milestone. The Portuguese great scored 48 goals for Real Madrid in the 2014-15 LaLiga, eventually winning his fourth Golden Shoe award.

Cristiano Ronaldo's 4 Golden Boots:

🏆2007/08: 31
🏆2010/11: 40
🏆2013/14: 31
🏆2014/15: 48

First to win 4 times! pic.twitter.com/wILxQIpyhl

— WorldGoalz (@WorldGoalz_) October 13, 2015

Since then, only Luis Suarez and Robert Lewandowski are the two Golden Shoe winners who crossed the 40-goal mark, but no one even came close to the 50-goal tally. Suarez netted 40 goals for Barcelona in the 2015-16 season, whereas Lewandowski bagged 41 goals for Bayern Munich in the 2020-21 season.

Many Players have experienced taking the UEFA Champions League match ball home. But few have done it multiple times. Listening to the UEFA Champions League anthem on the pitch while being in the starting lineup is the dream of every other kid football fan. But among the dreamers, few players go on to make further history in the game.

Players who leave a lasting impression through their quality, be it defending, goalkeeping, or even scoring goals. In this article, we will have a look at the players with the most hat-tricks in the UEFA Champions League history.

10. Harry Kane| 2 Hat-tricks| Tottenham Hotspurs & Bayern Munich:

First Hat-trick | Tottenham Hotspurs:

On 26th September 2017, Harry Kane hit his first hat-trick in the UEFA Champions League against APOEL FC, Tottenham Hotspurs won that match 3-0 in the group stage and Kane finished the group stage joint second in the top scorers chart with six goals.

Second Hat-trick | FC Bayern Munich:

On 18th September 2024, Harry Kane hit his second hat-trick against Dinamo Zagreb in the UEFA Champions League. Kane scored 4 goals and Bayern Munich won that match 9-2 at Allianz Arena in Munich. 

9. Kylian Mbappe | 3 Hat-tricks | Paris Saint-Germain & Real Madrid:

First Hat-trick | Paris Saint-Germain:

On 23 October 2019, Mbappe scored his first UEFA Champions League hat-trick against Club Brugge. Mbappe bagged three goals and Paris Saint-Germain won 5-0 against Club Brugge. 

Second Hat-trick | Paris Saint-Germain:

On 17 February 2017, Kylian Mbappe scored his second UEFA Champions League Round of 16 hat-tricks against the mighty FC Barcelona in Parc des Princes. Mbappe scored 3 goals and Moises Keane scored the last goal against Barcelona and they won 4-1 against the Blaugranes.

Third Hat-trick | Real Madrid: 

On 20th February 2025, Kylian Mbappe scored his third UEFA Champions League career Hat-trick against Manchester City in the League phase Knockout's second leg. With Mbappe's hat trick, Real Madrid beat the mighty Manchester City 3-1 and aggregated 6-3, and secured a spot in the Round of 16.

8. Neymar Jr. | 3 Hat-tricks | FC Barcelona & Paris Saint-Germain:

First Hat-trick | FC Barcelona:

On December 11, 2013, Neymar Jr. scored his first-ever hat-trick in the UEFA Champions League at Camp Nou in Spain. In that Lionel Messi was injured, but Neymar stepped up and scored a hat-trick against Celtic FC and FC Barcelona triumphed over a dominant 6-1 win against Celtic FC.

Second Hat-trick | Paris Saint-Germain:

Neymar Junior scored his second UEFA Champions League hat-trick against Red Star Belgrade on 4 October 2018. The Brazilian scored his second Champions League hat-trick with Paris Saint-Germain.

Third Hat-trick | Paris Saint-Germain:

Neymar Junior scored the third UEFA Champions League hat-trick against Istanbul Basaksehir. With the help of the Brazilian wizard's hat-trick, PSG triumphed in a 5-1 win over Istanbul in Parc des Princes in the UEFA Champions League group stage on 9 December 2020.

7. Filippo Inzaghi | 3 Hat-tricks | Juventus & Paris Saint-Germain:

First Hat-trick | Juventus:

Filippo Inzaghi scored his first UEFA Champions League hat-trick against Dynamo Kyiv. Filippo Inzaghi became the first Juventus player to score a UEFA Champions League hat-trick when he found the back of the net on three occasions against Dynamo Kyiv in March 1998. Juventus won that match with a comfortable 4-1 scoreline.

Second Hat-trick | Juventus:

On 13 September 2000, Filippo Inzaghi netted his first UEFA Champions League hat-trick against Hamburg. Filippo Inzaghi's hat-trick rescued Juventus as an astonishing Champions League match against Hamburg finished 4-4 in Germany. Juventus led 3-1 at one stage before falling 4-3 behind and it needed a late penalty from Inzaghi to rescue a point.

Third Hat-trick | AC Milan:

The former Italian international scored his third UEFA Champions League hat-trick in his iconic AC Milan Jersey against Deportivo La Coruna. With the help of his hat-trick AC Milan won with a comfortable 4-0 scoreline in the 2002-03 season.

6. Mario Gomez | 3 Hat-tricks | FC Bayern Munich: 

Mario Gomez scored his first UEFA Champions League hat-trick against the Romanian side CFR Cluj in November 2010. Almost a year to the day later, the German forward scored a match-winning hat-trick against Napoli to seal a 3-2 win. 

5. Luiz Adriano | 3 Hat-tricks | Shakhtar Donetsk:

Luiz Adriano had registered his first UEFA Champions League hat-trick two years prior when he netted three times in Shakhtar's 5-2 win over Danish side Nordsjaelland in November 2012. Luiz Adriano netted his second UEFA Champions League hat-trick against BATE Borisov in the 2014 season. The Brazilian recorded his third hat-trick against BATE as he inspired Shakhtar to a 5-0 win.

4. Karim Benzema | 4 Hat-tricks | Real Madrid:

Karim Benzema netted his first UEFA Champions League hat-trick for Real Madrid against Auxerre in December 2010. The Frenchman would wait five years for his second as he scored three times in an 8-0 win over Malmo. 

The Frenchman would wait five years for his second as he scored three times in an 8-0 win over Malmo, scoring three against PSG in March 2022, Benzema recorded his fourth UEFA Champions League hat-trick in a 3-1 win over Chelsea in April that year.

3. Robert Lewandowski | 6 Hat-tricks | Dortmund, Bayern Munich, & Barcelona:

The only player in UEFA Champions League history to score the hat-trick for three different clubs.

Robert Lewandowski truly announced himself on the world stage with a four-goal haul for Borussia Dortmund against Real Madrid in April 2013, he scored his first UEFA Champions League hat-trick in Santiago Bernabeu against Real Madrid. 

The Polish forward had already agreed on terms with Bayern at that point and Lewandowski recorded four hat-tricks for the German giants when opposing Dinamo Zagreb, Red Star Belgrade, Benfica, and lastly Red Bull Salzburg.

A move to Barcelona in 2022 brought Lewandowski his sixth UEFA Champions League hat-trick against Viktoria Plzen.

2. Lionel Messi | 8 Hat-tricks | FC Barcelona:

Lionel Messi scored a UEFA Champions League hat-trick in five consecutive calendar years from 2010. He scored his first UEFA Champions League hat-trick against Arsenal in 2010. The Argentine Talisman became the first player in the competition's history to score five goals in a single UEFA Champions League match against Bayer Leverkusen in 2012.

The former Barcelona legend scored other six UEFA Champions League hat-tricks against Ajax, APOEL Nicosia, Celtic, Manchester City, and PSV Eindhoven, a record equaled by Cristiano Ronaldo just six months later.

1. Cristiano Ronaldo | 8 Hat-tricks | Real Madrid & Juventus:

Cristiano Ronaldo never bagged a UEFA Champions League hat-trick for Manchester United. The Real Madrid legend netted his first hat-trick in the competition against Ajax in 2012. Ronaldo netted seven UEFA Champions League hat-tricks while he was in Real Madrid, the seven club names were - AFC Ajax, Shakhtar Donetsk, VfL Wolfsburg, Bayern Munich, Atlético de Madrid, Galatasaray, and Malmo FF.

Although the most memorable one came against Atlético de Madrid the second time. This time in the colors of Juventus. Juventus progressed 3-2 on aggregate to reach the quarterfinals.

The FIFA Puskas Award is among world football's most prestigious individual honors. It is given annually to the players who score the most beautiful goal of the year. Established in 2009 and named after the legendary Hungarian striker Ferenc Puskas, the award recognizes skill, creativity, and breathtaking moments that capture football fans worldwide. Over the past decade, some of football's biggest names as well as least-known talents, have claimed the honor of unforgettable strikes. Here is the full list of the past decade's FIFA Puskas winners:

FIFA Puskas Winners (2015-2024):

 10. Alejandro Garnacho | Manchester United | 2024:

Manchester United's winger Alejandro Garnacho won the FIFA Puskas Award for the overhead kick goal against Everton in Goodison Park. The Argentine International scored the goal in the third minute of the match and the Red Devils won that match by a 3-0 scoreline on 26 November 2023. 

He became the second Manchester United player to win the FIFA Puskas Award. Cristiano Ronaldo was the first Manchester United player, who won the FIFA Puskas Award for his long ranger against Porto.

2024 FIFA Puskas Award top 3 Nominees:

9. Guilherme Madruga | Botafogo-SP | 2023:

PRÊMIO PUSKAS PARA GUILHERME MADRUGA! 🇧🇷pic.twitter.com/dWp8KDlCaV

— ⚽ (@DoentesPFutebol) January 15, 2024

Guilherme Madruga won FIFA Puskas Award for the Overhead Kick goal against Novorizontino in Brazilian Serie B. The Botafogo Star scored the goal from outside of the box with an exceptional overhead kick. It Was the winning goal for the Botafogo-SP and Guilherme's first goal for the club.

2023 FIFA Puskas Award top 3 nominees:

8. Marcin Olesky | Warta Poznan | 2022:

Marcin Olesky is an amputee footballer, and he plays for Warta Poznan and Poland national amputee football team. The Polish international scored an overhead kick goal, and there was no other goal like in the nominee this one. Despite being an amputee, his dedication to football is exceptional. Olesky's physical disadvantage did not stop him from scoring an overhead kick, and pulling off the most valuable individual award.

2022 FIFA Puskas Award Nominees:

7. Erik Lamela | Tottenham Hotspurs | 2021:

The Argentine international scored the FIFA Puskas Award-winning goal in a North London derby. After a ball was played across the Arsenal box to him, he wasted no time and scored the goal with a beautiful rabona flick, the ball curled between Thomas Partey's legs and finished right into the bottom corner. Unfortunately, the Gunners pulled off an epic comeback and won the game 2-1 and Erik Lamela was sent off later in the second half.

2021 FIFA Puskas Award nominees:

 6. Son Heung-min | Tottenham Hotspurs | 2020:

The Korean international's absurd strike that saw him pick the ball up on the edge of his own box and dribble the entire length of the pitch before scoring it home.  On the day, Tottenham beat Burnley 5-0 in the Premier League, but the highlight of the match was Son's exceptional FIFA Puskas Award-winning goal. It was a fantastic solo effort that will go down as one of the best goals in Son Heung-min's whole career.

2020 FIFA Puskas Award top 3 nominees:

5. Daniel Zsori | Debrecen | 2019:

Imagine scoring on your senior team debut and scoring the winner against the league leaders in the 93rd minute with an outrageous overhead kick. Daniel Zsori did that against Ferencvaros in the Hungarian league. He started his senior career in the most emphatic fashion possible. His effort edged out Lionel Messi's dink against Real Betis.

4. Mohamed Salah | Liverpool | 2018:

Mohamed Salah wins the FIFA Puskas Award 2018 for this cracking goal against Everton! 🔴 🇪🇬 pic.twitter.com/MCn7zjd9S5

— The Anfield Buzz (@TheAnfieldBuzz) September 24, 2018

The Egyptian Talisman's effort was decent as he dribbled away two Everton defenders and curled a beautiful effort into the top corner past Jordan Pickford. But is that goal worth it to pull off the FIFA Puskas Award? Cause Salah had scored many goals like this in that season. Amazingly, it beat Cristiano Ronaldo's incredible overhead kick for Real Madrid against Juventus.

2018 FIFA Puskas Award nominees:

3. Olivier Giroud | Arsenal | 2017:

The former French international scored his FIFA Puskas Award-winning goal against Crystal Palace with a scorpion kick. Does the goal deserve to win the FIFA Puskas Award? Cause Henrikh Mkhitaryan did something similar a week before Giroud's goal. Giroud's goal no doubt was a brilliant strike, no one can deny that.

2017 FIFA Puskas Award nominees:

2. Mohd Faiz Subri | Penang | 2016:

It's one of the most remarkable free-kicks ever produced in professional football. Mohd Faiz Subri scored an exceptional free-kick in Malaysian Super League clash between Penang and Pahang back in 2016. With a set piece near the touchline, he aimed and fired an incredible goal that sailed into the top corner, Faiz Subri won the FIFA Puskas Award goal by this goal.

2016 FIFA Puskas Award nominees:

1. Wendell Lira | Goinesia | 2015:

The Brazilian scored his acrobatic effort for Goinesia a 2-1 win over Atletico-GO. Every football fan loves acrobatic goals or overhead kick goals, but this one is not that good. Arguably, in second-place was Lionel Messi's incredible solo goal against Athletic Club in the 2015 Copa del Rey final. No one can deny that Lira's goal is beautiful, but Messi's goal is something else.

2015 FIFA Puskas Award nominees: