The Champions League is the trophy every owner, manager and player dreams of lifting. The 2024/25 season delivered one of the most stunning finals in recent memory, with Paris Saint-Germain thrashing Inter Milan 5–0 at the Allianz Arena in Munich on 31 May 2025 — the biggest winning margin ever recorded in a major European final. It was PSG’s first ever European Cup title, coming in the same year they also won Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France to complete a historic continental treble.
The 2025/26 season reached its climax on Saturday 30 May 2026 at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest — and it ended in agony for Arsenal. Kai Havertz gave the Gunners a dream start with a thunderbolt finish after just six minutes, but Ousmane Dembélé levelled from the penalty spot in the second half to send the final to extra time. Eberechi Eze and Gabriel both missed from the spot as PSG recorded a 4-3 shootout victory to retain their title — becoming back-to-back European champions. Marquinhos lifted the Champions League trophy for the second season in a row, while Arsenal were left to reflect on a Premier League title won and a European dream that ended just one step from glory. The double was heartbreakingly close — but the Premier League trophy is still coming to north London on Sunday.
The competition has also undergone a major format change: from the 2024/25 season, the old group stage was replaced with a new 36-team league phase, giving fans more matches and more drama than ever before.
20+ facts about the Champions League
Royal Reign: Real Madrid holds the record for most Champions League wins with 15 titles. Their closest rival is AC Milan with 7 — though PSG’s 2025 victory means the trophy has now been lifted by a French club for just the second time in history.
Financial Powerhouse: The Champions League is a money machine. The total prize fund for the 2023/24 season exceeded €2 billion, with teams earning more the further they advance.
Global Spectacle: The Champions League final attracts a viewership of over 380 million, making it one of the most watched sporting events on the planet.
Name Change History: Originally called the European Champion Clubs’ Cup, it was rebranded as the UEFA Champions League in 1992 — now in its 33rd season under that name.
English Ban: A dark chapter saw English clubs banned from European competitions for five years (1985–1990) following the Heysel Stadium disaster.
Fastest Goal: Roy Makaay of Bayern Munich holds the record for the fastest goal ever scored in the competition, netting in just 11 seconds against Real Madrid in 2007.
Underdog Victories: While powerhouses dominate, there have been famous upsets. Teams like Nottingham Forest (1979) and Porto (2004) have defied the odds to win the trophy — and PSG’s 2025 triumph showed that new clubs can still break into the elite.
Champions League Anthem: The iconic anthem you hear before every match is based on Georg Friedrich Händel’s “Zadok the Priest” and has become one of the most recognisable pieces of music in world sport.
Home Advantage Myth: Only two teams have ever won the Champions League final on home soil: Borussia Dortmund (1997) and Juventus (1996). Could Arsenal make it three in 2026, with their home country connection?
Foundation for Children: The UEFA Champions League supports the UEFA Foundation for Children, a charity that uses the power of football to improve children’s lives around the world.
Most Titles (Player): Francisco Gento of Real Madrid holds the record with 6 Champions League titles as a player — a record that may never be beaten.
Top Scorer (All-Time): Cristiano Ronaldo remains the all-time top scorer in Champions League history with 140 goals, a record that looks set to stand for years to come.
New Format, More Drama: From 2024/25, the competition expanded to 36 clubs competing in a league phase, with each team playing eight matches against different opponents before the knockout rounds begin. More games, more upsets, more chaos.
Miracle of Istanbul: Liverpool’s extraordinary comeback against AC Milan in the 2005 final — from 3–0 down at half-time to winning on penalties — remains one of the greatest sporting comebacks of all time.
Bicycle Kick Perfection: Gareth Bale’s stunning overhead kick for Real Madrid against Liverpool in the 2018 final is a moment etched in Champions League history — widely considered one of the greatest goals ever scored in a final.
Away Goals Rule — Gone: This rule (in place from 1967) used to mean that the team scoring the most away goals in a two-legged tie would advance if the aggregate score was tied. UEFA abolished it in 2021, changing the dynamics of knockout football forever.
Squad Restrictions: Teams can only register a set number of players for the Champions League each season, with rules on homegrown player quotas designed to protect the development of local talent.
PSG’s Historic 2025: PSG’s 5–0 win over Inter Milan in the 2025 final was not only the biggest margin of victory in any major European final — it also completed a continental treble, the first ever by a French club. Teenage sensation Désiré Doué scored twice and provided an assist.
Economic Impact: The Champions League generates billions of euros in revenue each year, with a direct impact on clubs, host cities, broadcasters and local economies across the continent.
Youth Academies: Clubs participating in the Champions League invest heavily in youth development, with the competition increasingly showcasing next-generation talent. The 2025 final was a testament to that, with PSG’s young squad lighting up Munich.
Budapest 2026: The 2025/26 final will be held at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest, Hungary — one of the newest and most impressive stadiums in Europe, with a capacity of over 67,000.
What’s your favourite fact from the list? And who are you backing for the 2026 final?