No club has a relationship with Europe’s top competition like Real Madrid. With 15 European Cup and Champions League titles, they have more than double the total of any other club except AC Milan. Here is how they built that record.

The first dynasty: five in a row (1956-1960)

Real Madrid won the first five editions of the European Cup, from 1956 to 1960. The team was led by Alfredo Di Stefano, with Ferenc Puskas, Francisco Gento and Raymond Kopa. The 1960 final, a 7-3 win over Eintracht Frankfurt at Hampden Park in Glasgow, is still remembered as one of the greatest performances in football history. Gento remains the only player with six European Cup wins from that era, later matched by modern Madrid players.

The sixth title and a long wait

A sixth title followed in 1966 with a mostly Spanish squad. Then came a drought of 32 years, during which Madrid dominated Spain but could not conquer Europe again.

The modern revival (1998-2002)

Predrag Mijatovic’s goal against Juventus in 1998 ended the wait. Madrid won again in 2000 and in 2002, when Zinedine Zidane scored his famous left-footed volley against Bayer Leverkusen in Glasgow.

La Decima and three in a row (2014-2018)

The tenth title, La Decima, arrived in 2014 when Sergio Ramos equalised in stoppage time against Atletico Madrid and Real went on to win 4-1 after extra time. Under Zinedine Zidane as coach, Madrid then became the first team to win three Champions League titles in a row in the modern format, in 2016, 2017 and 2018. Cristiano Ronaldo was the top scorer in the competition in each of those seasons. See our list of Champions League top scorers.

2022 and 2024: the Ancelotti titles

Carlo Ancelotti led Madrid to a 14th title in 2022 after a run of incredible comebacks against PSG, Chelsea and Manchester City, and a 15th in 2024 with a 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund at Wembley. Several players, including Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Dani Carvajal and Nacho, won their sixth Champions League in 2024, equalling Gento’s record.

Why Madrid keep winning

• Experience: many players have been through multiple finals and handle pressure calmly.
• Star signings: the club consistently attracts the best players in the world.
• The Bernabeu effect: late comebacks at home have become part of the club’s identity.
• Finals record: Real Madrid have won the vast majority of the European Cup finals they have played.

Learn how today’s competition is structured in our guide to the new Champions League format, or see the full Champions League winners list.