UEFA Champions League: Difference between revisions

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	{{redirect2\|European Champions League\|European Cup\|the table tennis competition\|European Champions League (table tennis)\|the trophy\|European Champion Clubs' Cup\|other uses\|European Cup (disambiguation)}}
	{{about\|the men's competition\|the women's competition\|UEFA Women's Champions League}}
	{{EngvarB\|date=November 2015}}
	{{Use dmy dates\|date=November 2015}}
	{{Infobox football tournament
	\| name = UEFA Champions League
	\| logo = UEFA Champions League logo 2.svg
	\| founded = {{Start date and age\|df=yes\|1955}}<br />(rebranded in 1992)
	\| region = ] (])
	\| number of teams = 32 (group stage)<br />79, 80 or 81 (total)
	\| qualifier for = ]<br />]
	\| related comps = ] (2nd tier)<br />{{nowrap\|] (planned 3rd tier)}}
	\| current champions = {{nowrap\|{{flagicon\|ESP}} ] (13th title)}}
	\| most successful club = {{nowrap\|{{flagicon\|ESP}} Real Madrid (13 titles)}}
	\| broadcasters = ]
	\| website = {{url\|uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/index.html\|uefa.com}}
	\| current = ]
	}}
	The '''UEFA Champions League''' (abbreviated as '''UCL''') is an annual club ] competition organised by the ] and contested by ]. It is one of the most prestigious tournaments in the world and the most prestigious club competition in European football, played by the national league champions (and, for some nations, one or more runners-up) of the strongest UEFA national associations.

	Introduced in 1955 as the '''European Champion Clubs' Cup''', or simply '''European Cup''', the competition took on its current name in 1992, adding a group stage to the competition and allowing multiple entrants from certain countries.<ref name="UCL">{{cite news\|title=Football's premier club competition\|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/history/index.html\|publisher=Union of European Football Associations\|date=31 January 2010\|accessdate=23 May 2010 }}</ref> The pre-1992 competition was initially a straight knockout tournament open only to the champion club of each nation. During the 1990s, the format was expanded, incorporating a round-robin group stage to include clubs that finished runner-up of some nations' top-level league.<ref name="UCL"/> While most of Europe's national leagues can still only enter their national league champion, Europe's strongest national leagues now provide up to five teams for the competition.<ref>{{cite news\|title=Clubs\|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2012/clubs/country/index.html\|publisher=Union of European Football Associations\|date=31 January 2010\|accessdate=23 May 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news\|title=UEFA Europa League further strengthened for 2015–18 cycle\|url=http://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/mediaservices/mediareleases/newsid=1956122.html/\|publisher=Union of European Football Associations\|date=24 May 2013\|accessdate=2 August 2013 }}</ref> Clubs that finish next-in-line in each nation's top level league, having not qualified for the UEFA Champions League competition, are eligible for the second-tier ] competition.

	In its present format, the UEFA Champions League begins in late June with four knockout qualifying rounds and a play-off round. The 6 surviving teams enter the group stage, joining 26 teams qualified in advance. The 32 teams are drawn into eight groups of four teams and play each other in a ]. The eight group winners and eight runners-up proceed to the knockout phase that culminates with the final match in May.<ref name="Matches">{{cite news\|title=Matches\|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2012/matches/index.html\|publisher=Union of European Football Associations\|date=31 January 2010\|accessdate=23 May 2010 }}</ref> The winner of the UEFA Champions League qualifies for the ] and the ].<ref name="UEFA Super Cup">{{cite news\|title=Club competition winners do battle\|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefasupercup/history/index.html\|publisher=Union of European Football Associations\|date=31 January 2010\|accessdate=23 May 2010 }}</ref><ref name="FIFA Club World Cup">{{cite news\|title=FIFA Club World Cup\|url=https://www.fifa.com/clubworldcup/\|publisher=Fédération Internationale de Football Association\|accessdate=30 December 2013}}</ref>

	] is the most successful club in the competition's history, having won the tournament 13 times, including its first five seasons. Spanish clubs have accumulated the highest number of victories (18 wins), followed by England and Italy (12 wins apiece). England has the largest number of winning teams, with five clubs having won the title. The competition has been won by 22 clubs, 12 of which have won it more than once.<ref name="Winners">{{cite news\|title=European Champions' Cup\|url=http://www.rsssf.com/tablese/ec1.html\|publisher=]\|date=31 January 2010\|accessdate=23 May 2010 }}</ref> The reigning champions are Real Madrid, who secured their 13th title in the competition after defeating ] 3–1 in the ]. Thus, they became the first team in the UEFA Champions League era to win the title for three years in a row.

	==History==
	{{Main\|European Cup and UEFA Champions League history}}
	{{See also\|List of European Cup and UEFA Champions League finals}}
	The first pan-European tournament was the ], a competition between clubs in the ].<ref>{{cite web\|last1=García\|first1=Javier\|last2=Kutschera\|first2=Ambrosius\|last3=Schöggl\|first3=Hans\|last4=Stokkermans\|first4=Karel\|year=2009\|url=http://www.rsssf.com/tableso/oost-habs-challenge.html\|title=Austria/Habsburg Monarchy – Challenge Cup 1897–1911\|publisher=]\|trans-title=\|editor=\|accessdate=5 September 2011 }}</ref> The ], a competition modelled after the Challenge Cup, was created in 1927, an idea of Austrian ], and played between Central European clubs.<ref>{{cite web\|last1=Stokkermans\|first1=Karel\|year=2009\|url=http://www.rsssf.com/tablesm/mit.html\|title=Mitropa Cup\|publisher=] }}</ref> In 1930, the ] ({{lang-fr\|link=no\|Nations Cup}}), the first attempt to create a cup for national champion clubs of Europe, was played and organised by Swiss club ].<ref name="Nations Cup">{{cite web\|last1=Ceulemans\|first1=Bart\|last2=Michiel\|first2=Zandbelt\|year=2009\|url=http://www.rsssf.com/tablesc/coupedesnations30.html\|title=Coupe des Nations 1930\|publisher=]\|trans-title=\|editor=\|accessdate=5 September 2011 }}</ref> Held in ], it brought together ten champions from across the continent. The tournament was won by ] of Hungary.<ref name="Nations Cup"/> ]an nations came together to form the ] in 1949.<ref>{{cite web\|last1=Stokkermans\|first1=Karel\|last2=Gorgazzi\|first2=Osvaldo José\|year=2006\|url=http://www.rsssf.com/tablesl/latin.html\|title=Latin Cup\|publisher=]\|trans-title=\|editor=\|accessdate=5 September 2011 }}</ref> After receiving reports from his journalists over the highly successful '']'' of 1948, ], editor of '']'', began proposing the creation of a continent-wide tournament.<ref>{{cite web\|url=//www.youtube.com/watch?v=86xAxuxomoo\|title=Primeira Libertadores – História (Globo Esporte 09/02/20.l.08)\|publisher=Youtube.com\|date=\|accessdate=14 August 2010}}</ref> After ] declared ] "Champions of the World" following a successful run of friendlies in the 1950s, in particular ] against ], Hanot finally managed to convince UEFA to put into practice such a tournament.<ref name="UCL"/> It was conceived in Paris in 1955 as the '''European Champion Clubs' Cup'''.<ref name="UCL"/>

	===1955–66: Beginnings===
	] in 1959. He led Real Madrid to win five consecutive European Cups between 1956 and 1960]]
	The first edition of the European Cup took place during the ] season.<ref name="1956S">{{cite news\|title=1955/56 European Champions Clubs' Cup\|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1955/index.html\|publisher=Union of European Football Associations\|date=31 January 2010\|accessdate=23 May 2010 }}</ref><ref name="1956R">{{cite news\|title=European Champions' Cup 1955–56 – Details\|url=http://www.rsssf.com/ec/ec195556det.html#cc\|publisher=]\|date=31 January 2010\|accessdate=23 May 2010 }}</ref> Sixteen teams participated: ] (Italy), ] (Denmark), ] (Belgium), ] (Sweden), ] (Poland), ] (Scotland), ] (]), ] (Netherlands), ] (Austria), ] (Spain), ] (]), ] (]), ] (Switzerland), ] (Portugal), ] (France), and ] (Hungary).<ref name="1956S"/><ref name="1956R"/> The first European Cup match took place on 4 September 1955, and ended in a 3–3 draw between Sporting CP and Partizan.<ref name="1956S"/><ref name="1956R"/> The first goal in European Cup history was scored by ] of Sporting CP.<ref name="1956S"/><ref name="1956R"/> The inaugural final took place at the ] between Stade de Reims and Real Madrid.<ref name="1956S"/><ref name="1956R"/><ref name="Real Madrid">{{cite news\|title=Trofeos de Fútbol\|url=http://www.realmadrid.com/cs/Satellite/es/Club/1193040475224/PalmaresTotal/Palmares.htm\|publisher=]\|date=31 January 2010\|accessdate=23 May 2010\|deadurl=yes\|archiveurl=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20091003154110/http://www.realmadrid.com/cs/Satellite/es/Club/1193040475224/PalmaresTotal/Palmares.htm\|archivedate=3 October 2009\|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The Spanish squad came back from behind to win 4–3 thanks to goals from ] and ], as well as two goals from ].<ref name="1956S"/><ref name="1956R"/><ref name="Real Madrid"/>

	] celebrating Benfica's 1962 European Cup victory]]
	Real Madrid successfully defended the trophy ] in their home stadium, the ], against ].<ref name="1957S">{{cite news\|title=1956/57 European Champions Clubs' Cup\|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1956/index.html\|publisher=Union of European Football Associations\|date=31 January 2010\|accessdate=23 May 2010 }}</ref><ref name="1957R">{{cite news\|title=Champions' Cup 1956–57\|url=http://www.rsssf.com/ec/ec195657det.html#cc\|publisher=]\|date=31 January 2010\|accessdate=23 May 2010 }}</ref> After a scoreless first half, Real Madrid scored twice in six minutes to defeat the Italians.<ref name="Real Madrid"/><ref name="1957S"/><ref name="1957R"/> In ], Milan failed to capitalise after going ahead on the scoreline twice, only for Real Madrid to equalise.<ref name="1958S">{{cite news\|title=1957/58 European Champions Clubs' Cup\|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1957/index.html\|publisher=Union of European Football Associations\|date=31 January 2010\|accessdate=23 May 2010 }}</ref><ref name="1958R">{{cite news\|title=Champions' Cup 1957–58\|url=http://www.rsssf.com/ec/ec195758det.html#cc\|publisher=]\|date=31 January 2010\|accessdate=23 May 2010 }}</ref> The final held in ] went to extra time where ] scored the game-winning goal to allow Real Madrid to retain the title for the third consecutive season.<ref name="Real Madrid"/><ref name="1958S"/><ref name="1958R"/> In a rematch of the first final, Real Madrid faced Stade Reims at the ] for the ], easily winning 2–0.<ref name="Real Madrid"/><ref name="1959S">{{cite news\|title=1958/59 European Champions Clubs' Cup\|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1958/index.html\|publisher=Union of European Football Associations\|date=31 January 2010\|accessdate=23 May 2010 }}</ref><ref name="1959R">{{cite news\|title=Champions' Cup 1958–59\|url=http://www.rsssf.com/ec/ec195859det.html#cc\|publisher=]\|date=31 January 2010\|accessdate=23 May 2010 }}</ref> West German side ] became the first non-Latin team to reach the European Cup final.<ref name="1960S">{{cite news\|title=1959/60 European Champions Clubs' Cup\|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1959/index.html\|publisher=Union of European Football Associations\|date=31 January 2010\|accessdate=23 May 2010 }}</ref><ref name="1960R">{{cite news\|title=Champions' Cup 1959–60\|url=http://www.rsssf.com/ec/ec195960det.html#cc\|publisher=]\|date=31 January 2010\|accessdate=23 May 2010 }}</ref> The ] still holds the record for the most goals scored, with Real Madrid beating Eintracht Frankfurt 7-3 in ], courtesy of four goals by ] and a ] by Alfredo Di Stéfano.<ref name="Real Madrid"/><ref name="1960S"/><ref name="1960R"/> This was Real Madrid's fifth consecutive title, a record that still stands today.<ref name="Winners"/>

	] holding the European Cup during celebrations in Amsterdam following Ajax's 1972 triumph]]
	Real Madrid's reign ended in the ] when ] ] dethroned them in the first round.<ref name="1961S">{{cite news\|title=1960/61 European Champions Clubs' Cup\|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1960/index.html\|publisher=Union of European Football Associations\|date=31 January 2010\|accessdate=23 May 2010 }}</ref><ref name="1961R">{{cite news\|title=Champions' Cup 1960–61\|url=http://www.rsssf.com/ec/ec196061det.html#cc\|publisher=]\|date=31 January 2010\|accessdate=23 May 2010 }}</ref> Barcelona themselves, however, would be defeated in the final by Portuguese side ] 3–2 at ].<ref name="1961S"/><ref name="1961R"/><ref name="Benfica">{{cite news\|title=Anos 60: A "década de ouro"\|url=http://www.slbenfica.pt/Clube/Historia/DecadaaDecada/Decada60/decada60.asp\|publisher=]\|date=31 January 2010\|accessdate=23 May 2010 }}</ref> Reinforced by ], Benfica defeated Real Madrid 5–3 at the ] in Amsterdam and kept the title for a ].<ref name="Benfica"/><ref name="1962S">{{cite news\|title=1961/62 European Champions Clubs' Cup\|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1961/index.html\|publisher=Union of European Football Associations\|date=31 January 2010\|accessdate=23 May 2010 }}</ref><ref name="1962R">{{cite news\|title=Champions' Cup 1961–62\|url=http://www.rsssf.com/ec/ec196162det.html#cc\|publisher=]\|date=31 January 2010\|accessdate=23 May 2010 }}</ref> Benfica wanted to repeat Real Madrid's successful run of the 1950s after reaching the showpiece event of the ], but a brace from Brazilian-Italian ] at the ] gave the spoils to Milan, making the trophy leave the ] for the first time ever.<ref name="1963S">{{cite news\|title=1962/63 European Champions Clubs' Cup\|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1962/index.html\|publisher=Union of European Football Associations\|date=31 January 2010\|accessdate=23 May 2010 }}</ref><ref name="1963R">{{cite news\|title=Champions' Cup 1962–63\|url=http://www.rsssf.com/ec/ec196263det.html#cc\|publisher=]\|date=31 January 2010\|accessdate=23 May 2010 }}</ref><ref name="ACMilan1963">{{cite news\|title=Coppa Campioni 1962/63\|url=http://www.acmilan.com/it/club/palmares/cdc1962_63\|publisher=Associazione Calcio Milan\|date=31 January 2010\|accessdate=23 May 2010 }}</ref> ] beat an ageing-Real Madrid 3–1 in the ] to win the ] and replicate their local-rival's success.<ref name="1964S">{{cite news\|title=1963/64 European Champions Clubs' Cup\|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1963/index.html\|publisher=Union of European Football Associations\|date=31 January 2010\|accessdate=23 May 2010 }}</ref><ref name="1964R">{{cite news\|title=Champions' Cup 1963–64\|url=http://www.rsssf.com/ec/ec196364det.html#cc\|publisher=]\|date=31 January 2010\|accessdate=23 May 2010 }}</ref><ref name="Inter1964">{{cite news\|title=Palmares: Prima coppa dei campioni – 1963/64\|url=http://www.inter.it/aas/palmares/vitt?L=it&IDV=14\|publisher=FC Internazionale Milano\|date=31 January 2010\|accessdate=23 May 2010\|language=Italian }}</ref> The title stayed in the city of ] for the ] after Inter beat Benfica 1–0 at their home ground, the ].<ref name="1965S">{{cite news\|title=1964/65 European Champions Clubs' Cup\|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1964/index.html\|publisher=Union of European Football Associations\|date=31 January 2010\|accessdate=23 May 2010 }}</ref><ref name="1965R">{{cite news\|title=Champions' Cup 1964–65\|url=http://www.rsssf.com/ec/ec196465det.html#cc\|publisher=]\|date=31 January 2010\|accessdate=23 May 2010 }}</ref><ref name="Inter1965">{{cite news\|title=Palmares: Prima coppa dei campioni – 1964/65\|url=http://www.inter.it/aas/palmares/vitt?L=it&IDV=15\|publisher=FC Internazionale Milano\|date=31 January 2010\|accessdate=23 May 2010\|language=Italian }}</ref>

	==Anthem==
	{{Main\|UEFA Champions League Anthem}}
	{{quote box\|width=28%\|align=right\|quote="Magic...it’s magic above all else. When you hear the anthem it captivates you straight away."\|source=—].<ref>{{cite web \|title=The story of the UEFA Champions League anthem \|url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2d4KVnVuRDY \|website=YouTube \|publisher=UEFA \|accessdate=17 August 2018}}</ref>}}
	The UEFA Champions League anthem, officially titled simply as "Champions League", was written by ], and is an adaptation of George Frideric Handel's '']'' (one of his ]).<ref name="CL Anthem"/><ref>{{cite book\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TAQDxYxQDU8C&pg=PA129 \|title=Media, democracy and European culture\|publisher=Intellect Books\|page=129\|date=2009\|accessdate=14 September 2014}}</ref> UEFA commissioned Britten in 1992 to arrange an anthem, and the piece was performed by London's ] and sung by the ].<ref name="CL Anthem"/> UEFA's official website states, “the anthem is now almost as iconic as the trophy.”<ref name="CL Anthem">{{cite news \|title=From Handel to Hala Madrid: music of champions \|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/newsid=2198223.html \|accessdate=16 August 2017 \|agency=UEFA}}</ref>

	] is played before the start of each match as the two teams are lined up while the Champions League logo is displayed in the centre circle.]]
	The chorus contains the three official languages used by UEFA: English, German, and French.<ref name="Music">{{cite news \|title=What is the Champions League music? The lyrics and history of one of football's most famous songs \|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/tv/what-champions-league-music-lyrics-13133370 \|accessdate=17 August 2018 \|agency=Wales Online}}</ref> The climactic moment is set to the exclamations ‘Die Meister! Die Besten! Les Grandes Équipes! The Champions!’.<ref>{{cite book \|first=Johan \|last=Fornäs \|title=Signifying Europe \|publisher=intellect \|location=Bristol, England \|year=2012 \|pages=185–187 \|url=https://www.intellectbooks.co.uk/MediaManager/File/7%20-%20Anthem.pdf}}</ref> The anthem's chorus is played before each UEFA Champions League game as the two teams are lined up, as well as at the beginning and end of television broadcasts of the matches. In addition to the anthem, there is also entrance music, which contains parts of the anthem itself, which is played as teams enter the field.<ref>{{cite web \|title=UEFA Champions League entrance music \|url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Nz0nhZfbhLQ \|website=YouTube \|accessdate=17 August 2018}}</ref> The complete anthem is about three minutes long, and has two short verses and the chorus.<ref name="Music"/>

	Special vocal versions have been performed live at the ] with lyrics in other languages, changing over to the host nation's language for the chorus. These versions were performed by ] (Italian) (], ] and ]), ] (Spanish) (]), ] (]), ] and ] (]), and ] (]). In the ] at ], the chorus was played twice. In ], the instrumental version of the chorus was played by ].<ref>{{cite news \|title=2Cellos to perform UEFA Champions League anthem in Kyiv \|url=https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/about-uefa/news/newsid=2559940.html \|accessdate=17 August 2018 \|agency=UEFA}}</ref> The anthem has been released commercially in its original version on ] and ] with the title of Champions League Theme. In 2018, composer ] remixed the anthem with rapper ] for EA Sports’ ] video game '']'', with it also featuring in the game's reveal trailer.<ref>{{cite web\|title=Behind the Music: Champions League Anthem Remix with Hans Zimmer\|url=https://www.easports.com/fifa/news/2018/hans-zimmer-champions-league-remix\|publisher=]\|date=12 June 2018\|accessdate=13 August 2018}}</ref>

	==Branding==
	In 1991, UEFA asked its commercial partner, Television Event and Media Marketing (TEAM), to help "brand" the Champions League. This resulted in the anthem, "house colours" of black and white or silver and a logo, and the "starball". The starball was created by Design Bridge, a London-based firm selected by TEAM after a competition.<ref>King, Anthony. (2004). The new symbols of European football. ''International Review for the Sociology of Sport 39''(3). London, Thousand Oaks, CA, New Delhi.</ref> TEAM gives particular attention to detail in how the colours and starball are depicted at matches. According to TEAM, "Irrespective of whether you are a spectator in Moscow or Milan, you will always see the same stadium dressing materials, the same opening ceremony featuring the 'starball' centre circle ceremony, and hear the same UEFA Champions League Anthem". Based on research it conducted, TEAM concluded that by 1999, "the starball logo had achieved a recognition rate of 94 percent among fans".<ref>TEAM. (1999). ''UEFA Champions League: Season Review 1998/9''. Lucerne: TEAM.</ref>

	==Format==
	===Qualification===
	{{See also\|UEFA coefficient}}
	]
	Since the ], the UEFA Champions League begins with a double ] group stage of 32 teams, which is preceded by two qualification 'streams' for teams that do not receive direct entry to the tournament proper. The two streams are divided between teams qualified by virtue of being league champions, and those qualified by virtue of finishing 2nd–4th in their national championship.

	The number of teams that each association enters into the UEFA Champions League is based upon the ] of the member associations. These coefficients are generated by the results of clubs representing each association during the previous five Champions League and ] seasons. The higher an association's coefficient, the more teams represent the association in the Champions League, and the fewer qualification rounds the association's teams must compete in.

	Four of the remaining six qualifying places are granted to the winners of a six-round qualifying tournament between the remaining 43 or 44 national champions, within which those champions from associations with higher coefficients receive byes to later rounds. The other two are granted to the winners of a three-round qualifying tournament between the 11 clubs from the associations ranked 5 through 15, which have qualified based upon finishing second, or third in their respective national league.

	In addition to sporting criteria, any club must be licensed by its national association to participate in the Champions League. To obtain a license, the club must meet certain stadium, infrastructure, and finance requirements.

	In ], ] and ] became the first teams to reach the Champions League group stage after playing in all three qualifying rounds. In ], both ] and ] achieved the same feat. Real Madrid holds the record for the most consecutive appearances in the group stage, having qualified 22 times in a row (1997–present). They are followed by Arsenal on 19 (1998–2016)<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2015/matches/live/index.html?day=-1&session=2&match=2014212\|title=The official website for European football – UEFA.com\|publisher=\|accessdate=14 September 2014}}</ref> and Manchester United on 18 (1996–2013).<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://euro.futbal.org/EC1.scorers.php?team=Manchester%20United&mode=1&year=0&ignoreQuals=1\|title=EuroFutbal – Manchester United}}</ref>

	Between 2003 and 2008, no differentiation was made between champions and non-champions in qualification. The 16 top ranked teams spread across the biggest domestic leagues qualified directly for the tournament group stage. Prior to this, three preliminary knockout qualifying rounds whittled down the remaining teams, with teams starting in different rounds.

	An ] happened in 2005, after ] won the Champions League the year before, but did not finish in a Champions League qualification place in the Premier League that season. UEFA gave special dispensation for Liverpool to enter the Champions League, giving England five qualifiers.<ref>{{cite news\|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/4613695.stm\|title=Liverpool get in Champions League\|work=BBC Sport\|publisher=BBC\|date=10 June 2005\|accessdate=11 December 2007}}</ref> UEFA subsequently ruled that the defending champions qualify for the competition the following year regardless of their domestic league placing. However, for those leagues with four entrants in the Champions League, this meant that, if the Champions League winner fell outside of its domestic league's top four, it would qualify at the expense of the fourth-placed team in the league. Until 2015–16, no association could have more than four entrants in the Champions League.<ref>{{cite news\|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefa/keytopics/kind=64/newsid=698237.html?cid=rssfeed&att=index \|title=EXCO approves new coefficient system \|publisher=UEFA \|date=20 May 2008 \|accessdate=12 September 2010 \|archivedate=21 May 2008 \|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080521053931/http://www.uefa.com/uefa/keytopics/kind%3D64/newsid%3D698237.html?cid=rssfeed&att=index \|deadurl=yes \|df= }}</ref> In May 2012, ] finished fourth in the ], two places ahead of Chelsea, but failed to qualify for the ], after Chelsea won the ].<ref name="Spurs_Chelsea"/> Tottenham were demoted to the ].<ref name="Spurs_Chelsea">{{cite news\|title=Harry Redknapp and Spurs given bitter pill of Europa League by Chelsea\|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2012/may/20/harry-redknapp-spurs-europa-league\|work=]\|publisher=Guardian News and Media\|date=20 May 2012\|accessdate=24 November 2012 }}</ref>

	In May 2013,<ref name=Uefa-May2013a>{{cite web\|url=http://www.uefa.org/about-uefa/executive-committee/news/newsid=1956131.html\|title=Added bonus for UEFA Europa League winners\|website=UEFA.org\|publisher=Union of European Football Associations\|date=24 May 2013}}</ref> it was decided that, starting from the ] (and continuing at least for the three-year cycle until the ]), the winners of the previous season's ] would qualify for the UEFA Champions League, entering at least the play-off round, and entering the group stage if the berth reserved for the Champions League title holders was not used. The previous limit of a maximum of four teams per association was increased from to five, meaning that a fourth-placed team from one of the top three ranked associations would only have to be moved to the Europa League if both the Champions League and Europa League winners came from that association and both finished outside the top four of their domestic league.<ref name=2015AccessExplained>{{cite web\|url=http://kassiesa.net/uefafiles/2015-18-uefa-access-list-explanations.pdf\|title=UEFA Access List 2015/18 with explanations\|publisher=Bert Kassies}}</ref>

	In 2007, ], the UEFA president, had proposed taking one place from the three leagues with four entrants and allocating it to that nation's cup winners. This proposal was rejected in a vote at a UEFA Strategy Council meeting.<ref>{{cite news\|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2007/11/13/sfnuef113.xml\|title=Clubs force UEFA's Michel Platini into climbdown\|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph\|date=13 November 2007\|accessdate=2 December 2007\|first=David\|last=Bond}}</ref> In the same meeting, however, it was agreed that the third-placed team in the top three leagues would receive automatic qualification for the group stage, rather than entry into the third qualifying round, while the fourth-placed team would enter the play-off round for non-champions, guaranteeing an opponent from one of the top 15 leagues in Europe. This was part of Platini's plan to increase the number of teams qualifying directly into the group stage, while simultaneously increasing the number of teams from lower-ranked nations in the group stage.<ref>{{cite news\|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/7090646.stm\|title=Platini's Euro Cup plan rejected\|work=BBC Sport\|publisher=BBC\|date=12 December 2007\|accessdate=11 December 2007}}</ref>

	In 2012, ] referred to qualifying for the Champion's League by finishing in the top four places in the English ] as the "4th Place Trophy". The phrase was coined after a pre-match conference when he was questioned about Arsenal's lack of a trophy after exiting the ]. He said "The first trophy is to finish in the top four".<ref>{{cite web \| url =https://www.theguardian.com/football/2012/feb/19/arsene-wenger-arsenal-fourth-place \| title =Arsène Wenger says Champions League place is a 'trophy' \| publisher =Guardian \| accessdate = 15 May 2014}}</ref> At Arsenal's 2012 AGM, Wenger was also quoted as saying: "For me there are five trophies every season: Premier League, Champions League, the third is to qualify for the Champions League..."<ref>{{cite web \| url =http://talksport.com/magazine/virals/121026/picture-arsenals-trophy-cabinet-redesigned-include-new-fourth-place-trop-183898\| title =Arsenal's Trophy Cabinet\| publisher =Talk Sport \| accessdate = 15 May 2014}}</ref>

	===Group stage and knockout phase===
	The tournament proper begins with a group stage of 32 teams, divided into eight groups. ] is used whilst making the draw for this stage, whilst teams from the same nation may not be drawn into groups together. Each team meets the others in its group home and away in a round-robin format. The winning team and the runners-up from each group then progress to the next round. The third-placed team enters the ].

	For this stage, the winning team from one group plays against the runners-up from another group, and teams from the same association may not be drawn against each other. From the quarter-finals onwards, the draw is entirely random, without association protection. The tournament uses the ]: if the aggregate score of the two games is tied, then the team who scored more goals at their opponent's stadium advances.<ref>. UEFA.com.</ref>

	The group stage is played from September to December, whilst the knock-out stage starts in February. The knock-out ties are played in a two-legged format, with the exception of the final. This is typically held in the final two weeks of May.

	===Distribution (from 2015–16 to 2017–18)===
	Starting with the 2015–16 edition, the holders of the ] enter the Champions League, initially at the playoff round. The maximum number of teams that an association can field in the tournament has also been increased from four to five.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/newsid=2444525.html\|title=How the Europa League winners will enter the Champions League\|date=27 February 2017\|accessdate=5 May 2017\|work=UEFA.com}}</ref>

	{\|class="wikitable"
	\|-
	!colspan=2\|
	!Teams entering in this round
	!Teams advancing from previous round
	\|-
	!colspan=2\|First qualifying round<br>(8 teams)
	\|
	*8 champions from associations 47–54
	\|
	\|-
	!colspan=2\|Second qualifying round<br>(34 teams)
	\|
	*30 champions from associations 16–46 (except Liechtenstein)
	\|
	*4 winners from the first qualifying round
	\|-
	!rowspan=2\|Third qualifying round
	!Champions<br>(20 teams)
	\|
	*3 champions from associations 13–15
	\|
	*17 winners from the second qualifying round
	\|-
	!Non-champions<br>(10 teams)
	\|
	*9 runners-up from associations 7–15
	*1 third-placed team from association 6
	\|
	\|-
	!rowspan=2\|Play-off round
	!Champions<br>(10 teams)
	\|
	\|
	*10 winners from the third qualifying round for champions
	\|-
	!Non-champions<br>(10 teams)
	\|
	*2 third-placed teams from associations 4–5
	*3 fourth-placed teams from associations 1–3{{ref\|UCL\|}}
	*] holders{{ref\|UEL\|}}
	\|
	*5 winners from the third qualifying round for non-champions
	\|-
	!colspan=2\|Group stage<br>(32 teams)
	\|
	*12 champions from associations 1–12
	*6 runners-up from associations 1–6
	*3 third-placed teams from associations 1–3
	*UEFA Champions League holders
	\|
	*5 winners from the play-off round for champions
	*5 winners from the play-off round for non-champions
	\|-
	!colspan=2\|Knockout phase<br>(16 teams)
	\|
	\|
	*8 group winners from the group stage
	*8 group runners-up from the group stage
	\|}

	:{{note\|UEL\|UEL}}: The Europa League holders may be promoted into the group stage if the Champions League holders qualify for the group stage through their domestic league. If the Champions League holders comes from an association ranked thirteenth or lower and they did not qualify for the non-champions route based on their domestic performance, the Europa League holders will enter the play-off round for champions instead. The access list is adjusted accordingly to ensure a maximum of ten teams in each stream's play-off round.
	:{{note\|UCL\|UCL}}: If both the Champions League and Europa League holders are from the same association ranked 1st–3rd and neither qualify for the Champions League through their domestic league, the fourth-placed team qualifies for the Europa League instead.

	===Distribution (from 2018–19)===
	In August 2016, UEFA announced changes in the access list of the tournament, driven to avoid the creation of a ]. The top four clubs from the four top-ranked national associations will receive guaranteed qualification automatically for the group stage. The Europa League holders also will automatically qualify for the group stage.<ref name="ECL 18">{{cite web\|title=Evolution of UEFA club competitions from 2018\|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/newsid=2398899.html\|website=uefa.com\|publisher=UEFA\|date=26 August 2016}}</ref> However, the plan passed by UEFA caused outrage among smaller associations. After his election as the new UEFA president, ] said that he would review the new system.<ref>{{cite news\|title=New Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin vows to review Champions League deal\|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/sep/14/slovenian-federation-leader-aleksander-ceferin-elected-uefa-president\|publisher=The Gardian\|date=14 September 2016}}</ref> In December 2016, UEFA confirmed the plan will go on.<ref></ref>

	{\|class="wikitable"
	\|-
	!colspan=2\|
	!Teams entering in this round
	!Teams advancing from previous round
	\|-
	!colspan=2\|Preliminary round<br>(4 teams)
	\|
	*4 champions from associations 52–55
	\|
	\|-
	!colspan=2\|First qualifying round<br>(34 teams)
	\|
	*33 champions from associations 18–51 (except Liechtenstein)
	\|
	*1 winners from the preliminary round
	\|-
	!rowspan=2\|Second qualifying round
	!Champions<br>(20 teams)
	\|
	*3 champions from associations 15-17
	\|
	*17 winners from the first qualifying round
	\|-
	!Non-champions<br>(6 teams)
	\|
	*6 runners-up from associations 10-15
	\|
	\|-
	!rowspan=2\|Third qualifying round
	!Champions<br>(12 teams)
	\|
	*2 champions from associations 13–14
	\|
	*10 winners from the second qualifying round
	\|-
	!Non-champions<br>(8 teams)
	\|
	*3 runners-up from associations 7–9
	*2 third-placed teams from associations 5-6
	\|
	*3 winners from the second qualifying round for non-champions
	\|-
	!rowspan=2\|Play-off round
	!Champions<br>(8 teams)
	\|
	*2 champions from associations 11–12
	\|
	*6 winners from the third qualifying round for champions
	\|-
	!Non-champions<br>(4 teams)
	\|
	\|
	*4 winners from the third qualifying round for non-champions
	\|-
	!colspan=2\|Group stage<br>(32 teams)
	\|
	*10 champions from associations 1–10
	*6 runners-up from associations 1–6
	*4 third-placed teams from associations 1–4
	*4 fourth-placed teams from associations 1–4
	*UEFA Champions League holders
	*] holders
	\|
	*4 winners from the play-off round for champions
	*2 winners from the play-off round for non-champions
	\|-
	!colspan=2\|Knockout phase<br>(16 teams)
	\|
	\|
	*8 group winners from the group stage
	*8 group runners-up from the group stage
	\|}

	Changes will be made to the access list above, if the Champions League or Europa League title holders qualify for the tournament via their domestic leagues.
	*If the Champions League title holders qualify for the group stage via their domestic league, the champions of association 11 will enter the group stage, and champions of the highest-ranked associations in earlier rounds will also be promoted accordingly.
	*If the Europa League title holders qualify for the group stage via their domestic league, the third-placed team of association 5 will enter the group stage, and runners-up of the highest-ranked associations in the second qualifying round will also be promoted accordingly.
	*If the Champions League or Europa League title holders qualify for the qualifying rounds via their domestic league, their spot in the qualifying rounds is vacated, and teams of the highest-ranked associations in earlier rounds will be promoted accordingly.
	*An association may have a maximum of five teams in the Champions League.<ref name="UEFA Handbook 2018/19"/> Therefore, if both the Champions League and Europa League title holders come from the same top-four association and finish outside of the top four of their domestic league, the fourth-placed team of the league will not compete in the Champions League and will instead compete in the Europa League.

	==Referees==
	===Ranking===
	The UEFA Refereeing Unit is broken down into five experience-based categories. A referee is initially placed into Category 4 with the exception of referees from France, Germany, England, Italy, or Spain. Referees from these five countries are typically comfortable with top professional matches and are therefore directly placed into Category 3. Each referee's performance is observed and evaluated after every match; his category may be revised twice per season, but a referee cannot be promoted directly from Category 3 to the Elite Category.<ref name="referees">{{cite web\|url=http://www.uefa.com/trainingground/referees/index.html\|title=UEFA Referee\|publisher=Uefa.com\|date=7 July 2010\|accessdate=24 July 2011}}</ref>

	===Appointment===
	In co-operation with the UEFA Refereeing Unit, the UEFA Referee Committee is responsible for appointing referees to matches. Referees are appointed based on previous matches, marks, performances, and fitness levels. To discourage bias, the Champions League takes nationality into account. No referee may be of the same origins as any club in his or her respecting groups. Referee appointments, suggested by the UEFA Refereeing Unit, are sent to the UEFA Referee Committee to be discussed or revised. After a consensus is made, the name of the appointed referee remains confidential up to two days before the match for the purpose of minimising public influence.<ref name="referees"/>

	===Limitations===
	Since 1990, a UEFA international referee cannot exceed the age of 45 years. After turning 45, a referee must step down at the end of his season. The age limit was established to ensure an elite level of fitness. Today, UEFA Champions League referees are required to pass a fitness test even to be considered at the international level.<ref name="referees"/>

	==Prizes==
	===Trophy and medals===
	{{main\|European Champion Clubs' Cup}}
	]
	Each year, the winning team is presented with the European Champion Clubs' Cup, the current version of which has been awarded since 1967. Any team that wins the Champions League three years in a row or five times overall wins the right to retain a full-sized replica of the trophy (UEFA retains the original at all times). Six clubs have earned this honour: Real Madrid, Ajax, Bayern Munich, Milan, Liverpool and Barcelona.<ref name="trophy">{{cite web\|title=The UEFA Champions League trophy\|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/thetrophy/index.html\|website=uefa.com\|accessdate=6 June 2017}}</ref> Since then instead the club which wins three years in a row or five overall receives a commemorative badge to wear permanently on their uniform.

	The current trophy is {{convert\|74\|cm\|in\|abbr=on}} tall and made of silver, weighing {{convert\|11\|kg\|lb\|abbr=on}}. It was designed by Jörg Stadelmann, a jeweller from ], ], after the original was given to Real Madrid in 1966 in recognition of their six titles to date, and cost 10,000 ]s.

	As of the 2012–13 season, 40 gold medals are presented to the Champions League winners, and 40 silver medals to the runners-up.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/Regulations/competitions/Regulations/01/79/68/69/1796869_DOWNLOAD.pdf\|title=2012/13 Season\|work=Regulations of the UEFA Champions League: 2012–15 Cycle\|publisher=UEFA\|page=8\|accessdate=22 September 2012}}</ref>

	===Prize money===
	As of 2018–19, the fixed amount of prize money paid to the clubs is as follows:<ref>{{Cite web\|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/newsid=2562033.html#/2562033\|title=How clubs' 2018/19 UEFA Champions League revenue will be shared\|last=UEFA.com\|website=UEFA.com\|language=en\|access-date=5 June 2018}}</ref>

	*Preliminary qualifying round: €230,000
	*First qualifying round: €280,000
	*Second qualifying round: €380,000
	*Third qualifying round: €480,000 (Only for clubs eliminated from the champions path, since clubs eliminated from the league path qualify directly for the UEFA Europa League group stage and therefore benefit from its distribution system.)
	*Base fee for group stage: €15,250,000
	*Group match victory: €2,700,000
	*Group match draw: €900,000
	*Round of 16: €9,500,000
	*Quarter-finals: €10,500,000
	*Semi-finals: €12,000,000
	*Losing finalist: €15,000,000
	*Winning the Final: €19,000,000

	This means that at best, a club can earn €82,450,000 of prize money under this structure, not counting shares of the qualifying rounds, play-off round or the market pool.

	A large part of the distributed revenue from the UEFA Champions League is linked to the "market pool", the distribution of which is determined by the value of the television market in each nation. For the 2014–15 season, ], who were the runners-up, earned nearly €89.1 million in total, of which €30.9 million was prize money, compared with the €61.0 million earned by Barcelona, who won the tournament and were awarded €36.4 million in prize money.<ref>{{cite journal\|date=October 2015\|title=Clubs benefit from Champions League revenue\|journal=uefadirect\|issue=1\|page=1\|publisher=Union of European Football Associations\|url=https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/competitions/General/02/29/45/25/2294525_DOWNLOAD.pdf\|format=PDF\|accessdate=16 October 2015}}</ref>

	==Sponsorship==

	] with a logo of the ]]]
	] advertisements are banned in ]. On 9 April 2013, ] (whose shirt sponsors were ] at the time) were required to wear sponsor-free jerseys while playing against ] in ].]]
	Like the ], the UEFA Champions League is sponsored by a group of multinational corporations, in contrast to the single main sponsor typically found in national top-flight leagues. When the Champions League was created in 1992, it was decided that a maximum of eight companies should be allowed to sponsor the event, with each corporation being allocated four advertising boards around the perimeter of the pitch, as well as logo placement at pre- and post-match interviews and a certain number of tickets to each match. This, combined with a deal to ensure tournament sponsors were given priority on television advertisements during matches, ensured that each of the tournament's main sponsors was given maximum exposure.<ref>{{cite journal\|last1=Thompson\|first1=Craig\|last2=Magnus\|first2=Ems\|date=February 2003\|title=The Uefa Champions League Marketing\|journal=Fiba Assist Magazine\|pages=49–50\|url=http://www.ekospor.com/Sports-Marketing/Sport%20Marketing%20uefa.pdf\|format=PDF\|accessdate=19 May 2008\|deadurl=yes\|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080528155330/http://www.ekospor.com/Sports-Marketing/Sport%20Marketing%20uefa.pdf\|archivedate=28 May 2008\|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

	From the ], UEFA used LED advertising hoardings installed in knock-out participant stadiums, including the final stage. From the ] onwards, UEFA has used such hoardings from the play-off round until the final.<ref>{{cite web\|title=Regulations of the UEFA Champions League 2015–18 Cycle – 2015/2016 Season – Article 66 – Other Requirements\|url=http://www.uefa.org/MultimediaFiles/Download/Regulations/uefaorg/Regulations/02/23/57/51/2235751_DOWNLOAD.pdf\|website=UEFA.org\|publisher=UEFA\|accessdate=30 June 2015}}</ref>

	The tournament's current main sponsors are:<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/index.html\|title=UEFA Champions League - UEFA.com\|publisher=UEFA.com\|accessdate=2 July 2015}}</ref>
	*] — ]<ref>{{cite web\|title=Uefa Champions League checks in with Expedia\|url=http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/champions-league-news-expedia-sponsorship-deal\|website=SportsPro\|accessdate=15 August 2018}}</ref>
	*]<ref>. UEFA. Retrieved 18 August 2018</ref>
	*]<ref>{{cite web\|title=HEINEKEN extends UEFA club competition sponsorship\|url=http://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/mediaservices/mediareleases/newsid=2438381.html\|website=UEFA.com\|accessdate=12 February 2018}}</ref>
	*]<ref>{{cite web\|last1=Carp\|first1=Sam\|title=Uefa cashes in Mastercard renewal\|url=http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/uefa-cashes-in-mastercard-renewal\|website=SportsPro\|accessdate=12 February 2018}}</ref>
	*]<ref>{{cite web\|title=Nissan renews UEFA Champions League Partnership\|url=https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/about-uefa/administration/marketing/news/newsid=2499009.html#/\|website=UEFA.com\|accessdate=12 February 2018}}</ref>
	*] — ]/] and ]<ref>{{cite web\|title=PepsiCo renews UEFA Champions League Partnership\|url=https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/about-uefa/administration/marketing/news/newsid=2532818.html#/\|website=UEFA.com\|publisher=UEFA\|accessdate=12 February 2018}}</ref>
	*]<ref>{{cite web\|title=Banco Santander to become UEFA Champions League Partner\|url=https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/about-uefa/administration/marketing/news/newsid=2521708.html#/\|website=UEFA.com\|accessdate=12 February 2018}}</ref>
	*] — ]<ref>{{cite web\|title=PlayStation® extends UEFA Champions League Partnership\|url=https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/about-uefa/administration/marketing/news/newsid=2560851.html\|website=UEFA.com\|publisher=UEFA\|accessdate=29 May 2018}}</ref>

	] is a secondary sponsor and supplies the official match ball, the ], and referee uniform.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.uefa.org/about-uefa/administration/marketing/news/newsid=1734600.html\|title=adidas extends European club football partnership\|date=15 December 2011\|work=UEFA.org\|accessdate=30 June 2015}}</ref> ] is also a secondary sponsor as the official fourth official board of the competition.<ref>{{cite web\|title=Hublot to partner Champions League and Europa League\|url=http://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/mediaservices/mediareleases/newsid=2272539.html\|website=UEFA.com}}</ref>

	Individual clubs may wear jerseys with advertising. However, only one sponsorship is permitted per jersey in addition to that of the kit manufacturer. Exceptions are made for non-profit organisations, which can feature on the front of the shirt, incorporated with the main sponsor or in place of it; or on the back, either below the squad number or on the collar area.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/Tech/uefaorg/General/01/75/63/78/1756378_DOWNLOAD.pdf\|title=UEFA Kit Regulations Edition 2012\|publisher=]\|format=PDF\|pages=37, 38\|accessdate=29 January 2014 }}</ref>

	If clubs play a match in a nation where the relevant sponsorship category is restricted (such as France's ] restriction), then they must remove that logo from their jerseys. For example, when ] played French sides ] and ] in the ] and the ], respectively, Rangers players wore the logo of ] instead of ] (both companies at the time were subsidiaries of ]).<ref name="Alternative to alcohol">{{cite web\|url=http://www.truecoloursfootballkits.com/articles/an-alternative-to-alcohol\|title=An alternative to alcohol\|work=truecoloursfootballkits.com\|publisher=True Colours\|date=3 July 2009\|last=Devlin\|first=John\|accessdate=5 June 2013\|quote=Rangers have actually sported the Center Parcs logo during the course of two seasons.}}</ref>

	==Media coverage==
	{{Main\|List of UEFA Champions League broadcasters}}

	The competition attracts an extensive television audience, not just in Europe, but throughout the world. The final of the tournament has been, in recent years, the most-watched annual sporting event in the world.<ref>{{cite news\|title=Champions League final tops Super Bowl for TV market\|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/8490351.stm\|work=BBC Sport\|publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation\|date=31 January 2010\|accessdate=25 February 2010 }}</ref> The ] had the competition's highest TV ratings to date, drawing approximately 360 million television viewers.<ref name="record">{{cite web\|url=http://www.sportskeeda.com/2013/05/30/champions-league-final-at-wembley-drew-tv-audience-of-360-million/\|title=Champions League final at Wembley drew TV audience of 360 million\|last=Chishti\|first=Faisal\|date=30 May 2013\|work=Sportskeeda\|publisher=Absolute Sports Private Limited\|accessdate=31 December 2013}}</ref>

	== Records and statistics ==
	{{Main\|European Cup and UEFA Champions League records and statistics}}
	{{See also\|UEFA Champions League clubs performance comparison}}

	=== Performances by club ===
	{{Main\|List of European Cup and UEFA Champions League finals}}
	{{UEFA Champions League performance by club}}<!--- no carriage return, already a blank line below this template table --->

	=== Performances by nation ===
	{\| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:center"
	\|+Performances in finals by nation
	\|-
	!scope="col"\|Nation
	!scope="col"\|Titles
	!scope="col"\|Runners-up
	!scope="col"\|Total
	\|-
	!scope="row" align=left\|{{ESP}}
	\|18
	\|11
	\|29
	\|-
	!scope="row" align=left\|{{ITA}}
	\|12
	\|16
	\|28
	\|-
	!scope="row" align=left\|{{ENG}}
	\|12
	\|8
	\|20
	\|-
	!scope="row" align=left\|{{GER}} {{ref label\|Germany\|A\|^}}
	\|7
	\|10
	\|17
	\|-
	!scope="row" align=left\|{{NED}}
	\|6
	\|2
	\|8
	\|-
	!scope="row" align=left\|{{POR}}
	\|4
	\|5
	\|9
	\|-
	!scope="row" align=left\|{{FRA}}
	\|1
	\|5
	\|6
	\|-
	!scope="row" align=left\|{{flag\|Romania\|1965}}
	\|1
	\|1
	\|2
	\|-
	!scope="row" align=left\|{{SCO}}
	\|1
	\|1
	\|2
	\|-
	!scope="row" align=left\|{{YUG}}
	\|1
	\|1
	\|2
	\|-
	!scope="row" align=left\|{{BEL}}
	\|0
	\|1
	\|1
	\|-
	!scope="row" align=left\|{{GRE}}
	\|0
	\|1
	\|1
	\|-
	!scope="row" align=left\|{{SWE}}
	\|0
	\|1
	\|1
	\|-
	!Totals\|\|63\|\|63\|\|126
	\|}
	;Notes
	<references group="nb"/>
	*A  {{note label\|Germany\|A\|^}} Includes ] clubs. No ] clubs appeared in a final.

	===All-time top scorers===
	{{See also\|List of European Cup and UEFA Champions League top scorers}}
	{{updated\|12 December 2018}}<ref>{{cite web \|title=UEFA Champions League Statistics Handbook 2018/19 \|format=PDF \|pages=5–7 \|url=https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/EuroExperience/competitions/Publications/02/28/56/90/2285690_DOWNLOAD.pdf \|accessdate=2 October 2018 \|publisher=Union of European Football Associations }}</ref>

	The table below does not include appearances made in the qualification stage.

	{\| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
	\|-
	!
	! Player
	! Country
	! Goals
	! Apps
	! Ratio
	! Years
	! width=400 \| Club(s)
	\|-
	\| align=right \| 1
	\| align=left \| ''']'''
	\| align=left \| {{POR}}
	\| 121<!-- NO LIVE UPDATES, UPDATE AFTER EACH MATCHWEEK -->
	\| 158
	\| {{#expr:121/158 round 2}}
	\| 2003–
	\| align=left \| ] (15), ] (105), ] (1)
	\|-
	\| align=right \| 2
	\| align=left \| ''']'''
	\| align=left \| {{ARG}}
	\| 106<!-- NO LIVE UPDATES, UPDATE AFTER EACH MATCHWEEK -->
	\| 129
	\| {{#expr:106/129 round 2}}
	\| 2005–
	\| align=left \| ]
	\|-
	\| align=right \| 3
	\| align=left \| ]
	\| align=left \| {{ESP}}
	\| 71
	\| 142
	\| {{#expr:71/142 round 2}}
	\| 1995–2011
	\| align=left \| ] (66), ] (5)
	\|-
	\| align=right \| 4
	\| align=left \| ''']'''
	\| align=left \| {{FRA}}
	\| 59
	\| 110
	\| {{#expr:59/110 round 2}}
	\| 2006–
	\| align=left \| ] (12), ] (47)
	\|-
	\| align=right \| 5
	\| align=left \| ]
	\| align=left \| {{NED}}
	\| 56
	\| 73
	\| {{#expr:56/73 round 2}}
	\| 1998–2009
	\| align=left \| ] (8), ] (35), ] (13)
	\|-
	\| align=right \| 6
	\| align=left \| ''']'''
	\| align=left \| {{POL}}
	\| 53
	\| 78
	\| {{#expr:53/78 round 2}}
	\| 2011–
	\| align=left \| ] (17), ] (36)
	\|-
	\| align=right \| 7
	\| align=left \| ]
	\| align=left \| {{FRA}}
	\| 50
	\| 112
	\| {{#expr:50/112 round 2}}
	\| 1997–2010
	\| align=left \| ] (7), ] (35), ] (8)
	\|-
	\| align=right \| 8
	\| align=left \| ]
	\| align=left \| {{ARG}}
	\| 49
	\| 58
	\| {{#expr:49/58 round 2}}
	\| 1955–1964
	\| align=left \| ]
	\|-
	\| align=right rowspan=2 \| 9
	\| align=left \| ]
	\| align=left \| {{UKR}}
	\| rowspan=2 \| 48
	\| 100
	\| {{#expr:48/100 round 2}}
	\| 1994–2012
	\| align=left \| ] (29), ] (15), ] (4)
	\|-
	\| align=left \| ]
	\| align=left \| {{SWE}}
	\| 119
	\| {{#expr:48/119 round 2}}
	\| 2001–2017
	\| align=left \| ] (19), ] (18), ] (22), ] (10), ] (16), ] (33), ] (1)
	\|}

	===Most appearances===
	{{See also\|List of footballers with 100 or more UEFA Champions League appearances}}
	{{updated\|12 December 2018}}<ref name="UEFA Handbook 2018/19">{{cite web \|title=UEFA Champions League Statistics Handbook 2018/19 \|website=UEFA.com \|format=pdf \|pages=4, 7\|url=https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/EuroExperience/competitions/Publications/02/28/56/88/2285688_DOWNLOAD.pdf\|accessdate=3 October 2018 \|publisher=Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) }}</ref>

	The table below does not include appearances made in the qualification stage.

	{\| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
	\|-
	!
	! Player
	! Nation
	! Apps
	! Years
	! width=400 \| Club(s)
	\|-
	\| align=right \| 1
	\| align=left \| ''']'''
	\| align=left \| {{flag\|Spain}}
	\| 173
	\| 1999–
	\| align=left \| ] (150), ] (23)
	\|-
	\| align=right \| 2
	\| align=left \| ''']'''
	\| align=left \| {{flag\|Portugal}}
	\| 158
	\| 2003–
	\| align=left \| ] (52), ] (101), ] (5)
	\|-
	\| align=right \| 3
	\| align=left \| ]
	\| align=left \| {{flag\|Spain}}
	\| 151
	\| 1998–2015
	\| align=left \| ]
	\|-
	\| align=right \| 4
	\| align=left \| ]
	\| align=left \| {{flag\|Spain}}
	\| 142
	\| 1995–2011
	\| align=left \| ] (130), ] (12)
	\|-
	\| align=right \| 5
	\| align=left \| ]
	\| align=left \| {{flag\|Wales}}
	\| 141
	\| 1993–2014
	\| align=left \| ]
	\|-
	\| align=right \| 6
	\| align=left \| ]
	\| align=left \| {{flag\|Spain}}
	\| 130
	\| 2002–2018
	\| align=left \| ]
	\|-
	\| align=right \| 7
	\| align=left \| ''']'''
	\| align=left \| {{flag\|Argentina}}
	\| 129
	\| 2005–
	\| align=left \| ]
	\|-
	\| align=right \| 8
	\| align=left \| ]
	\| align=left \| {{flag\|Netherlands}}
	\| 125
	\| 1994–2012
	\| align=left \| ] (11), ] (25), ] (89)
	\|-
	\| align=right \| 9
	\| align=left \| ]
	\| align=left \| {{flag\|England}}
	\| 124
	\| 1994–2013
	\| align=left \| ]
	\|-
	\| rowspan=2 align=right \| 10
	\| align=left \| ]
	\| align=left \| {{flag\|Brazil}}
	\| rowspan=2 \| 120
	\| 1997–2007
	\| align=left \| ] (107), ] (13)
	\|-
	\| align=left \| ''']'''
	\| align=left \| {{flag\|Italy}}
	\| 1997–
	\| align=left \| ] (6), ] (111), ] (3)
	\|}

	==See also==
	{{portal\|Association football}}
	*]
	*]

	==References==
	{{reflist}}

	==External links==
	{{Commons category\|UEFA Champions League}}
	*

	{{Template group
	\|title = Articles related to UEFA Champions League
	\|list =
	{{UEFA Champions League seasons}}
	{{UEFA Champions League winners}}
	{{UEFA competitions}}
	{{International club football}}
	{{Intercontinental Cup (football)}}
	{{FIFA Club World Cup}}
	{{European Club Competitions}}
	}}

	{{DEFAULTSORT:UEFA Champions League}}
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]

Revision as of 12:25, 4 February 2019

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