As we gear up to see who will be crowned the latest kings of Europe on Saturday night in London, we reflect on who has come before.
As Borussia Dortmund head to their third ever Champions League final, they will look to unseat the all-time heavyweight champs of the competition in Real Madrid. The German side has one win and one loss on their record, going up against a seemingly unstoppable force from the Spanish capital. We take a look at the teams who have come before.
European Cup / Champions League top dogs
There can be no denying it, Real Madrid are the kings of European football. No other team has dominated European football’s top club competition quite like Los Blancos. They made it to, and won, the inaugural edition, (known then as the European Champion Clubs’ Cup) which originally featured, in theory, only the winners of the continent’s major domestic leagues. Madrid’s grip on the tournament, rebranded as the Champions League in 1992, is just as strong today as it was back in the 1950s.
No club has won the competition as many times as they have (14), scored as many goals (1020) or made the most appearances in the tournament (47) or the final itself.
Edin Terzić will feel that his boys can beat anyone after taking down Newcastle, Milan, PSV Eindhoven, Atlético de Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain to get this far. Borussia Dortmund will not be a rollover for Real Madrid.
1956-2022: All European Cup/Champions League winners
Let’s look back at all the winners that have come before...
Either Real Madrid or Borussia Dortmund will be getting their name etched into the famous trophy come Saturday night. And they will take their place on the long list of European Kings.