The UEFA Champions League is considered the most prestigious European club competition. It has been called the Champions League since 1992, before that the tournament was called the European Champions Cup, and the format of the tournament has also changed: it moved from the playoff system to the group stage, and only then the knockout games followed. It was first held in 1955, where Real Madrid won.

From 1960 to 2004, the winner of the Champions League took part in the Intercontinental Cup, where they faced the winner of the South American Copa Libertadores. At the moment, the winner of the tournament gets the right to play at the Club World Championship.

The number of teams in a draw depends on the association's position in the UEFA coefficient table:

•  associations ranked 1st to 3rd in the table represent the first 4 teams of the
•  association, ranked 4th to 6th in the table, represent the first 3 teams of the
•  association ranked from 7 in the table 15th place, represent the first 2 teams of the
•  association, ranked from 16th and below in the table, is represented by 1 team

The tournament itself consists of several stages: four qualifying rounds, a group tournament, playoffs.

Each team that qualifies for the UEFA Champions League receives 3 million euros from UEFA in reward, and an additional 2.4 million is given for participation in the group stage. At the group stage, 600 thousand euros are given for each victory. In addition, each participant in the quarter-finals receives 2.5 million, the semi-finals 3 million, the finalist receives 4 million, and the winner of 7 million.

The winner of the Champions League for 10 months receives the won cup. In memory of the victory, the team receives a smaller copy of the trophy. The club that won 5 times or 3 times in a row has the right to keep the trophy forever. This right was received by Real Madrid, which won 5 victories in a row.

Only five teams won the right to keep the cup:

•  Real Madrid. 5 victories in a row
•  "Ajax". 3 wins in a row
•  Bayern Munich. 3 victories in a row
•  Milan. 5 wins
•  Liverpool. 5 victories

The most titled club in the Champions League is Real Madrid, with 10 victories, the last of which dates back to 2014.

Interesting facts:

•  During the entire period of the Champions League, only 22 clubs have won it, and only 12 of them have won more than once.
•  Since the tournament was renamed the Champions League, no one has won the tournament twice in a row.
•  Bayern Munich, Benfica and Juventus are the most unlucky teams, losing 5 times in the final.
•  5 English teams have won the Champions League, more than any other country.
•  Real Madrid have passed the group stage twice without losing points (2011/12, 2014/15).

•  Manchester United were unbeaten in 25 games in a row from 19 September 2007 to 27 May 2009.
•  Bayern won 10 matches in a row in the Champions League - from April 2, 2013 to December 10, 2013.
•  Biggest tournament win: Dinamo Bucharest 11-0 Crusaders (1973/74 season).
•  The fastest Champions League goal was scored 10 seconds in the 2006/07 season. Goal scorer - Roy Makai.
•  Most goals in one match: Lionel Messi, Luiz Adriano - 5 each.