The Champions League is an esteemed competition that grants clubs worldwide a platform to showcase their skills and talent in front of the world. The tournament brings fans from all over the globe an experience that’s packed with drama, unpredictability, and excitement. It also provides huge financial rewards for those clubs that make it through, with just a single round in the competition bringing in millions in revenue. The prestige of the competition is unparalleled, and it immortalizes those clubs that manage to defy logic and beat the odds. It’s a tournament that consecrates the best, with Real Madrid leading all winners with 15 titles in total.
It all began with a visionary newspaper editor who wanted to create a competition that would bring together the champions of Europe’s various leagues. Gabriel Hanot, who worked for the French sports newspaper L’Equipe, forged the idea of creating a continental championship that would go beyond existing competitions like the Mitropa Cup and the Latin Cup.
Since its inception, the competition has experienced a series of expansions that have increased its size and scope. In season 1994-1995 the competition grew to 16 teams and consisted of a group phase followed by three knockout stages. In season 1997-1998, another expansion saw the number of teams grow to 24 (excluding the qualification). The competition now consists of two groups and four knockout phases. The quarter-finals and semi-finals are two-legged matches while the final is a one-off match.
