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As of June 2026, Cristiano Ronaldo held the record for the most UEFA Champions League appearances, taking to the pitch 187 times in total. This was six more than the player with the second-most appearances, Iker Casillas, and 24 more than Lionel Messi. The Portuguese forward also holds a number of other records in the competition, including the most goals.

When was the Champions League founded?

The Champions League was originally known as the European Cup, the first edition of which took place in 1955. It is the most elite club competition in European soccer, where all the best players and teams from across the continent compete. Spanish giants Real Madrid have won the competition the most times, lifting the trophy on 15 occasions. In 1992, the European Cup was rebranded as the Champions League, and the competition has since gone from strength to strength, generating over three billion euros in revenue in the 2024/25 season.

What format does the Champions League follow?

The Champions League adopted a different format from the 2024/25 season onwards, following what is known as the Swiss model. The new structure involved more teams, more games, and more clashes between elite clubs. This could generate even more broadcasting revenue for UEFA, who already earned billions from televised Champions League games every year. However, the reforms were also criticized, with fans worrying that the extra games would result in domestic competitions being undermined, and some critics even comparing the changes to the European Super League.