Real Madrid’s Champions League wins – ranked
It’s fair to say Real Madrid have enjoyed more than their fair share of success in Europe.
Combining the European Cup and Champions League, they’ve been the best team on the continent a whopping 13 times. That’s football heritage right there.
So, how about ranking each victory? Let’s get into it.
This European Cup final saw Real win the competition for a fourth consecutive time by triumphing over Reims.
Enrique Mateos‘ first-minute effort had Los Blancos up nice and early before Alfredo Di Stefano sealed the victory in the second half.
Final score: Real Madrid 2-0 Reims
Final starting XI: Dominguez; Marquitos, Santamaria, Zarraga (c); Santisteban, Ruiz; Kopa, Mateos, Rial, Gento; Di Stefano.
Top scorer: Alfredo Di Stefano (6)
This is a match you probably wish you could wipe from your brain.
After an absolute slugfest of a final which went the distance after strikes from Sergio Ramos and Yannick Carrasco, Juanfran’s miss in the penalty shootout saw Real triumph over city rivals Atletico Madrid.
Final score: Real 1-1 Atletico Madrid (5-3 on penalties)
Final starting XI: Navas; Carvajal, Ramos (c), Pepe, Marcelo; Modric, Casemiro, Kroos; Bale, Benzema, Ronaldo.
Top scorer: Cristiano Ronaldo (16)
Ringing in the new millennium in style, strikes from Fernando Morientes, Steve McManaman and Raul – who netted ten times in the competition in 1999/00 – saw Real down Valencia in Paris.
McManaman himself described it as „one of those days when everything clicks“, and he could hardly have been more right.
Final score: Real Madrid 3-0 Valencia
Final starting XI: Casillas; Salgado, Karanka, Helguera, Campo, Carlos; McManaman, Redondo (c), Raul; Morientes, Anelka.
Top scorer: Raul (10)
Real had Predrag Mijatovic to thank as they won a first European Cup in 32 years with victory over Juventus in the final.
The former Yugoslavia international struck in the 66th minute as Real kept the likes of Alessandro Del Piero, Filippo Inzaghi and Zinedine Zidane at bay.
Final score: Juventus 0-1 Real Madrid
Final starting XI: Illgner; Panucci, Sanchis (c), Hierro, Carlos; Redondo; Karembeu, Seedorf; Raul; Morientes, Mijatovic
Top scorer: Fernando Morientes, Davor Suker (4)
Real didn’t have it easy when they won their first European Cup in the competition’s second season in existence.
They made it past Rapid Wien – with a playoff needed – Nice and Manchester United before seeing off Fiorentina 2-0 in the final.
Final score: Real Madrid 2-0 Fiorentina
Final starting XI: Alonso; Marquitos, Torres, Lesmes; Munoz (c), Zarraga; Kopa, Mateos, Rial, Gento; Di Stefano.
Top scorer: Alfredo Di Stefano (7)
Real bagged their sixth European Cup in 11 years with victory over Partizan in the final.
Velibor Vasovic had put the Yugoslavian side ahead but the Spaniards kept their cool as Amancio Amaro and Fernando Serena scored twice in six minutes for the win.
Final score: Real Madrid 2-1 Partizan
Final starting XI: Araquistain; Pachin, De Felipe, Zoco, Sanchis; Pirri, Velazquez; Serena, Amancio, Grosso, Gento (c)
Top scorer: Amancio, Ferenc Puskas (5)
Real dominated possession in the final against Milan here but were caught out twice in a dramatic second half before extra time rolled around.
It was wide forward Francisco Gento who would be the Blancos hero, scoring a winner in the 107th minute.
Final score: Real Madrid 3-2 Milan (AET)
Final starting XI: Alonso (c); Atienza, Santamaria, Lesmes; Santisteban, Zarraga; Kopa, Joseito, Rial, Gento; Di Stefano
Top scorer: Alfredo Di Stefano (10)
This was Real’s first UCL title in 12 years and ushered in a period of dominance for Los Blancos on the European stage.
They were pushed all the way by rivals Atletico Madrid but eventually pulled clear in extra time thanks to goals from Gareth Bale, Marcelo and Cristiano Ronaldo after Sergio Ramos had netted a dramatic 93rd-minute equaliser at the death.
Final score: Real Madrid 4-1 Atletico Madrid (AET)
Final starting XI: Casillas (c); Carvajal, Ramos, Varane, Coentrao; Modric, Khedira, Di Maria; Bale, Benzema, Ronaldo
Top scorer: Cristiano Ronaldo (17)
Real secured their first ever European Cup here and the final was as dramatic as they come.
Reims had gone 2-0 early on, but Alfredo Di Stefano, Hector Rial and Marquitos all stood up to be counted as Real grabbed a 4-3 victory.
Final score: Real Madrid 4-3 Reims
Final starting XI: Alonso; Marquitos, Atienza, Lesmes; Munoz (c), Zarraga; Joseito, Marsal, Rial, Gento; Di Stefano.
Top scorer: Hector Rial, Alfredo Di Stefano (5)
Gareth Bale scored one of the greatest Champions League final goals as Real overcame Liverpool thanks to individual brilliance and a goalkeeping nightmare for Loris Karius.
The German threw one on a plate for Karim Benzema and later spilled a Bale potshot to seal Los Blancos‘ 3-1 victory.
Final score: Real Madrid 3-1 Liverpool
Final starting XI: Navas; Carvajal, Varane, Ramos (c), Marcelo; Modric, Casemiro, Kroos; Isco; Benzema, Ronaldo.
Top scorer: Cristiano Ronaldo (15)
Zinedine Zidane’s stunning volley from the edge of the box proved enough for Real to see off Bayer Leverkusen 2-1.
Raul had earlier opened the scoring before Bayer hit back through Lucio, but the night was all about Zidane.
Final score: Bayer Leverkusen 1-2 Real Madrid
Final starting XI: Cesar; Salgado, Hierro (c), Helguera, Carlos; Makelele; Figo, Solari; Zidane; Raul, Morientes.
Top scorer: Raul (6)
If there’s one thing that Real Madrid’s 2021/22 reminded us of, it’s that Carlo Ancelotti is undisputedly one of the greatest managers of all time.
Los Blancos beat Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Manchester City en route to a repeat of the 2018 final against Liverpool – perhaps the toughest run any side has ever faced in the knockout stages.
In Paris, Ancelotti struck gold again as Vinicius‘ second-half goal earned a deserved 1-0 win.
Final score: Liverpool 0-1 Real Madrid
Final starting XI: Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Alaba, Mendy; Modric, Casemiro, Kroos; Valverde, Benzema, Vinicius Junior
Top scorer: Karim Benzema (15)
Winning in style is often what Real do best, and Juventus had no answer for the purring Spaniards in Cardiff.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s 20th-minute effort had been cancelled out by a spectacular Mario Mandzukic overhead kick, but further efforts from Casemiro, Ronaldo and Marco Asensio ensured Real’s name would be carved on the trophy yet again.
Final score: Juventus 1-4 Real Madrid
Final starting XI: Navas; Carvajal, Ramos (c), Varane, Marcelo; Kroos, Casemiro, Modric; Isco, Benzema, Ronaldo.
Top scorer: Cristiano Ronaldo (12)
You can’t really argue with a 7-3 win in a European Cup final, can you?
Eintracht Frankfurt had no chance up against prime Di Stefano and Puskas, with the former netting three and the latter getting four. Absolute peak Real.
Final score: Real Madrid 7-3 Eintracht Frankfurt
Final starting XI: Dominguez; Marquitos, Santamaria, Pachin; Vidal, Zarraga (c); Canario, Del Sol, Puskas, Gento; Di Stefano.
Top scorer: Ferenc Puskas (12)