The UEFA Champions League, previously the European Cup, began in 1955 to proclaim Europe’s best club. Real Madrid took the first title and controlled the beginning decades, also claiming the first five titles. Over the decades, clubs such as Bayern Munich, Liverpool and AC Milan put their names on the roll call of European royalty.

The tournament was renamed the UEFA Champions League in 1992 and was expanded to include more teams and with a group stage. This change made the tournament more competitive as well as more internationally popular. Marseille won the inaugural Champions League in this new format.

The 2000s were filled with traditional moments, such as Liverpool’s legendary 2005 comeback and Barcelona’s rout of Manchester United in the 2009 final. Real Madrid added to their legacy with four titles between 2014 and 2018 and Chelsea won their first one in 2012 in a dramatic penalty shootout.

Nowadays, the Champions League remains the cream of the crop of club football, attracting the best and providing us with memories to cherish year in and year out. Its future is rosy with new reforms and unlimited drama in store.