Pep Guardiola's all-conquering Barcelona, Real Madrid's three-peaters and the 25 Champions League-winning teams of the 21st century so far - ranked

Chelsea's class of 2011-12, who finished sixth in the Premier League, will probably go down as the worst team to ever win the Champions League. The Blues topped their group thanks to their home form, but away they lost to an average Bayer Leverkusen side and drew with both Valencia and Genk. They then lost 3-1 at Napoli in the first leg of their last-16 tie, which led to Andre Villas-Boas being removed from the managerial hot seat.

Roberto Di Matteo's appointment as interim boss changed everything, though, as Chelsea staged a remarkable comeback to beat Napoli 4-1 at Stamford Bridge, before seeing off Benfica in the quarter-finals. They then pulled off an incredible upset against possession machines Barcelona, edging through 3-2 on aggregate thanks to a late Fernando Torres goal at Camp Nou that famously birthed Gary Neville's commentary 'goal-gasms'.

Chelsea played on the counter again in the final against Bayern Munich, who had 35 shots to their nine, but Didier Drogba's stunning 88th-minute header cancelled out Thomas Muller's opener as the game ended 1-1. Arjen Robben then missed a penalty in extra-time as the Blues retreated again, and they went on to edge a nerve-shredding shootout, with Drogba stroking home the decisive spot-kick to solidify his status as a club legend.

This Chelsea team had bags of spirit, but their success was solid proof that sometimes it's better to be lucky than good.

Zinedine Zidane became the first manager to ever retain the Champions League in 2015-16, but it was the least impressive of his three triumphs in the Real Madrid dugout. Los Blancos breezed through the group stage, but failed to make a statement in either of their games against Paris Saint-Germain, and a 4-0 aggregate victory over Roma in the last 16 flattered Zidane's side.

They then had to recover from a 2-0 deficit against Wolfsburg in the quarter-finals, before squeezing past Manchester City 1-0 on aggregate in a dour semi-final match-up. They were rewarded with a final clash against arch-rivals Atletico Madrid, and took the lead controversially after 15 minutes when Sergio Ramos turned home a Gareth Bale flick. Replays showed Ramos was clearly offside, which only increased clamour for the introduction of video technology after the game.

Yannick Carrasco managed to get Atletico back into it, but Real eventually triumphed 4-3 on penalties, with Cristiano Ronaldo converting the winner. The Portuguese superstar hit 16 goals in the tournament overall, but this unconvincing triumph was built on the colossal Ramos-Pepe partnership that kept five clean sheets in the knockout stages.

How could a team with Andriy Shevchenko, Clarence Seedorf, Rui Costa, Andrea Pirlo and Filippo Inzaghi be so terrible to watch?! AC Milan scored a measly nine goals in 11 games across the second group stage and knockouts of the 2002-03 edition of the Champions League, winning just five matches, and yet somehow ended up possessing the European Cup.

Milan were part of the most tedious final of all time, too, with a 0-0 draw against Juventus played out across 120 minutes that almost sent a capacity crowd at Old Trafford to sleep. It was the first all-Italian final the Champions League has ever seen, and thankfully, there hasn't been another one since.

On the plus side, though, Milan's all-star back-four of Alessandro Costacurta, Alessandro Nesta, Paolo Maldini and Kakha Kaladze delivered a masterclass in the art of defending that deserves to be remembered. They all outshone the Rossoneri's flair players to deliver Carlo Ancelotti's maiden trophy success as a head coach - paving the way for many more.

Inter won their third European Cup in the hardest possible way. Jose Mourinho's team gave up the lion's share of the ball in almost every game and sat back in numbers to frustrate their opponents, while looking to pounce ruthlessly on any opportunities to counter-attack. It was an energy-zapping approach that required full concentration from each member of the team from the first minute to last, but remarkably, no one showed any sign of fatigue.

The Nerazzurri only qualified from the group stage with two wins, but this was a team tailor-made for the knockout stage. Mourinho's troops beat Chelsea 2-1 at home and 1-0 away, before seeing off CSKA Moscow 2-0 on aggregate in the quarter-finals to set up a blockbuster clash against Barcelona. Another defensive masterclass at San Siro saw Inter take a 3-1 lead into the second leg, and Barca couldn't make up the gap at Camp Nou despite throwing the kitchen sink at the Italian giants.

In the final, Bayern Munich enjoyed 68 percent of the possession, but Inter still won 2-0, thanks to a brilliant brace from Diego Milito. It was the last leg of a remarkable treble for Mourinho, who created a remarkable team spirit in the Inter dressing room that more than made up for a lack of overall quality.

If this list were decided on pure drama alone, Rafa Benitez's 2004-05 Liverpool team would be at No.1 for their final win over AC Milan alone. The Reds battled back from 3-0 down at half-time with three goals in six minutes early in the second period, including a stunning long-range effort from Vladimir Smicer, before Jerzy Dudek took centre stage.

The Polish goalkeeper somehow kept out a point-blank shot from Andriy Shevchenko in extra-time and then saved two penalties in the shootout to clinch the title for Liverpool, who made up for a disappointing fifth-placed finish in the Premier League in breath-taking fashion.

It had felt written in the stars for Liverpool from their final group game onwards, as Steven Gerrard crashed home a spectacular, last-gasp half-volley to send them into the last 16 on goal difference ahead of Olympiacos, and good fortune also shone on them in the semi-finals as Luis Garcia's infamous 'ghost goal' saw off Jose Mourinho's Chelsea.

Liverpool's refusal to know when they were beaten outweighed their limitations as a collective. This was the least talented of all six Reds teams that have won the European Cup, but in the resolve stakes, they were unmatched. 'The Miracle of Istanbul' will likely be remembered as the greatest final in football history.

The second Jose Mourinho team on this list didn't have the same resources that Inter had. In fact, Porto's 2004 Champions League success may be the greatest underdog victory in the competition's entire history.

Players like Ricardo Carvalho, Maniche and Deco announced themselves on the biggest stage for the first time as Mourinho assembled another group willing to give blood, sweat and tears for him in every match. Again, it wasn't pretty, but Porto's resilience kept them unbeaten through the knockout stage, with Manchester United among their victims.

A Deco masterclass then inspired Porto to a 3-0 final victory over Monaco, which completed another clean sweep of trophies for Mourinho that allowed him to make his 'Special One' boast in his first press conference at Chelsea just a few weeks later.

Chelsea's 2020-21 season was a major disappointment up until January, when Frank Lampard was replaced as manager by German enforcer Thomas Tuchel. Lampard got the Blues through the Champions League group stage, but they were in mid-table in the Premier League, and no one expected a proper challenge for major silverware.

Tuchel got Chelsea organised, though, masterminding the downfalls of Atletico Madrid, Porto and Real Madrid, conceding only two goals along the way. Chelsea then produced one of the all-time great final performances to take down Manchester City, taking full advantage of some baffling Pep Guardiola selection decisions.

It could be argued that the likes of Kai Havertz, Mason Mount and Reece James all peaked on that fateful night at Estadio do Dragao. A promising young team came of age under a brilliant coach, to the extent that their European triumph didn't feel like that much of an upset.

Liverpool lost three games in the 2018-19 group stage, and only scraped through on goal difference ahead of Napoli, which raised doubts over their staying power in the competition. They were comprehensively erased in the first two knockout stages, though, as the Reds beat Bayern Munich 3-1 on aggregate before blowing away Porto 6-1.

Then came Barcelona, and one of the most dramatic ties the competition has ever seen. Liverpool were facing heartbreak after a chastening 3-0 defeat at Camp Nou, but Jurgen Klopp's side staged a comeback for the ages at Anfield. Divock Origi and Georginio Wijnaldum both scored braces as the Reds thrashed Barca 4-0, while Alisson put in a colossal display at the other end of the pitch to keep Lionel Messi and Co at bay.

Unfortunately, Liverpool seemingly used up most of their energy and quality in that pulsating game, but they still had enough to edge a sleep-inducing all-English final against Tottenham, and fully deserved the title of best team in Europe after such an incredible journey.

For much of the 1999-2000 campaign, Real Madrid didn't look like potential Champions League winners. They were battered home and away by Bayern Munich in the second group stage, and couldn't even beat Dynamo Kyiv at Santiago Bernabeu, but just about did enough to make it through to the quarter-finals.

Los Blancos were then held to a 0-0 draw by Manchester United, but they came alive in the second leg at Old Trafford, running out 3-2 winners on the back of a ruthless finishing display from Raul. Madrid's most influential stars were finding top form at the perfect time, and it wasn't a shock when they exacted revenge on Bayern in the semis, edging out the Germans 3-2 on aggregate to book a place in the final against La Liga rivals Valencia.

Vicente del Bosque's side romped to a 3-0 win at Stade de France, with a peak-of-his-powers Steve McManaman among the scorers, as Madrid made Valencia pay for daring to try and go toe-to-toe with them.

Bayern always looked like the team to beat in 2000-01 after breezing through two difficult groups ahead of PSG and Arsenal. Led by magical Brazilian forward Giovane Elber, Ottmar Hitzfeld's side went up another level in the knockouts, too, beating Manchester United 3-1 on aggregate before repeating the trick against holders Real Madrid in the semi-finals.

The final wasn't so straightforward, though. Valencia were determined to right the wrongs of the previous year, and took the lead after just three minutes thanks to a Gaizka Mendieta penalty. To make matters worse, Mehmet Scholl missed from 12 yards moments later, and Bayern went in at half-time wondering if the stars were aligning for their Spanish opponents.

However, Bayern did claw their way back, with Stefan Effenberg stepping up to score from the penalty spot early in the second half. The rest of the game became a war of attrition, and a shootout was needed to separate the two sides, with Oliver Kahn saving three spot-kicks to get Bayern over the line.

Across the whole tournament, no team could match Bayern for pure class or tenacity.

Manchester United's 2007-08 team was arguably the best of Sir Alex Ferguson's entire 27-year reign, as it boasted Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez in their pomp, with the likes of Nani, Park Ji-Sung and a veteran Ryan Giggs to back them up. But the Red Devils' run to a domestic and European double was underpinned by the defence, not the attack.

Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand forged a formidable partnership at centre-back to help Edwin van der Sar record five clean sheets in the knockout stage, including home and away against Barcelona in the semi-finals. United finally let the shackles off in the final against Chelsea, but their English foes matched them in a thrilling end-to-end contest that somehow only produced two goals across 120 minutes.

In the end, good fortune smiled more favourably on United in rainy Moscow conditions. John Terry had the chance to win it in the shootout, but hit the post after slipping at the crucial moment, and Van der Sar then saved from Nicolas Anelka to clinch the title for the Red Devils, who were undoubtedly the best team across the entire tournament.

After Cristiano Ronaldo's departure to Juventus in 2018, Real Madrd endured a frustrating transitional period, winning just a solitary La Liga title in three seasons. Carlo Ancelotti returned to steady the ship ahead of the 2021-22 season, but there would be no quick fix.

Los Blancos suffered a surprise home loss to Sheriff Tiraspol on matchday two in the group stages, which led some to suggest that their dominion over the Champions League was well and truly over. But it's never a good idea to write off Madrid.

Ancelotti's men bounced back to finish top of their group and then knocked out PSG in the last 16 courtesy of a superb Karim Benzema hat-trick in the second leg. The best was still to come, though, as Madrid stunned both Chelsea and Man City with unbelievable late comebacks to book a place in the final, where they also claimed Liverpool's scalp.

Vinicius Jr scored the only goal to settle the game, as Madrid negotiated perhaps the toughest run ever to get their trophy back. There have been plenty of better Blancos teams, but none with more heart.

From the moment Real Madrid won their 2023-24 Champions League group with maximum points, it felt like another European crown would head back to the Spanish capital, having been boosted by the summer arrival of Jude Bellingham. Ancelotti's team slacked off a bit in the round of 16, only edging out an average RB Leipzig team 2-1 on aggregate, but got their act together again in time for the quarter-finals against Man City.

The two teams played out a breathless 4-4 draw on aggregate, with Madrid eventually triumphing on penalties. There was more drama in the semis as Los Blancos beat Bayern Munich 4-3, with Joselu deciding the tie with a stunning late double in the second leg at the Bernabeu.

Surprise package Borussia Dortmund awaited in the final, but unsurprisingly, Madrid were far too streetwise for the Bundesliga side as goals from Dani Carvajal and Vinicius sealed a deserved 2-0 win. This was Madrid perfecting the Champions League-winning formula from two years earlier, maintaining the same levels of grit while taking it up another notch in the quality stakes.

AC Milan exorcised the ghosts of Istanbul to lift the 2006-07 Champions League trophy, and in some style. Ancelotti's side qualified for the last 16 with two games to spare after being drawn in a favourable group alongside Lille, AEK Athens and Anderlecht, only to be pushed to the limit by Celtic.

The Scottish side prevented Milan from scoring over 180 minutes, but then Kaka took over, deciding the tie in extra-time with a cool finish after a mesmerising run from his own half. The Rossoneri improved dramatically in the quarter-finals to send Bayern Munich packing, with a almost-flawless performance in a 2-0 win at Allianz Arena putting the rest of Europe on notice.

Manchester United briefly halted their momentum, beating Milan 3-2 at Old Trafford in the semi-finals, but the Italians recovered to win 3-0 at San Siro. Kaka scored three goals across those two legs, including a wonderful effort that saw him embarrass Darren Fletcher, Gabriel Heinze and Patrice Evra.

The Rossoneri were brimming with confidence heading into their final showdown against Liverpool, and a poacher's double from Filippo Inzaghi ensured they left Athens with the trophy. This was Milan at the end of a cycle, but with Kaka on Ballon d'Or-winning form, no one could get close to them.

Pep Guardiola finally delivered an elusive European Cup to the Etihad Stadium as part of a historic treble in 2022-23, and it proved to be well worth the wait for Manchester City fans.

The arrival of Erling Haaland completed Guardiola's team and gave them the edge they'd been missing in the Champions League. He hit 12 goals in Europe, with five of those coming in an outrageous 7-0 route of RB Leipzig in the last-16, and also scored twice in the next round against Bayern Munich.

It wasn't all about Haaland, though. Kevin De Bruyne was in peak playmaker mode as he laid on seven assists, Ruben Dias and John Stones formed an impenetrable duo at the back, and Rodri was colossal in holding midfield - even chipping in with the final winner against Inter. City weren't at their best in the showpiece, but the result was all that mattered; they'd already proven their status as Europe's finest team in the semi-finals by thrashing Real Madrid 4-0 a the Etihad.

Florentino Perez saw his Galacticos dream realised in 2001-02. Zinedine Zidane turned out to be the final piece of the puzzle for the Real Madrid president as the Frenchman completed an all-star line-up alongside the likes of Luis Figo, Raul and Roberto Carlos.

Madrid didn't win La Liga, but they were an unstoppable force in the Champions League, scoring 35 goals across their 17 matches. There was also an inner steel running through the dressing room, as evidenced by their hard-fought comeback victory over Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals.

Madrid went on to outclass Barcelona in the semis before beating a spirited Bayer Leverkusen team in the final at Hampden Park. Zidane's iconic first-time volley proved to be the difference between the two sides, and capped a remarkable debut year at the Bernabeu for the fantastic Frenchman.

The 2005-06 campaign belonged to Ronaldinho. Barcelona stormed to La Liga and Champions League success thanks to the Brazilian's ingenuity, after Frank Rijkaard decided to make him the main man in his team.

Ronaldinho registered 12 goal contributions in 12 European appearances, including a magical solo goal against Chelsea in the last 16 and a miraculous clipped pass to set up Ludovic Giuly's semi-final winner against AC Milan. Barca were by no means a one-man team, though, as Deco, Samuel Eto'o, Henrik Larsson, Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Carlos Puyol all played key roles, while a certain Lionel Messi enjoyed a memorable breakthrough year.

Barcelona didn't fire on full cylinders in the final, with an early red card to Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann ruining the game as a spectacle, but still managed to get the job done, and there was no denying they had set the gold standard in Europe during a year that saw many of the other heavyweights fail to live up to expectations.

Madrid won their first La Liga -Champions League double in 59 years in 2006-17 as Zinedine Zidane's revolution went into overdrive. Madrid had an aura of invincibility about them, particularly in Europe, and ruthlessly ousted Napoli, Bayern Munich and Atletico in the knockout stages, scoring 16 goals across the six games.

An even bigger statement was made in the final against Juventus at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, though, as Los Blancos demolished the Serie A giants 4-1, with Cristiano Ronaldo grabbing two of the goals. No one expected the Bianconeri to be swept aside so easily, but Madrid were just so clinical, and once they got into their groove there was only going to be one winner.

Once again, most of the plaudits went to Ronaldo, but Casemiro, Luka Modric and Toni Kroos were the unsung heroes in midfield as they helped turn Madrid into the most efficient team to ever grace the competition.

After being starved of European success for 12 long years (our hearts bleed), Real Madrid finally clinched their 10th Champions League title in 2013-14. Cristiano Ronaldo broke the competition record for the most goals scored in a single season (17), and was undeniably the driving force behind the Decima success, though Carlo Ancelotti's ability to turn Los Blancos into a proper team is what made them champions.

Madrid dismantled Schalke 9-2 on aggregate in the round of 16 before scoring 10 goals without reply against Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich to reach the final, where they met arch-rivals Atletico. Diego Simeone's well-drilled Rojiblancos very nearly spoiled Real's party, with a 36th-minute goal from Diego Godin separating the two sides until deep into stoppage-time.

But then Sergio Ramos rose to head home an equaliser, and Real proceeded to pummel a shell-shocked Atletico into submission in extra-time, with Gareth Bale among the scorers in an eventual 4-1 triumph. Ancelotti's side were fortunate to come out on top in the showpiece, but deserved their luck after such an impressive run to Lisbon that showed they were well and truly back as Europe's No.1 team.

Jupp Heynckes brought his stellar managerial career to a close by leading Bayern Munich to a treble in 2012-13, and they were a frightening sight to behold in full flow, particularly in Europe. Bayern swatted aside Arsenal and Juventus to reach the semi-finals before destroying Barcelona 7-0 on aggregate to send shockwaves through the entire footballing world.

From Manuel Neuer, Philipp Lahm and Jerome Boateng to Bastian Schweinsteiger, Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery and Thomas Muller, this was a Bayern team bursting with class and unwavering confidence, which allowed them to blow all of their competitors away.

Robben turned out to be the ultimate hero in the final, as his instinctive finish in the 89th minute gave Bayern a 2-1 win against eternal foes Borussia Dortmund at Wembley, instantly cementing their status as one of the all-time great Champions League teams.

Zinedine Zidane's Real Madrid reached the final stage of their evolution in 2017-18. Los Blancos fell way off the pace in La Liga, but that's only because they put so much energy into pulling off the Champions League three-peat.

Madrid had to face domestic champions PSG, Juventus and Bayern Munich in the knockouts - it doesn't get much harder than that - but they relished all of those battles, and pushed themselves to new heights in order to get the job done.

Insane feats of individual brilliance also played a key role, though. Cristiano Ronaldo scored a sensational bicycle kick against Juve in the last eight, and Gareth Bale somehow eclipsed the Portuguese with an even more outrageous effort in the final against Liverpool, which Madrid eventually won 3-1.

Zidane never really imprinted one distinctive philosophy on the squad, but this was the season he got the very best out of all of their prized assets - and that's arguably a far more impressive achievement.

If pure entertainment was the main criteria, Barcelona's 2014-15 side would deserve to be in the No.1 slot on this list, as this was the year Luis Enrique unleashed the holy 'MSN' triumvirate of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez.

Suarez had the lethal finishing touch, Neymar served as chief provider and Messi was the artist holding it all together, though all three forward regularly rotated responsibilities on a match-by-match basis, depending on how the opposition lined up. The trio seemed to have a telepathic understanding that made them impossible to pin down, and Barca were the envy of every other club on the continent as a result.

Luis Enrique's side might light work of Man City, PSG, Bayern Munich and Juventus - all of whom were domestic champions at the time - on their way to conquering Europe, and it was wonderful to watch. Longevity would prove elusive for the MSN trio, but this one season of irresistible sorcery will never be forgotten by the purists.

Barcelona were an irresistible force in 2010-11, spearheaded by Lionel Messi, Xavi and Andres Iniesta at the height of their powers. Add to that the goal-scoring prowess of David Villa, the technical wizardry of Sergio Busquets and the dynamism of flying full-backs Dani Alves and Eric Abidal, and there really wasn't much hope for any other team to stop Barca's ascendency to the European throne.

Pep Guardiola's side gave Arsenal a footballing lesson at Camp Nou in the round of 16, silenced the Bernabeu with a 2-0 win over Real Madrid in a semi-final tie that saw Messi score probably the best individual goal in Champions League history, and then decimated Manchester United in the final at Wembley.

The final 3-1 scoreline flattered United, such was Barca's dominance, and Sir Alex Ferguson was in no mood for excuses after the game. "In my time as a manager, I would say they're the best team we've faced," said the legendary Scot. "No one has given us a hiding like that."

Bayern Munich's 2019-20 squad made a mockery of the Champions League, plain and simple. They won every single game, which had never been done before and probably never will be done again, scoring a staggering 43 goals in 11 games en route to securing the trophy for the sixth time.

Granted, UEFA's decision to temporarily scrap the two-legged knockout stage format after a Covid-19-enforced break in the season opened the door for Bayern to complete a potential record-breaking run, but no one could have predicted they would be this dominant. Hansi Flick's side beat Barcelona 8-2, for God's sake!

Robert Lewandowski finished as top scorer in the Champions League with 15 goals, while Alphonso Davies, Thiago Alcantara and Joshua Kimmich also stood out as Bayern bullied their way to Europe's most coveted title. The Bavarians weren't just the best, they were miles ahead of everyone else, and to manage that at such a turbulent time in global history makes the achievement all the more special.

Realistically, there was only ever going to be one winner here. Pep Guardiola revolutionised football when building his first team at Barcelona in 2008-09, having initially been an unpopular choice to replace previous boss Frank Rijkaard. Influenced by the great Ajax and Netherlands teams of the 1970s, the Catalan coach instantly set about getting his own brand of 'Total Football' across to the squad, and the results were ground-breaking.

The football Barcelona's treble-winners played throughout the 2008-09 season was other-worldly. Almost every pass, shot and run off the ball was pre-ordained; the result of thousands of hours of meticulous work on the training ground. But crucially, there was also still room for self-expression as the likes of Lionel Messi, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Yaya Toure, Samuel Eto'o and Thierry Henry all shared the spotlight to varying degrees.

Barcelona benefitted from some very questionable refereeing to get past Chelsea in the semi-finals, but they trounced Lyon and Bayern Munich in the previous rounds, and saved the best until last. Guardiola's side ran rings around Manchester United in Rome's showpiece event, winning 2-0 thanks to a clever Eto'o finish and the rarest of Messi goals: a leaping header into the far corner.

No one had ever seen anything like it, certainly not in the Champions League. Barcelona perfected the beautiful game, and every other club in the world has been trying to replicate the Guardiola model ever since.