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Champions League Qualification Overview

'A shallow Guardiola imposter' - Under fire Rangers boss slammed

Rangers manager Russell Martin has been brutally slammed as a 'shallow Pep Guardiola imposter' by pundits following a disastrous start to the season. The criticism comes after a home defeat to Hearts left the Ibrox club languishing in 10th place, with Martin's philosophy branded 'self-sabotage' and 'style over substance'.

UCL draw LIVE: Real, Barca, Arsenal & more learn fate

Join GOAL for live updates from the 2025-26 Champions League draw, as Europe's heavyweights Real Madrid, Barcelona, Arsenal, Liverpool and more discover who they play in the league phase

Kylian Mbappe Real Madrid 2025-26 Champions League trophy

Champions League draw: Pots, time, stream & how it works

Complete guide to the upcoming Champions League draw, including pots, how it works and where to watch.

Celtic v Livingston - William Hill Premiership

Celtic eliminated from Champions League play-off round

Brendan Rodgers' Celtic suffered an embarrassing exit from the Champions League play-off round after they went down in penalties against Kazakh side Kairat Almaty. After both legs ended in goalless draws, the tie was taken to the penalty shootout, where Kairat emerged victorious 3-2 and progressed to the league stage. The Kazakh club will be placed in Pot 4 during the draw.

Mourinho claims Benfica are 'unhappy' about facing Fenerbahce in UCL playoffs

Jose Mourinho has stoked the flames ahead of a high-stakes Champions League playoff, claiming Benfica are "unhappy" and would have much rather faced Feyenoord than Fenerbahce. The veteran Portuguese coach is just one step away from leading the Turkish giants into the main stage of Europe’s elite competition for the first time in 17 years.

'What is this?' - Fernandes reacts to Fred's Fenerbahce wondergoal

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes was impressed by former team-mate Fred's stunner for Fenerbahce in the Champions League.

Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	PTS	Form
1	Barcelona	26	21	1	4	71	26	45	64	W W L W W
2	Real Madrid	27	20	3	4	56	23	33	63	W L L W W
3	Atletico Madrid	27	16	6	5	46	25	21	54	W W W L L
4	Villarreal	26	16	3	7	48	31	17	51	L W W L W
5	Real Betis	26	11	10	5	42	32	10	43	D D W W W

Pos

Team

+/-

PTS

Form

Barcelona

W
W
L
W
W

Real Madrid

W
L
L
W
W

Atletico Madrid

W
W
W
L
L

Villarreal

L
W
W
L
W

Real Betis

D
D
W
W
W

Frequently asked questions

Who has won the most European Championship titles?

Spain are the most successful side in the European Championship, having lifted the coveted title four times. Their first-ever title came in 1964. After a long wait of 44 years, La Roja won the trophy in 2008 and successfully defended it in 2012 under the-then boss Vicente del Bosque. They won the most recent edition in 2024 and set a record of winning every single game en route to glory.

How many teams are in the European Championship?

There are 24 teams in the European Championships ever since the expansion in 2016. Initially there were only four teams in the Euros, before that number was doubled to eight in 1980, and then to 16 countries in 1996.

Who has made the most European Championship appearances ever?

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo has made 30 appearances in the European Championship, having featured in six consecutive editions. He won the tournament in 2016.

Who is the all-time top scorer in the European Championship?

No player has scored more goals in the European Championship than the legendary Cristiano Ronaldo. The 39-year-old has scored 14 goals in 30 games in total, five more than any other player.

Who is the oldest player ever in the European Championship and how old was he?

Portugal centre-back Pepe was aged 41 years and 130 days when his team took on France in the quarter-final of the 2024 edition, thus becoming the oldest player to ever feature in the European Championship.

Who is the youngest player ever in the European Championship and how old was he?

Spanish sensation Lamine Yamal has been creating a host of records since breaking out at Barcelona in 2023. He was a crucial contributor in Spain's EURO 2024 victory, and also became the youngest player ever to feature in the European Championship finals, making his debut in the tournament at the age of 16 years and 338 days.

Which famous players have played in the European Championship?

Paolo Maldini, Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Cristiano Ronaldo, Thierry Henry, Manuel Neuer, Andres Iniesta, Iker Casillas, Eden Hazard, Michel Platini, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and Gareth Bale are some of the most prominent names to have represented their nations at the European Championship.

Which famous managers have managed in the European Championship?

Roberto Mancini, Ronald Koeman, Guus Hiddink, Dino Zoff, Antonio Conte, Andriy Shevchenko, Luis Enrique, Miguel Munoz, Kevin Keegan, Frank Rijkaard, Arrigo Sacchi, Julian Nagelsmann, etc are some of the most famous managers to have managed in the European Championship.