Paris Saint-Germain have secured a monumental fitness boost at the most pivotal juncture of their campaign. Ousmane Dembele, the reigning Ballon d'Or holder, has reportedly returned to first team training and is expected to be included in the matchday squad for the Ligue 1 clash against Monaco tomorrow night. The Frenchman’s availability also comes as a major boost for Luis Enrique ahead of the team's Champions League round of 16 tie against Chelsea.
Real Madrid head coach Alvaro Arbeloa has provided a positive update on Kylian Mbappe's fitness as the Frenchman battles a persistent knee injury. With a crucial Champions League tie against Manchester City on the horizon, the Blancos boss insists the forward's recovery is firmly on track.
Arsenal are being advised to keep faith with Mikel Arteta regardless of what happens in their 2025-26 trophy bids, with former Invincibles squad member Jeremie Aliadiere telling GOAL why nobody could do a better job at Emirates Stadium. The Gunners are back in the hunt for the Premier League, as part of a quadruple quest, with their manager determined to turn potential into something more tangible.
Real Madrid have been plunged into a state of internal conflict as a significant disagreement has emerged between the club and Kylian Mbappe's inner circle regarding the forward's recovery timeline from injury. While Los Blancos are desperate to have their talismanic number 10 available for a potentially season-defining Champions League second-leg showdown against Manchester City, those closest to the Frenchman are reportedly horrified by the prospect of him being rushed back into action prematurely.
Arne Slot called Tuesday's embarrassing 2-1 loss at Wolves "the same old story". And he was right. There was nothing new or novel about their painfully predictable defeat at Molineux. Liverpool produced a dreadfully flat first half, got themselves back into the game after gifting the opposition a goal, only to then lose it by conceding an injury-time winner.
Current title holders Real Madrid are miles ahead of any other club in Europe's most prestigious competition, having gone all the way whopping 15 times – more than twice the number of titles lifted by any other club.
How many teams are in the Champions League?
The newest format, introduced ahead of the 2024-25 season, features 36 teams, four more than in the previous format. The competition was known as the European Cup at the time of its inception in 1955 before being rebranded to the UEFA Champions League ahead of the 1992-93 season. In its inaugural edition in 1955-56, only 16 teams contested.
Who has made the most Champions League appearances ever?
Cristiano Ronaldo sits at the top of the appearance-making charts, having played in 183 Champions League games, representing Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus.
Who is the all-time top scorer of the Champions League?
No surprises here! It's Mr. Champions League, Cristiano Ronaldo, who is the leading goalscorer in the Champions League with an astonishing 141 goals to his name!
Who has the most assists in the history of the Champions League?
Cristiano Ronaldo is not just a prolific goalscorer, but also has a keen eye for his team-mates as his record 42 assists in the Champions League prove.
Who is the oldest player ever in the Champions League and how old was he?
Former Italian goalkeeper Marco Ballotta holds the distinction of being the oldest player ever in the Champions League. Playing for Lazio against Real Madrid in the 2007-08 season, Ballotta was aged 43 years and 252 days.
Who is the youngest player ever in the Champions League and how old was he?
Borussia Dortmund prodigy Youssoufa Moukoko is the youngest player ever to feature in a Champions League game. He set the record on December 8 2020, in Dortmund's group stage fixture against Zenit St. Petersburg, aged 16 years and 18 days.
Which famous players have played in the Champions League?
Gianluigi Buffon, Raul, Robert Lewandowski, Ronaldinho, Clarence Seedorf, Arjen Robben, Cristiano Ronaldo, Sergio Ramos, Toni Kroos, Zinedine Zidane, Paolo Maldini, Lionel Messi, and Mo Salah, to name a few, are some of the greatest and most famous footballing faces to have graced the Champions League over the decades.
Which famous managers have managed in the Champions League?
Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho, Jurgen Klopp, Carlo Ancelotti, Rafael Benitez, Frank Rijkaard, Unai Emery, Thomas Tuchel, Zinedine Zidane, Sir Alex Ferguson, and Arsene Wenger are some of the most famous managers to have coached a club in the Champions League.