Thomas Müller, Karim Benzema & Co – The players with the most Champions League wins since 1992

​

6 of top 10 have played for Real Madrid 

It’s that time again. Europe’s elite teams will begin locking horns in the Champions League this Tuesday. The brand new format will see a league phase replace the group stage, with 36 teams each playing eight group matches. The top eight sides in the league will qualify for the round of 16 automatically, with 9th-24th going through to a play off-round against each other for a place in the last 16. There will be more games and more teams than ever before.

Many of the world’s best players will be strutting their stuff, with superstars from far and wide ubiquitous in the competition. But which players have dominated the Champions League since its re-format back in 1992? Here at Transfermarkt, we have calculated the players with the most Champions League wins since the 1992/93 season, and it forms a list of true modern legends. Unsurprisingly those who have represented Real Madrid at some time or other dominate the list. 

Leading the way is ‘Mr Champions League’. Cristiano Ronaldo has won it five times (four with Real Madrid and once with Manchester United) and is the competition’s top scorer with 140 goals. He also tops the list for wins with 116 wins in 183 Champions League games. In second place is Bayern Munich’s Thomas Müller, who has 105 wins in 151 games. The German won the competition with the Bavarian giants back in 2020. Legendary goalkeeper Iker Casillas takes third spot, having won 100 of his 177 Champions League games.

In fourth is a player who has recently hung up his boots in Toni Kroos. The German won 98 of his 151 Champions League games with Bayern and Real Madrid. Fifth goes to another player with Bayern roots, in keeper Manuel Neuer, who has won 95 of his 140 Champions League games. In sixth is a magician that many people believe to be the greatest player to grace the beautiful game in Lionel Messi – the Argentina won 95 of his 163 Champions League matches with Barcelona and PSG.

In seventh is former Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema who has 94 wins in 152 games in the Champions League. He won the competition five times with the ‘Los Blancos’. Eighth goes to Barcelona legend Xavi – the midfielder won 91 of his 151 games – all of which were with Barca. Another Spaniard takes ninth place in former Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos with 83 wins in 142 matches. Completing the top 10 is Madrid’s Austrian defender David Alaba, who has won 82 of his 117 Champions League games.