The UEFA Champions League is one of the most prestigious club competitions in the world of football. And winning the UEFA Champions League is a dream for many football players, and it becomes a great feat and joy when a player gets to win the UEFA Champions League multiple times.
Some notable players who have won this title multiple times are Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Francisco Gento, Paolo Maldini, Karim Benzema, and many other top past and present players.
The UEFA Champions League is the holy grail of titles for players in European club football and is arguably the most elite club soccer competition in the world. Therefore, being among the group of players that have won it the highest number of times is no mean feat and a very good cause for celebration.
In this article, we will take a look at the ten players with the most Champions League titles.
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1. Francisco Gento – 6 Titles
First on our list of players with the most UEFA Champions League titles is Francisco Gento. Francisco Gento is a legendary Spanish footballer who played for Real Madrid. During his playing days, he won the UEFA Champions League six times with the Spanish giants, between 1956 and 1966.
He was a key player for Real Madrid during their European dominance in the 1950s and 1960s.
2. Luka Modrić – 6 Titles
Luka Modrić is one of football’s greatest midfielders and the most successful Croatian player in history. Born in 1985, he started his career at Dinamo Zagreb before moving to Tottenham Hotspur in 2008, where he helped the club qualify for the Champions League after nearly 50 years.
In 2012, he joined Real Madrid and won six UEFA Champions League titles, becoming one of the players with the most wins in the competition’s history. He was also central to Madrid’s famous three consecutive Champions League triumphs under Zinedine Zidane.
Alongside club success, Modrić won the Ballon d’Or in 2018 after leading Croatia to the World Cup final, breaking the Messi-Ronaldo dominance. He is Croatia’s most capped player and has guided his country to several tournament runs. In 2025, he joined AC Milan, continuing an extraordinary career of consistency and success.
3. Daniel Carvajal – 6 Titles
Dani Carvajal is one of the most successful players in Champions League history, winning the trophy six times with Real Madrid. After starting his career at Bayer Leverkusen, Madrid brought him back in 2013, and he became a key figure in the squad.
He made his Champions League debut that same year and went on to play an important role in Madrid’s famous 2014 final win over Atlético. He lifted the Champions League trophy in 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022, and 2024, even scoring in the 2024 final against Borussia Dortmund.
Despite battling injuries, including a serious knee problem in 2024, he returned to action in 2025 and was later named club captain.
4. Cristiano Ronaldo – 5 Titles
Cristiano Ronaldo, also known as CR7, is one of football’s greatest players and a record holder in the UEFA Champions League, having started his career at Sporting CP before moving to Manchester United in 2003.
With United, he won three Premier League titles and his first Champions League title in 2008.
In 2009, he joined Real Madrid, where he became the club’s all-time top scorer and helped them win four more Champions League titles, including the famous La Décima.
Ronaldo has lifted the Champions League trophy five times in total. He is also the competition’s all-time top scorer with 140 goals.
Aside from Europe, he has enjoyed success in England, Spain, Italy, and now plays for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia.
For Portugal, he has won Euro 2016 and the Nations League.
5. Paolo Maldini – 5 Titles
The third on our list of 10 players to have won the most UEFA Champions League is Paolo Maldini. Paolo Maldini is an Italian former footballer who spent his entire career at the Italian side, AC Milan.
During his time at the club, he won the UEFA Champions League five times, between 1989 and 2007. He is widely regarded as one of the best defenders in football history.
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6. Alessandro Costacurta – 5 Titles
Alessandro Costacurta is another Italian footballer who spent his entire career at AC Milan. He won the Champions League five times with the Italian giants, between 1989 and 2003, playing alongside popular AC Milan defender Paolo Maldini. Costacurta was an integral part of AC Milan’s defense during their European successes.
7. Marcelo – 5 Titles
Marcelo Vieira, born in 1988, is considered one of the best left-backs in football history.
Marcelo started his career at Fluminense in 2005 before moving to Real Madrid in 2007 for €8 million.
Over 15 years in Spain, he became one of the club’s most decorated players, winning 25 trophies, including five Champions League titles and six La Liga titles.
In 2021, he was named Real Madrid’s captain, the first foreign player to do so in over a century.
After leaving Madrid in 2022, he had a short stay at Olympiacos before returning to Fluminense, where he won the Copa Libertadores in 2023.
Marcelo also represented Brazil in two World Cups, won the 2013 Confederations Cup, and earned Olympic medals in 2008 and 2012.
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8. Karim Benzema – 5 Titles
Karim Benzema, born on December 19, 1987, is a French striker who now plays for Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia.
He is widely seen as one of the best forwards in football history. Benzema made his name at Lyon before joining Real Madrid in 2009 for a record fee at the time.
He had a slow start, but became a key player for the club, forming the famous “BBC” trio with Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale.
During his career at Madrid, Benzema won five UEFA Champions League titles, scoring over 90 goals in the competition, which is the most by any French player.
He also won four La Liga trophies and many other honors, finishing as the club’s second-highest goalscorer behind Ronaldo.
In 2022, he won the Ballon d’Or after a stunning season, being the top scorer in both La Liga and the Champions League.
9. Casemiro – 5 Titles
With Real Madrid, Casemiro built a legendary career, winning five UEFA Champions League titles, three La Liga trophies, and several other major honors. Casemiro first came through São Paulo in Brazil before moving to Madrid in 2013.
After a loan spell at FC Porto, he returned to Spain and earned a starting place in Real Madrid’s squad, and he became a key part of their dominance in Europe. In 2022, he made a big move to Manchester United, and also added the EFL Cup and FA Cup to his record.
Casemiro has also been an integral part of the Brazil national team since 2011, playing at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. He helped his country win the 2019 Copa América and finished as a runner-up in 2021.
10. Toni Kroos – 5 Titles
Toni Kroos is one of football’s most successful midfielders and a true legend of the game. The German star began his career at Bayern Munich, where he lifted the Bundesliga title three times and won the Champions League in 2013.
Following his loan at Bayer Leverkusen, he rejoined Bayern before sealing a high-profile move to Real Madrid in 2014. In Spain, Kroos became a key figure in Real Madrid’s dominance, winning four La Liga titles and an incredible five Champions League trophies, including the famous three-in-a-row run from 2016 to 2018. He was often included in Europe’s best teams of the season.
Kroos also impressed for Germany, winning the 2014 World Cup. After more than 100 international appearances and 34 career trophies, he retired in 2024 as one of the most decorated German players ever.
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11. Gareth Bale – 5 Titles
Gareth Bale is a retired Welsh footballer best known for his time at Real Madrid, where he won five UEFA Champions League titles. After breaking through at Southampton as a defender, he joined Tottenham in 2007 and developed into a dynamic Premier League winger.
In 2013, Madrid signed him for a then-world-record fee, and he became part of the famous “BBC” trio with Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema. Bale scored in major finals, including a stunning bicycle kick against Liverpool in the 2018 Champions League final, often considered one of the greatest goals in the competition’s history.
Over nine years in Spain, he won 15 trophies, including three La Liga titles. Internationally, he is Wales’ most capped player and record goalscorer, leading his country to the Euro 2016 semi-finals and the 2022 World Cup. He retired in 2023 after a short spell in MLS.
Conclusion
In this article, we have provided you with a list of the top 10 players who have won the most UEFA Champions League titles thus far. These players were part of the key men in their teams at the time, and played major roles in these triumphs, ensuring that they deserve a mention on this list.
Meanwhile, the record for the highest number of UCL title wins by a player is still held by former player Francisco Gento of Real Madrid with 6 titles to his name. It remains to be seen if he will be surpassed as the competition continues to evolve.
Also, for a team that has dominated the UCL and has the highest number of wins thus far, it is no surprise that Real Madrid has the highest number of players on the list.
Kenneth is a an avid soccer follower, fan and writer. He is a consistent follower of the sport and is a fan of Chelsea FC.