Top 10 back-to-back Champions League winners

Paris Saint-Germain cemented their place among football’s immortals with a dramatic UEFA Champions League final victory over Arsenal, becoming only the second club in the modern era to successfully defend Europe’s most coveted trophy.

On a tense night in Budapest, the French champions were pushed to their limits. After 120 minutes ended in a 1-1 draw, the final was decided by the drama of a penalty shootout. PSG held their nerve, converting four spot-kicks to Arsenal’s three and sparking scenes of jubilation among players and supporters alike.

The triumph came exactly one year after PSG’s stunning 5-0 demolition of Inter Milan in Munich, a victory that announced their arrival at the summit of European football. Twelve months later, they proved it was no fluke.

For years, the Champions League had been defined by the difficulty of retaining the trophy. Great teams had risen and fallen, only to discover that staying on top was even harder than reaching the summit. Since the competition was rebranded as the Champions League in 1992, only Real Madrid had managed to successfully defend the title, winning three consecutive crowns between 2016 and 2018.

Now, PSG have joined that exclusive company.

According to a post obtained from BBC Sport’s website on Sunday, these are the 10 clubs that have made the back-to-back Champions League winning feat.

1 Paris St-Germain

2025, 2026

2. Real Madrid

2016, 2017, 2018

3. AC Milan

1989, 1990

4. Nottingham Forest

1979, 1980

5. Liverpool

1977, 1978

6. Bayern Munich

1974, 1975, 1976

7. Ajax

1971, 1972, 1973

8. Inter Milan

1964, 1965

9. Benfica

1961, 1962

10.Real Madrid

1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960

Gilbert Ekugbe is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over a decade of experience reporting on business and economic affairs. He covers markets, corporate developments, finance, and Nigeria’s broader economic landscape. His reporting is informed by extensive newsroom experience and a strong commitment to accuracy and responsible journalism, helping readers understand complex business issues.

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