Real Madrid currently have won 14 CL titles, do you think in the next 50-60 years, any club could have overtaken them in the record or they’d continue to reign?
Their team is currently in transition, but with assembly of young stars like Vini, Rodrygo, Bellingham, Endrick, Camavinga, Tchouameni, Valverde, Militao, Guler and potentially Davies + Mbappe in 2024 may get them more CL wins in this decade alone!
Do you think any team can overtake them in most CLs won by our lifetime or is the gap too big to overcome?
Real has to drop from the glory like Manchester United did then its possible
Maybe if the financial stuff goes crazy and Man City / PSG are dominant and Real falls apart and crumbles. There’s too much talent and it’s too random right now, but maybe with rule changes to make it easier for the most talented teams (double elimination type stuff) it’s theoretically possible.
I doubt it tho
No, theyll double it in 50 years no doubt, they are the CL team.
The team in Shaolin Soccer
If what you say is true, the Shaolin and the Wu could be dangerous…
Possible only if the uefa champions league becomes the fifa champions league in the near future
Not currently possible unless airlines can shorten flight hours to hypersonic speeds. So there are no more 12 hour long haul flights.
No way, they’ll win one every so often too so almost impossible for anyone else to catch up with them
I can really imagine Benfica getting really big in the future.
Nothing is set in stone. Nottingham won a CL way back, look where they are now. Hamburg won too, look where they are now.
I think, in the long run, those with the best youth center and clever investments can potentially overtake Real Madrid.
But ofcourse Real Madrid will do anything necessary to hold the position.
I am just saying nothing is impossible, especially in football.
The 90s? Is that you?
If things remain as they are, it will be very hard for a team like that to win the UCL, because richer clubs will poach their best players. For a club like Benfica or Ajax to win the UCL, they will need several potentially world class players to have a breakthrough season simultaneously, and even then it’s going to be very tough.
To everyone saying they’re so consistent and win one so often. They went 10 years without winning one between 02/03-12/13. They’re will be more droughts most likely where other’s with catch up.
They had a 30 years drought even before that. I am not saying they will be surpassed but the argument that they’re consistent is not that valid since most of their titles have been won in short periods of complete dominance (1950s and 2010s).
Almost the point I was trying to make. Yours is even better.
There’s no other club in world football where not winning a CL in 10 years would be considered a ‘drought’ and that probably answers OPs question. Other teams might make up ground but if you were to bet on which team wins the most CLs in the next 20 years Real Madrid would probably be favourite. If they were 2 or 3 ahead then maybe I could see it but they’re miles clear
Yeah but no other club has had two-three generations of galacticos too. They probably have spent the most money out of all the clubs too alongside United.
You think 10 years without winning the UCL is too much?
For a team who spent as much as they did? For sure.
The droughts are “droughts” though. In 68 CLs, RM has won 14, or 20.6% of CLs. they have reached 17 finals, meaning 25%, and They have reached Semis and lost in 15. Out of 68 CLs, RM have been top 4 in 47% of them. that is insane
I didn’t realize that they were actually one of organizers of the original tournament and that it was invite only. Apparently the better European teams often declined the invite because it was akin to a preseason tourney with little to no prestige. Certainly puts their first 5 trophies in a different light…
Real have been winning the European Cup for almost 70 years, with the larger majority of them coming in the last 30. I don’t think they’re suddenly going to drop off now. Even if they go a decade without winning one, their closest competition (AC Milan) would have to win 8 to surpass them. I think we’re more likely to see Real win another 8 and make it even more impossible.
Milan won’t be able too any time soon because money in italian football is so far behind
Real Madrid are the perpetual main characters of the CL and they’ll probably add quite a few more to their 14 titles in the decades to come. I guess maybe City could do it but it’s a huge difference in titles and winning the CL is very difficult already.
Nothing is impossible in football but in all likelihood, this will never happen. If Madrid was just sitting on 14 titles for a while, it would be a different story, but they keep extending that record periodically.
They won 6 of them in the 50s-60s, then went 30 years without winning another. In the late 90s/early 00s, they won 3 more, then took 12 more years to win another (when they went on to win 5 more).
Could easily see another period where they go a long time without winning any, and a team like Bayern, Liverpool or Barcelona go on to win a few over the course of a decade or two.
And in that 30 years period no one equalized them on european cups
Yes but that’s mainly because of they had a massive head start by winning the first 5 tournaments before other teams started treating it like a real competition.
This comment should be higher.
Even if Madrid don’t win another one I’d say it’s quite difficult for any team to surpass them in the next 50 years. Possible, but not granted.
Theres a meme floating around in spanish instagram. About how Barcelona was 8 cups behind Real Madrid, but then Pep, Xavi, Messi, Iniesta, and all the legends came and played the greatest football known to man, and now they are 10 cups behind Real Madrid
Tbf at least they had the best team in footballs history during that time
Haha, that’s pretty funny. You just can’t beat the biggest club in the world I guess.
Other than possibly Bayern, don’t see anyone else doing it.
People really get too stuck by Recency Bias.
Until Messi and Ronaldo came, people thought Pele and Maradona’s legacy would be untouched.
They forget Madrid went on a Huge drought years ago.
Look at how one of the best clubs in the world failed to make it out of groups 2 years in a row.
Anything can happen. Don’t take events linearly. Such questions are always useless because we can never predict the future.
Madrid have a Huge Gap so yes it’s hard but Whats stopping Clubs like Liverpool Milan etc to have some more Glory years and close the gap. The Champions League is the hardest tournament, it’s not as easy as media makes it sound. Madrid didn’t win it cause of Black Magic Or Main Character Plot armor or any bullshit.
They had to sweat and fight their way to it.
During that huge 32 year gap no other club - not Liverpool not Bayern or milan (who already had one before the gap began) could match them to 6 never mind overtake.
Now Madrid’s lead is 7, and that’s just over Milan, Liverpool or Bayern would need 8 more again just to match. If Real Madrid can win 6 titles in 11 years from 55-66 and 8 in 27 years from 95 to 22. Then it doesn’t even matter if they take another 32 year break no other club has been able to win 8 in the 68 years of the competitions existence
I didn’t realize that they were actually one of organizers of the original tournament and that it was invite only. Apparently the better European teams often declined the invite because it was akin to a preseason tourney with little to no prestige. Certainly puts their first 5 trophies in a different light…
Yea it’s funny how people don’t give credit where it’s due to the ucl three-peat
Like winning one is hard already Winning two in a row is extremely hard Let alone three??? Jesus
It’s massively overlooked
My lifetime? Doubt it: I’m 51 - Liverpool (they’re the next team) would have to play phenomenally for the next decades to catch up with Real. Not to mention Real is unlikely to go napping
It’s highly unlikely.
Madrid and Barcelona benefit from having a duopoly over the league. While occasionally a third or a fourth team will compete, Real Madrid knows they will usually finish first or second. This guarantees them Champions League football every season.
This guarantee, combined with their status in Spain and in world football allows them to attract some of the world’s best players. All it takes is some shrewd transfer dealings and some astute management and they will have a team capable of winning the champions league.
The lack of competition in their league also allows them to prioritise the Champions League should they wish, meaning they can rest their best players before each champions league match without affecting their final league position too much.
Even if Real Madrid fell on serious financial hard times, there’d be no shortage of middle eastern money interested in purchasing them.
you simply cannot purchase Madrid it is fan-owned club can’t sell cant buy
Lack of competition is relative, dude. They certainly have had more competition in the recent years than the likes of Bayern or PSG. Or Juventus in the past before they dropped their level. A duopoly already makes you focus in the domestic goal too the way these monopolistic clubs don’t have to face. There’s a minimum point threshold Barca forces you to make to win La Liga. And City has only have to face Liverpool 3 times and Arsenal once in the race for the lead, there’s not been any competition outside them. So even if the rival varies, that’s still a duopoly too, a two horse race. There’s an argument to include City among the easiest league winners too, as results show. The clásico race is more demanding because Barca is just a larger threat for Madrid’s interests domestically. So is Atletico than any other 3rd title contender in the Premier. Who is Atletico equivalent for the past City dominance? One could argue it’s Arsenal, but they’ve not won a single major competition with Arteta just yet. Atletico has already two leagues in the past 10 seasons.
Even though title race is not as easy as you may claim, it’s true they’ve almost got a guaranteed UCL spot among the top 4 which may be a little bit more difficult to get at EPL because of the Big 6, basically. But that’s not different here again than Bayern or PSG’s case. It’s more spread out among the top in La Liga than in these cases I’d say, just look at Real Sociedad or Athletic recent storming performances. Sum to that the recently successful too EL winners Sevilla and Villarreal (the solely exception for them both being this year of transition), and with the Big 3 you already have 7 sides there. One to drop from Europe every season, two if some extraordinary underdog runs like Girona’s happens. Not even counting fallen in disgrace big clubs like Valencia.
So they’ve consistently got to top 4 spots because of the Big 3 gap against the rest, that’s true. But it’s got to do more with RM’s own status than the rest of the league. RM would be massive at any other league too. That alone doesn’t explain Real’s consistency.
Lack of competition is relative, dude. They certainly have had more competition in the recent years than the likes of Bayern or PSG.
Bayern and PSG have a monopoly over their respective leagues. I feel this actually hinders them rather than helps them as, although they can prioritise the UCL, they don’t have a club in their league to give them a serious challenge season after season.
A duopoly already makes you focus in the domestic goal too the way these monopolistic clubs don’t have to face. There’s a minimum point threshold Barca forces you to make to win La Liga.
I am talking about winning the UCL though as opposed to winning the domestic league. You don’t need to win the league to get into the UCL, but I do agree that having a rival in that league keeps the team sharper as a whole.
There’s an argument to include City among the easiest league winners too, as results show
Man City have done very well recently due to their massive financial power. Chelsea did the same at one point too. The difference is that clubs in the English league ebb and flow, just look at Man Utd now. Real Madrid have been in a similar position since the 1950’s. Real Madrid are closer to being a Bayern Munich than Man City is.
The clásico race is more demanding because Barca is just a larger threat for Madrid’s interests domestically.
That’s a pretty weak argument when you look at it subjectively. Spain two (or three) top teams are amazing, but they can afford to rest players to ensure their best players are in top form for their biggest games. A lot of teams in England don’t have that luxury. We could argue that Man City have now reached a point where their squad is large enough to do that, but that squad depth is also what enabled them to win the UCL in the first place.
Overall Premier League teams are better than the Spanish league when taken as an average and that is why the league is harder.
RM would be massive at any other league too.
What’s your point? So would Man United, Liverpool, Bayern Munich and PSG. I didn’t even mention Man City and Chelsea.
I don’t know why you’re trying to defend the Spanish league so much. Real Madrid is a great team with a great rival in a relatively weak league. This enables the two great teams in that league access to UCL football every season and ensures that they are likely to stay near the top of the food chain in world football forevermore.
I’d say that’s a pretty sweet position to be in as a Real Madrid fan.
I don’t know why you’re trying to defend the Spanish league so much. Real Madrid is a great team with a great rival in a relatively weak league.
I may be biased as a Cádiz fan but you’re just unfair here. Relatively to who? La Liga has been the best league from 2009 to 2018 probably. 2nd since then according to UEFA. So it’s a “relatively weak league” only compared to EPL. That’s not the definition of weak, nor a difference between Real Madrid and other European continental rivals the likes of Bayern, Dortmund, PSG, Juve, Ájax, Benfica, Nápoles, both Milan… who just happen to play on arguably weaker leagues.
What’s your point? So would Man United, Liverpool, Bayern Munich and PSG. I didn’t even mention Man City and Chelsea.
If you say La Liga is weak, then I’ve got a claim for “RM being massive” everywhere. Because they’re THE largest club by most metrics. They’re just bigger than all clubs you mentioned. Hence this topic to start with.
This topic is about Real Madrid’s European rivals chances to catch them at UCL tally. Among their biggest traditional rivals figure AC Milan, Liverpool, Bayern or Ajax. Recent rivals including Juventus, Chelsea, City or PSG too.
So we’re talking about what differentiates Real from them. I’d say good management comes first. Some of these clubs have spent nearly as much, yet have not succeeded even a fraction. When Real spends, despite some notable exceptions to the rule (Hazard), they do it RIGHT. Ronaldo, Kroos, Modric, Vinicius, Valverde, Bellingham already have all proven that. Núñez at Liverpool, Messi and Neymar at PSG, not to talk about Juve or Chelsea… with many sounded big flops, they’re miles away as of today. Only side comparable among the big ones is City with a squad built around world’s best manager’s mentality and with a whole state funding behind. That comparison alone speaks volumes about Pérez success at managerial level. Not even Barca could capitalize from their recent successful era (talking about their 09-18 run, with 09-11 probably best club ever?) nearly as much. Last year UCL’s run even at their current transition period is the most direct example. No team manages that, not even City. They needed just the piece they lacked: a pure 9.
Real Madrid have been in a similar position since the 1950’s. Real Madrid are closer to being a Bayern Munich than Man City is.
I agree success calls for success. That’s got to do more with both Real and Bayern historical success than City’s lack of capacities. We’re talking about current state of things though. La Liga is closer to the 3 horse race than the Bundesleague or even the Premier. You may seem to miss La Liga has been more contested in the last couple of years than the Premier. That’s an objective truth too. You seem to run from one perspective to the other conveniently. You can’t say EPL is better and more contested. The first was not true in the past decade and a half and the latest hasn’t been true recently. Man U is relevant historically but not as actual UCL contenders, truth be told. That would be Liverpool and more recently, Arsenal, even though the latest with Arteta have really achieved nothing just yet.
That’s a pretty weak argument when you look at it subjectively. Spain two (or three) top teams are amazing, but they can afford to rest players to ensure their best players are in top form for their biggest games. A lot of teams in England don’t have that luxury.
Nor do most La Liga sides apart from the Big 2. Even them lose points when not at full, just look at Barca’s most recent domestic match.
Btw, Atlético won that 13/14 season (and were therefore at their prime) just when RM came to win the next 3 UCL. They also won it the year prior Real Madrid won their latest UCL. Wouldn’t say domestic competition harms their European performances that much, it actually seems to work the other way around.
Bayern and PSG have a monopoly over their respective leagues. I feel this actually hinders them rather than helps them as
I don’t see how is that the case when you were attacking La Liga’s “duopoly” because of lack of competition even though, by definition, it’s a more contested scenario.
Overall Premier League teams are better than the Spanish league when taken as an average and that is why the league is harder.
See, that’s a better argument. Competition level throughout the league more than about title contenders. But here again, works when compared to EPL. Wouldn’t say La Liga’s bottom is worse than Serie A’s, Bundesleague or specially Ligue 1 though: check their ELOs
Sevilla or Villarreal success at EL, yet struggling at domestic level is an indication.
Take in mind if you take out Barca and Real from the equation, you’ve got to do the same with Bundesleague (Bayern and Dortmund) and so on, to compare apples to apples.
I may be biased as a Cádiz fan but you’re just unfair here. Relatively to who? La Liga has been the best league from 2009 to 2018 probably. 2nd since then according to UEFA. So it’s a “relatively weak league” only compared to EPL.
That’s true, I was being unfair. The Spanish league is the second most competitive league amongst the top leagues.
This topic is about Real Madrid’s European rivals chances to catch them at UCL tally. Among their biggest traditional rivals figure AC Milan, Liverpool, Bayern or Ajax. Recent rivals including Juventus, Chelsea, City or PSG too.
Agreed, although Ajax is no longer part of the conversation and you left Man United and possibly Inter from the list.
I’d say good management comes first. Some of these clubs have spent nearly as much, yet have not succeeded even a fraction. When Real spends, despite some notable exceptions to the rule (Hazard), they do it RIGHT.
I’d say the way the league is set up allows for Real Madrid to have success even with bad management. It’s easy to do it right when they buy the best players as per the galactic policy, however the status of Real Madrid is what makes that kind of policy sustainable in the first place.
We’re talking about current state of things though.
We don’t know who will be top of the EPL, or the Italian League in 15 years time. We do know that Barcelona or Real Madrid will be top of the Spanish league and that Bayern will be top of the German league. Some other leagues have cycles and that is very relevant when discussing UCL wins.
I don’t see how is that the case when you were attacking La Liga’s “duopoly” because of lack of competition even though, by definition, it’s a more contested scenario.
It’s about having the right amount of competition. Athletes in most sports can only maintain their peak for a short time. The Spanish League has the perfect amount of competition (one, sometimes two teams) to remain sharp enough to play at the highest standard but to enable their players to peak for the important matches.
Teams in monolopy leagues can also enable their players to peak for the important matches, but the overall lack of competition in their league affects their sharpness (the pressure to win each match is lower).
But here again, works when compared to EPL.
Yes I was comparing to the EPL and not taking into account leagues in other teams. Although in fairness, part of the reason for that is because I believe that the EPL teams currently have the best chance of winning the UCL outside of the Spanish teams.
We don’t know who will be top of the EPL, or the Italian League in 15 years time. We do know that Barcelona or Real Madrid will be top of the Spanish league and that Bayern will be top of the German league
I think that may have to do more with Real, Barca and Bayern both institutional pull (as the hegemons they are) and consistency. Barca been failing a bit lately but they’re not going to turn into another AC Milan overnight. The reason for Serie A being more uncertain now is because Juve dropping the level, not the rest catching up. On the contrary City clearly raising the bar for EPL (both Liverpool and Arsenal would have been champions with their points given any other past season) and translating into European performances too, where Italians successors to AC Milan and Juve have just been poor. Uncertainty does not necessarily mean overall competitiveness. That’s why I think this argument here is misleading. Bayern, Real and Barsa also appear among anyone’s list on the UCL contenders for the next 15 years. Heck I’d even pick them in my top 5 along with probably City and maybe Liverpool. That shows not only domestic consistency but European’s, which means clubs’ consistency as a whole. It’s not the league’s fault at all.
Agreed, although Ajax is no longer part of the conversation and you left Man United and possibly Inter from the list.
Yeah, well I even left Barca because we were talking about possible La Liga advantages and I chose Real being the clear leaders in that sense. But Barca’s 5 UCL makes them closer than anyone imo than Bayern or Liverpool. They’ve been the most succesful side this century so far apart from Real themselves.
I just wanted to put some perspective there. La Liga is not a walk in the park, nor a walk in the park as you stated helps you precisely. See PSG, Benfica, Ajax nowadays
Bayern, Real and Barsa also appear among anyone’s list on the UCL contenders for the next 15 years. Heck I’d even pick them in my top 5 along with probably City and maybe Liverpool. That shows not only domestic consistency but European’s, which means clubs’ consistency as a whole. It’s not the league’s fault at all.
My argument is that their domestic consistency assists their European consistency. If Man City and Liverpool dominate the EPL for the next 20 years, they will be able to have consistency in Europe too. At the moment English teams do well in the ECL by virtue of being in the most competitive league. There have been four different English teams that have won the ECL in approx the last 20 years.
I just wanted to put some perspective there. La Liga is not a walk in the park, nor a walk in the park as you stated helps you precisely. See PSG, Benfica, Ajax nowadays
I did understate the quality of the Spanish league in relation to Europe and I shouldn’t have done that, although I still stand by my general points.
I still stand by my comments regarding clubs that have monopolies over their leagues, but I do accept that without big money being a monopoly doesn’t help a club in Europe (as per Ajax and Benfica), but also that big money alone doesn’t guarantee success (as per PSG. Although it would be a surprise if don’t they eventually win a UCL).
Scary to think of how strong the two top clubs must have been right?
The “lack of competition” teams (Sevilla, Athletico, Villarreal, Valencia) you are referring to also dominated Europa Cup the last 20 years.
You think will still be a champions league in 50 years?