The Champions League is by far the strongest football competition in the world. It is a truly international event, bringing together the best clubs from across Europe to compete for the ultimate prize in club football. The 2022 Champions League is the 67th edition of the world-famous tournament.
With such a long history behind it, Champions League definitely generated tons of interesting facts and records. Let’s take a look at some of the most interesting details you should know about this competition even in 2022!
Real Madrid was the first winner of the competition
The first Champions League was played in 1955, with Real Madrid winning the title. Their opponent in the initial final of the competition was none other than French giants Stade de Reims. The Spanish side won the match 4-3, with Di Stefano and Puskas scoring two goals each. This was also the first-ever European Cup final.
Real Madrid is also the most successful team in Championship League history
This Spanish team remains the most successful club in the competition’s history, with a total of 13 titles. They are followed by AC Milan and Liverpool, who both have seven Champions League titles to their name. Barcelona is in fourth place with five Champions League titles.
Football betting has become a real deal
The best online casino and other online gambling platforms are famous for free spins and attractive games, but something's changed recently. Namely, new online casinos started adding football bets to their portfolios in order to attract millions of fans from all over the globe.
They do it to perfection, adding various betting options like first goal scorer, correct score, and many more. You can even bet on the outcome of the Champions League itself. That way, gamblers get to make the best of both worlds - they get to watch their favorite teams play and potentially win some money while doing so.
FC Chelsea is the reigning champion
The 2020-21 Champions League winner FC Chelsea from London. The English side managed to claim their second Champions League trophy in an exciting final against fellow Premier League club Manchester City. Chelsea won the match 1-0, with a goal from German star Kai Havertz.
The 2022 Champions League final will be held at Stade de France
The hosting venue of the 2022 Champions League final will be Stade de France in Paris. With such a rich history and so many incredible teams competing for the trophy, the Champions League final is definitely a match to watch out for this year.
The Champions League is held every year
Since its inception, the Champions League has been held every year without fail. This makes it the longest-running annual international football tournament in the world. It was originally known as the European Champion Clubs’ Cup, but it was renamed the Champions League in 1992.
The Champions League is the most-watched annual sporting event in the world
The Champions League's history and its pack of amazing teams turned this even into the most-watched annual sporting competition in the world. According to the report, the competition earns nearly 400 million viewers every year. This only goes to show the power and appeal of the Champions League.
Cristiano Ronaldo is the competition's top scorer
With a total of 140 goals, Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo is the all-time leading goal scorer in the Champions League. He is closely followed by his rival Lionel Messi, who has so far scored 125 goals in the competition. The two fierce rivals have been dominating the scoring charts for years and are considered to be two of the greatest footballers of all time.
Monaco won the highest-scoring match in Champions League history
AS Monaco holds the record for the highest-scoring match in Champions League history. This came about in their Round of 16 clash against Deportivo La Coruna in the 2003-04 season. The match ended in a stunning 8-3 victory for Monaco.
There have been many great players throughout the years
Some of the greatest footballers to have ever played the game have graced the Champions League. Players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Zinedine Zidane, and Ronaldinho are just some of the household names that have lit up the competition over the years. There is no doubt that the Champions League has seen some of the best players in the world strut their stuff on the biggest stage.
Conclusion
So, these are some of the most interesting facts about the Champions League that you should know about in 2022! With so much history and excitement behind it, the competition is definitely one to watch out for. Be sure to tune in to catch all the action!
AUTHOR BIO
Mila Roy is a passionate video gamer and a Content Strategist at Gamblizard. She loves writing about online games, the latest releases, digital casinos, and new gaming technologies. Apart from blogging, Mila enjoys traveling and long-distance running.
