Several Real Madrid players wrote their names into UEFA Champions League history books on Saturday night after equalling their former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo’s tally of five titles.
The Portuguese talisman notably lifted four UCL trophies during his nine years at the Santiago Bernabeu (2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018), while also clinching one with Manchester United, during his first stint at the club (2008).
However, on Saturday evening, as many as nine Los Blancos stars also secured their fifth title in the competition following their 1-0 win over Liverpool.
Karim Benzema, Dani Carvajal and Luka Madrid drew level with Ronaldo on five competition victories, having started in all five finals in 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2022.
In addition, Casemiro and Toni Kroos played in their fourth final, but missed out on one final respectively – Kroos with Bayern in 2013, Casemiro with Madrid in 2014.
Gareth Bale, Isco and Marcelo have also appeared in four finals, having remained on the bench in one of their trophy wins, while teammates Nacho has been part of the squad in five finals but only took to the pitch in the 2018 final win.
Counting in the European Champions Cup, the predecessor of the UEFA Champions League, which was revamped in 1992, the late Alfredo Di Stefano lifted the trophy on five occasions with Real (1956, 1957, 1958, 1959 and 1960), while Italian legends Alessandro Costacurta and Paolo Maldini won the tournament five times each with AC Milan (1989, 1990, 1994, 2003 and 2007).
However, the most victorious player in Champions League history is Los Blancos legend Paco Gento, who held the trophy aloft on six different occasions (1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960 and 1966).
Story by David Kappel.
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