After the victory at Wembley early this morning, four Real Madrid stars have surpassed Cristiano Ronaldo in the number of Champions League titles won. These players are Dani Carvajal, Nacho, Luka Modric, and Toni Kroos.
Before the final at Wembley, the record holder for the most European Cup/Champions League titles was the late Real Madrid legend, Paco Gento (1933-2022). The renowned left winger set the record in 1966, which remained unbeaten for nearly 60 years.
Now, four players have matched Gento’s six Champions League titles: Dani Carvajal, Nacho, Luka Modric, and Toni Kroos. This remarkable feat is even more impressive in the modern era’s competitive football landscape. All four played in the final against Dortmund, with Kroos and Carvajal combining for the opening goal in the 74th minute that led Real Madrid to victory.
Dani Carvajal, Nacho, and Luka Modric won all six titles with Real Madrid in 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022, and 2024. Kroos, however, has five titles with Real Madrid, having joined in the summer of 2014. His first Champions League title came with Bayern Munich in 2013.
With this victory, Real Madrid’s quartet surpassed their former teammates Ronaldo, Benzema, and Bale on the list of players with the most Champions League titles in history. Apart from Kroos, who has announced his retirement, the other three players still have the potential to break Gento’s record.
Current players who have won the European Cup/Champions League five times include Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Isco, Marcelo, Casemiro, Karim Benzema, Hector Rial, Marquitos, Lesmes, Enrique Mateos, Di Stefano, and Jose Maria Zarraga (all former Real Madrid players), as well as Paolo Maldini and Alessandro Costacurta (AC Milan). Among them, Ronaldo is the only one like Kroos to win the trophy with two different clubs. CR7 won his first Champions League title with MU in 2008 before adding four more with Real Madrid.