UEFA Champions League historians revealed an exclusive club of teams that managed to lift the prestigious trophy after starting their campaign in the qualifying rounds. As the third qualifying round kicks off on August 5, 2025, this statistic becomes particularly relevant for clubs beginning their journey outside the main tournament.
Only four powerhouses accomplished this remarkable feat throughout Champions League history. AC Milan leads this elite group, having achieved it twice - during the 2002/03 and 2006/07 seasons. Manchester United (1998/99), Liverpool (2004/05), and Barcelona (2008/09) complete this short list of champions who navigated through preliminary rounds before claiming European glory.
Interestingly, no team has managed to replicate this achievement since Barcelona's triumph in 2009. That's over 15 years without a qualifier-to-champion story! Could this drought end soon?
Meanwhile, Ukrainian side "Dynamo Kyiv" prepares for their third qualifying round fixture against Cyprus representatives "Paphos". The Kyiv club faces a challenging path if they hope to join this exclusive group of teams who conquered Europe after starting from qualification.
The official UEFA Champions League Twitter account highlighted this rare achievement, noting the surprising scarcity of teams capable of climbing from qualifiers to continental champions. For clubs beginning their European campaign this week, these statistics offer both inspiration and perspective on the difficult journey ahead.
Can "Dynamo" or another qualifier-starting club add their name to this prestigious list this season? The road starts now.
