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July 29, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
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Sports Desk • Soccer

Ligue des Champions

La Ligue des Champions désigne généralement la Ligue des champions de l'UEFA, la principale compétition annuelle interclubs de football en Europe.

Updated July 29, 20261 min readCited sources

The Ligue des Champions is the common French name for the UEFA Champions League, Europe's top club football competition. It brings together the best clubs from across Europe each season.

What is the Ligue des Champions?

The Ligue des Champions usually refers to the UEFA Champions League, the most prestigious annual interclub football competition in Europe. Organized by UEFA since 1955 (originally as the European Cup), it features top clubs qualified through their national league performances and UEFA coefficients.

How the competition works

The modern format includes a league phase with 36 clubs, followed by knockout rounds leading to a single-match final. Clubs qualify based on their domestic standings and previous European results. The competition has evolved from a pure knockout format to its current hybrid structure.

Recent winners

Real Madrid won the 2024 edition (the 2023–2024 season). For the 2024–2025 season, Paris Saint-Germain claimed the title by defeating Inter Milan 5–0 in the final held in Munich. The competition remains the benchmark for club success in Europe.

In short

  • Europe's premier club football competition
  • Annual tournament organized by UEFA since 1955
  • Format: league phase then knockout rounds
  • Recent champions: Real Madrid (2024) and PSG (2024–2025)
Canadian angle

Canadian viewers can follow the competition through Canadian broadcasters or streaming services that hold UEFA Champions League rights for the relevant season; availability varies by year and provider.

Quick questions

What is Ligue des Champions?
It usually refers to the UEFA Champions League, Europe’s top annual club football competition organized by UEFA.
Who won the Ligue des Champions 2024?
Real Madrid won the 2024 UEFA Champions League.
How to watch Ligue des Champions in Canada?
Broadcast and streaming rights vary by season and provider in Canada. The competition is typically available through a Canadian sports broadcaster or streaming service holding UEFA rights that season. The provided sources do not identify the current Canadian provider.

Sources

  1. Wikipédia — https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ligue_des_champions_de_l'UEFA
    Supports: General definition, UEFA competition history, and status as Europe’s top club competition.
  2. Le Monde — https://www.lemonde.fr/les-decodeurs/article/2018/04/26/qu-est-ce-que-la-ligue-des-champions-en-football_5291067_4355770.html
    Supports: Definition, qualification system, and competition format.
  3. So Foot — https://www.sofoot.com/definitions/ligue-des-champions
    Supports: General explanation of the competition and its phases.
  4. Larousse — https://www.larousse.fr/encyclopedie/divers/Ligue_des_Champions/184387
    Supports: Historical background and annual nature of the competition.
  5. Wikipédia — https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ligue_des_champions_de_l'UEFA_2024-2025
    Supports: 2024-2025 season details and final result.