Free Champions League trivia questions with explained answers.
The European Cup became the Champions League in 1992, but the competition's history stretches back to the 1950s and the Real Madrid side that won the first five editions in a row. This free Champions League quiz spans the whole story — the dynasties, the comebacks, the shoot-outs and the nights that get replayed forever.
Real Madrid run through it like a thread: from Alfredo Di Stéfano's era to a record fifteen titles and counting. But the quiz lives just as much on the great upsets and turnarounds. Liverpool 3-0 down at half-time to AC Milan in Istanbul in 2005, then winning on penalties. Liverpool again in 2019, overturning a 3-0 first-leg deficit to beat Lionel Messi's Barcelona 4-0 at Anfield, Divock Origi poking in the fourth. Chelsea winning the 2012 final on Bayern Munich's own ground, on penalties, after Didier Drogba's late header. And the young Ajax team of 2019 knocking out both Real Madrid and Juventus before losing to Spurs in the last seconds of the semi-final.
You'll be asked about all-time top scorers (Cristiano Ronaldo leads the list), winning managers, final venues and the specific goals that decided ties. The questions climb from easy — who did Liverpool beat in the 2019 final? — to hard ones about shoot-out heroes and the exact minute a famous goal went in. It's a proper test of how closely you've actually watched Europe's biggest club competition.
As always, every answer comes with the story behind it, so you finish the quiz knowing more than you started. Try the free sample below, then play the full Champions League bank in the Ball IQ app.
Ball IQ has 367 Champions League questions — 69 easy, 114 medium and 184 hard.
20 sample questions. Tap “Show answer” to reveal the answer and the story behind it.
Which club did Kylian Mbappe join after leaving PSG in summer 2024?
Answer: Real Madrid
Mbappe fulfilled his long-stated dream of joining Real Madrid on a free transfer.
In the 2012 Champions League final at the Allianz Arena, Didier Drogba's 88th-minute equaliser forced extra time — who did Chelsea beat on penalties to win their first UCL title?
Answer: Bayern Munich
Chelsea 1-1 Bayern, won 4-3 on pens. Drogba scored the equaliser then the winning penalty. He was sent off in the 2008 final vs Man United (did NOT score in that one; Lampard did).
Which French club became the first to win the UEFA Champions League — beating AC Milan 1-0 in the 1993 final?
Answer: Olympique de Marseille
Basile Boli's header in Munich made Marseille the first French winners. PSG became the second in 2025 by hammering Inter 5-0.
Which club won the 2022-23 Champions League?
Answer: Man City
Manchester City beat Inter Milan 1-0 in Istanbul to complete the treble under Pep Guardiola.
Which goalkeeper was crucial to Real Madrid's three consecutive Champions League wins from 2016-18?
Answer: Keylor Navas
Navas was named UEFA goalkeeper of the year during Real's historic three-peat.
Which English club won the Champions League in 2012 on penalties against Bayern Munich?
Answer: Chelsea
Chelsea beat Bayern in Munich's own stadium, with Drogba's late header forcing extra time.
Who scored Liverpool's second goal — sealing the 2-0 win — in the 2019 Champions League final?
Answer: Divock Origi
Origi tucked in at the back post in the 87th minute after Salah's 2nd-minute penalty. Liverpool beat Spurs 2-0 in Madrid for their sixth European Cup.
Who scored the only goal of the 2022 Champions League final as Real Madrid beat Liverpool 1-0 at the Stade de France — tapping in Valverde's low cross in the 59th minute?
Answer: Vinícius Júnior
It was Real Madrid's record-extending 14th European Cup. Thibaut Courtois also set a UCL final record with 9 saves.
Which legendary Scottish manager won the European Cup with Celtic in 1967 — the first British club to lift the trophy?
Answer: Jock Stein
Stein's 'Lisbon Lions' — all born within 30 miles of Glasgow — beat Inter Milan 2-1 in Lisbon.
Zinedine Zidane won the Champions League as both player and manager with Real Madrid — how many TOTAL CL titles does he have?
Answer: 4
Zidane has 4 total CL titles: 1 as a player (2002, Glasgow, famous volley vs Leverkusen) + 3 as manager (2016, 2017, 2018 — only manager with 3 in a row).
Who was the first British manager to reach a UEFA Champions League final after the year 2000?
Answer: Sir Alex Ferguson
Ferguson led Man United to the 2008 final in Moscow — winning it — and reached three more (2009, 2011, as well as 1999).
The 2003 Champions League final was entirely between two clubs from which country?
Answer: Italy
AC Milan beat Juventus 3-2 on penalties at Old Trafford after 0-0 draw. It was the first all-Italian CL final.
Who scored Man United's first extra-time goal — putting them ahead — as they beat Benfica 4-1 to lift the 1968 European Cup at Wembley?
Answer: George Best
After Bobby Charlton opened and Graca equalised, Best rounded the keeper at 92'. Kidd and Charlton then sealed the trophy.
Which club did Leicester City beat in the round of 16 to reach the Champions League quarter-finals in 2016-17?
Answer: Sevilla
Leicester lost 2-1 in Spain but won 2-0 at the King Power (Morgan and Albrighton), advancing 3-2 on aggregate before losing to Atlético in the QF.
Aston Villa won the European Cup in 1982 — as of 2025, how many different English clubs have lifted the European Cup or Champions League?
Answer: 6
Manchester United, Liverpool, Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa, Chelsea and Manchester City have all won it.
How many Champions League hat-tricks have Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo each scored — a joint competition record?
Answer: 8
Messi and Ronaldo are tied at 8 CL hat-tricks each (Messi all for Barcelona; Ronaldo 7 for Real Madrid + 1 for Juventus). Lewandowski 3rd with 6, Mbappé 4th with 5.
Which team has lost the most European Cup/Champions League finals — with seven runner-up finishes?
Answer: Juventus
Juventus have lost 7 finals (1973, 1983, 1997, 1998, 2003, 2015, 2017) and won only 2 (1985, 1996). Benfica and Bayern have lost 5 each.
Which Real Madrid defender holds the record for most Champions League titles won as a player — with 6 winners medals (2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2024), equal to Francisco Gento?
Answer: Dani Carvajal
Dani Carvajal and Francisco Gento share the record with 6 European Cup/CL titles each. Marcelo, Modric, Kroos, Nacho, Benzema all have 5.
PSV Eindhoven won the 1988 European Cup under Guus Hiddink — which Spanish giant did they eliminate in the semi-final on away goals?
Answer: Real Madrid
English clubs were banned from European competition after Heysel, while PSV drew 1-1 at the Bernabéu and held on for a 0-0 at home to advance.
Which goalkeeper saved a crucial penalty for Chelsea in the 2012 UCL final shootout?
Answer: Čech
Chelsea won the shootout on Bayern's home ground in Munich; Drogba converted the winning kick after a late equaliser took the final to extra time.