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European football is the home of the most competitive club scene. Spread across the continent – and dominated mostly by six countries – the domestic clubs fight for local and European glory every year. Yet, there are only a handful of clubs who have risen about the rest and have truly cemented themselves as true European giants.
The following ten teams are those who have excelled both domestically and in Europe. While it may come across that some of the teams have prioritised certain competitions over others, it's fair to say that's how their hierarchy sees the club making the most amount of money. And some of these teams have truly dominated in 'weaker’ leagues but once again, they're on the list only because they pushed for one thing and one thing alone: success.
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Getting to it, here's looking at ten of the most successful European football clubs of all time based on major trophies won:
(Also excludes single-game trophies like the FA Community Shield and the UEFA Super Cup)
#10 AC Milan – 34 major trophies
One of only two Serie A teams to make it to this list is Milanese giants AC Milan. Having fielded some of the all-time greats with the likes of Paulo Maldini and Franco Baresi, the Rossoneri are the tenth most successful European football club having won a total of 34 major trophies.
That number includes 18 Serie A (or Italian top-flight) titles, 7 UEFA Champions League (or European Cup) titles, 5 Italian Cups and 4 FIFA Club World Cups. Their most recent Serie A title came in 2010/11 with their most recent UEFA Champions League title coming only in 2006/07 season.
They remain one of the all-time greats and a club with rich history, legacy and one that connects to football fans on more than an emotional level.
#9 Manchester United – 41 major trophies
The behemoths of the Premier League and only one of the two English sides on this list is Manchester United. The legendary football team – and now one of the world's richest – have redefined success in recent decades thanks to their former manager, Sir Alex Ferguson.
They've remained a constant in the challenge of the domestic title despite losing the Scotsman to retirement. With the right kind of youth setup and the amount of money they're able to churn out every season through marketing deals, they remain one of the big guns in the world – constantly attracting the best footballers.
Manchester United have won 41 major trophies in which 20 of those are from the domestic English League. They've won 12 FA Cups, 4 League Cups, 3 UEFA Champions League titles (Or European Cup) and 2 FIFA Club World Cup titles.
#8 Liverpool – 41 major trophies
The only other English team to make it on this list after Manchester United is their arch-rival, Liverpool. The Merseyside club are in the midst of a renaissance having not won the English Premier League – since it was christened so – but remain one of the all-time greats because of what they've achieved in the past.
Level on number of trophies with Manchester United with 41 major titles, the reason Liverpool are above their rivals is because they've won more UEFA Champions League or European Cups. With 18 English League titles, 7 FA Cups, 8 League Cups, 5 European Cups and 3 UEFA Cups, they're still a force to be reckoned with but only because of their past.
#7 FC Porto – 47 major trophies
It's no surprise to see FC Porto on this list, given how they've dominated the recent seasons both in Europe and domestically. Ever since the turn of the millennium, they've won 9 out of 16 domestic titles and that in itself should give you an idea of how they rule the Portuguese league.
FC Porto have won 47 major trophies with 27 domestic Portuguese League titles alone. Combined with 16 domestic cups, 2 UEFA Champions League titles and 2 UEFA Cups, they're the second most successful Portuguese team in the history of the sport.
Their most recent UEFA Champions League triumph came in the 2003/04 where they beat Monaco 3-0 in the final. Jose Mourinho was the manager and cemented his reputation that night guiding a team that wasn't expected to go that high in the competition.
#6 Juventus – 50 major trophies
The most successful Italian football club in the history of the sport is Turin's Juventus. The Bianconeri have won a total of 50 major trophies and have pretty much made the Serie A all about them in the last decade.
The Turin club have won the Italian League a staggering 32 times – having won the last five years in a row – and have the Italian cup 11 times. 2 UEFA Champions League titles, 3 UEFA Cups and 2 FIFA Club World Cup make them the sixth most successful club in European football.
Even though they were struck with corruption charges in the last decade, they've since risen back and are now one of the most sought-after destinations for some of the world's most elite players.
#5 FC Bayern Munich – 53 major trophies
Germany's FC Bayern Munich are a club who have numerous records to their name. They're the only Bundesliga side on this table and remain one of the three best footballing sides in world football. With 53 major trophies, they're the fifth most successful European side ever.
Bayern have won the Bundesliga title a record 26 times and the German Cup a record 18 times. On the continental stage, they've won the UEFA Champions League (or the European Cup) 5 times, the FIFA Club World Cup 3 times and the UEFA Cup 1 time.
They're also the only side in European football to have completed all three trebles: the Continental Treble (Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal, UEFA Champions League) in 2012/13, the Domestic Treble (Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal, DFB-Ligapokal) in 1999/00 and the European Treble (European Cup Winners' Cup, European Cup, UEFA Cup) in 1966/67.
#4 AFC Ajax – 56 major trophies
The only Dutch club on this list is none other than the incredibly historic AFC Ajax at the heart of the Netherlands’ Amsterdam. Ajax are known to be the side that continuously relies on producing local youth talent rather than spending exorbitant amounts on signing tailor-made foreigners.
Ajax are the club with the second highest number of domestic league titles on this list having won the Eredivisie 33 times. Add that to 18 Dutch Cups, 4 UEFA Champions Leagues and 1 UEFA Cup and you see just why they're revered in the world of football.
The Dutch giants won the domestic title four years in a row from 2011 to 2014 under manager Frank de Boer. The last time they won the UEFA Champions League title was in 1994/95.
#3 FC Barcelona – 61 major trophies
Perhaps the second most recognisable football club in the world today and the third most successful football club in the history of the sport is La Liga's FC Barcelona. The Catalan giants have been at the forefront of success for much of the last five decades and remain one of the two ultimate destinations for the world's best players.
Barcelona have won the league title 24 times, the Spanish cup 27 times, the UEFA Champions League 5 times, the UEFA Cup 3 times and the FIFA Club World Cup 2 times. With the likes of Neymar, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, it looks like they'll rise above on this list and could potentially even head to the number 1 slot in the coming few years.
The Catalans turned the corner under former player and manager Johan Cruyff and then fielded what was possible the greatest footballing side of all time under former manager Pep Guardiola.
#2 SL Benfica – 62 major trophies
The Portuguese giants, SL Benfica, might not be the most famous side in world football right now but are the club that won the most number of domestic league titles on this list with a mind-boggling 35 Portuguese titles.
That's not all, they've won the Portuguese Cup a further 25 times and you can already see why they're this high up on this list. Haven't been able to replicate the kind of domestic form into Europe, they've only won the European Cup 2 times and that was back in 1960/61 and 1961/62.
Benfica and Porto remain two of the best sides in Europe to constantly produce some of the best young South American footballers in the world. Their scouting system in the Latin American leagues is unmatched and they thrive domestically from the money they make selling off incredibly talented footballers.
#1 Real Madrid – 68 Major Trophies
The most recognisable football club in the world, the most valuable football club in the world, the richest football club in the world and they're all this only because they're the most successful football club in the world.
The Los Blancos have 68 major trophies with 32 of them being domestic Spanish titles. They've won the Spanish cup 19 times and the UEFA Champions League a record 11 times. 4 FIFA Club World Cups and 2 UEFA Cups make them the most victory-friendly club in the world.
They've won the UEFA Champions League two times in the last three seasons and look like they're en route to securing their 33rd domestic title if things stay the same.
