The 2025/26 Champions League and its prize money

As this 2025/26 edition of the Champions League unfolds and we reach the eagerly anticipated quarter-finals, after a fantastic round of 16, we will see a different table—one not of points, but of money. In this article, you'll learn how much the teams participating in the Champions League earn simply for taking part, for victories, for draws, for advancing to the next round, and, finally, for winning the championship

How is the prize money distributed?

The winning team claims the glory of being Europe's best club that season, but it is not the only beneficiary. Teams participating in the competition receive approximately $21.5 million just for playing in the Champions League, while for each group-stage victory (i.e., the phase before the knockout rounds), teams can earn $2.5 million, and for each draw, they earn approximately $0.8 million.

The teams also receive a prize based on their position in this group stage of the competition, with the top-placed team receiving up to $11.5 million, which in this case went to Arsenal. Meanwhile, if a team qualifies directly and finishes in the top 8, it would receive an additional $2.3 million. The prize money continues to increase as the teams advance in the competition.

Who has earned the most money in this Champions League?

According to data provided by UEFA, as of now, the teams that have earned the most from these UEFA Champions League prize pools are Arsenal (€83 million), Bayern Munich (€79 million), and Liverpool (€77 million), which make up the top three. Also behind them are teams like Barcelona, close to Liverpool, followed by Sporting, Real Madrid, PSG, and Atlético de Madrid.

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