UEFA Champions League — European Football in Images

The UEFA Champions League combines elite sport with global attention. Its history is also a history of images — from iconic celebrations to quiet moments of defeat.

The Champions League as a Global Touchpoint

The UEFA Champions League is the most prominent club competition in international football. It brings together Europe’s leading teams in a tournament that resonates far beyond the pitch — as a cultural event, an economic driver, and a global media stage. Established in 1955 as the European Cup, the competition has become a benchmark for sporting excellence, rivalry, and continuity.

Every season, millions follow the action in stadiums, on television, and across digital platforms. For newsrooms, blogs, brands, NGOs, content creators, and educational institutions, the Champions League is a rich source of visual and editorial stories. IMAGO supports this coverage through an international network of partner photographers, agencies, and an extensive archive, providing proper, flexible licensing for professional use.

IMAGO / Middle East Images | Fenerbahce v Lugano UEFA Champions League Second Qualifying Round Bright Osayi-Samuel of Fenerbahce in action during the match. Fenerbahce and Lugano faced each other in the UEFA Champions League second qualifying round second leg, the match took place at Sukru Saracoglu Stadium on July 30, 2024 Istanbul Istanbul Turkey Copyright: Yagiz Gurtug

History and Structure of the Competition

The Champions League evolved from the ambition to regularly showcase Europe’s strongest club sides. In 1992, the UEFA rebrand introduced the now-iconic anthem and a modern commercial framework, aligning elite sport more closely with contemporary media.

From the European Cup to the Modern Tournament

The current format combines a league phase with knockout rounds. Clubs face multiple opponents before the best teams progress through the round of 16, quarter-finals, and semi-finals to the final, which is hosted each year in a different European stadium.

Records and Milestones

With 15 titles, Real Madrid is the record-holding club and a reference point for the competition’s heritage. Clubs such as AC Milan, Liverpool, Bayern Munich, and Barcelona have also shaped its history, while teams like Ajax, Benfica, or Borussia Dortmund have added memorable chapters of their own.

IMAGO / Alexandra Fechete | UEFA Champions League 2024 Final: Borussia Dortmund vs. Real Madrid Players lift up the trophy, as Real Madrid win their 15th Champions League title after the UEFA Champions League final match between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid on 1 June 2024, in London, United Kingdom London Wembley Stadium United Kingdom Copyright: Alexandra Fechete

The Emotional Power of Images

Champions League stories are often decided in seconds: a stoppage‑time goal, a manager’s reaction, a disappointed player, or a surge of joy in the stands. Photography preserves these moments with precision and turns them into visual markers that travel across media and time.

IMAGO provides broad image categories for comprehensive storytelling:

• Match action, duels, goal celebrations.
  
  
• Coaches and tactical narratives.
  
  
• Fans, choreography, and atmosphere.
  
  
• Stadium and architectural features.
  
  
• Trophy moments, award ceremonies, mixed‑zone and press images.
  
  

Together, these perspectives form a complete visual narrative — from preparation to final whistle.

IMAGO / Joan Gosa | Champions League – Quarterfinal first leg – FC Barcelona vs. Borussia Dortmund in Barcelona, Spain.

A Media Mainstay

Few competitions achieve comparable visibility. Worldwide broadcasts, high stadium attendance, and sustained digital engagement make the Champions League a reliable fixture of global sports media.

For editors, brands, and agencies, images are not only illustrative; they underpin identity, recognition, and audience response. IMAGO enables this with live photos, archive material, and social‑ready visuals available at speed, supporting news coverage, reels, thumbnails, and long‑form features alike.

Licensing Basics available at IMAGO’s Webshop — Rights and Usage Defined

Professional image use requires legal clarity. Copyright remains with the creator or agency; a license grants usage rights, not ownership. IMAGO offers three licensing categories in its webshop with clearly defined scopes:

Rights Managed (RM)

• Use: Typically editorial (news sites, blogs, print, TV, social news).

• Scope: Single use for a specified purpose, limited by medium, duration, territory, and circulation.

Royalty Free Classic (RF)

• Use: Editorial and selected commercial contexts.

• Scope: Reuse within the license; variants include Standard (e.g., one online use) and Extended (e.g., multiple, print, or advertising).

Royalty Free Premium (RF Premium)

• Use: Flexible commercial applications, including advertising, packaging, and merchandising.

• Note: Availability depends on the subject matter and release status.

Each license states how, where, and for how long an image may be used — essential for legally secure publishing in both editorial and commercial environments.

Editorial vs. Commercial — Two Distinct Use Cases

Standard disclaimer (EN): “Images are licensed for editorial use; non-commercial use requires a corresponding license (non‑exclusive).”

Important: Logos, emblems, pitch branding, the term “UEFA Champions League,” and trophy depictions can involve separate third‑party rights (e.g., UEFA, clubs, sponsors). These are not automatically covered by a photo license. For more information on this topic, contact one of our sales managers.

UEFA Women’s Champions League — Visibility and New Visual Narratives

The UEFA Women’s Champions League has become a globally relevant competition and a marker of women’s football development. Since its renaming in 2009 (formerly UEFA Women’s Cup), investment, quality, and audience interest have grown significantly.

Growth and Relevance

Top clubs now operate professional women’s teams, and marquee matchups — for example Barcelona vs. Lyon — regularly draw international attention. The competition offers a broad visual range suitable for newsrooms, NGOs, brands, and education.

IMAGO / Uk Sports Pics Ltd | Kim Little of Arsenal Women challenges for the crossed ball and somersaults over Shelia Garcia of Real Madrid Women during the Womens Champions League match between Arsenal Women and Real Madrid Women at the Emirates Stadium, London, England on 26 March 2025. Copyright: Phil Hutchinson

Visual Language and Coverage

The women’s game delivers imagery equal in intensity to the men’s: dynamic action, tactical narratives, fan culture, portraits of leading players, and trophy moments. These assets support reporting, explainers, documentaries, and social‑first formats.

Responsible Representation

Editors and brands share responsibility for accurate, respectful portrayal:

• Prioritise sporting performance and professionalism.
  
  
• Provide precise context and captions.
  
  
• Avoid stereotypical or reductive depictions.
  
  

IMAGO maintains comprehensive Women’s Champions League collections — from historic finals to current matchdays — available for editorial and, where permitted, non-editorial use under request.

Access and Services — How to Source Images via IMAGO

Webshop — Single License

Purchase individual images online via guest checkout or a registered account. Select the license type (RM, RF Classic, RF Premium) according to intended use.

Webshop — Credit Packages

Credits valid for 12 months, redeemable across image licenses — efficient for regular usage and multi‑channel publishing.

Sales Manager — Personal Consultation

For companies, agencies, and editorial clients: tailored agreements, volume licenses, framework contracts, and research support.

These three access routes provide flexibility for everything from on‑deadline articles to long‑term, high‑volume projects.