Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
As Paris Saint-Germain prepares to face Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League final in Budapest, they seek to become only the second team in the Champions League era to successfully defend the title, following Real Madrid.
Real Madrid achieved consecutive Champions League victories in 2017 and 2018, remaining the only club to do so since the competition was rebranded in 1992/93. Paris Saint-Germain are the first holders to reach the final since Madrid in 2017/18. Previous defending champions have mostly exited in knockout rounds or finished as runners-up.
Historically, holders are often eliminated in the last 16, quarter-finals, or semi-finals; only six defending champions have reached the final, with Real Madrid twice the only winners at that stage. Chelsea's failure to advance from the group stage in 2012/13 is the only case of holders not passing the first hurdle in the Champions League era.
In contrast, the European Cup era before 1992/93 saw more frequent title defenses. Real Madrid won the first five editions, with seven other clubs also successfully defending the trophy during that period.
Overall, 13 out of 36 European Cup winners and 2 out of 32 Champions League winners have retained the trophy, not including barred Marseille in 1993/94 or the upcoming 2025/26 season.