Real Madrid is the most successful club in European football history, having won a record 15 Champions League titles alongside 36 La Liga championships. Founded in 1902, the club quickly established itself as one of Spain's leading teams. In 1920, King Alfonso XIII granted the club the title "Real", meaning "Royal", giving the club the name it still carries today. Since then, Real Madrid have become synonymous with success at both domestic and European level.
The club's defining era began during the 1950s, shortly after the European Cup was introduced. Led by Alfredo Di Stéfano, Ferenc Puskás and Paco Gento, Real Madrid won the first five editions of the competition between 1956 and 1960. The 1960 final against Eintracht Frankfurt remains one of the greatest European Cup finals ever played, ending in a remarkable 7-3 victory in front of more than 127,000 spectators at Hampden Park. Di Stéfano scored twice, while Puskás netted four goals.
Although the club continued to dominate Spanish football in the decades that followed, another unforgettable period arrived in the modern era. Between 2014 and 2018, Real Madrid won four Champions League titles in five seasons, including three consecutive trophies under Zinedine Zidane. Cristiano Ronaldo became the symbol of that generation, scoring 450 goals in only 438 appearances to become the club's all-time leading scorer. Meanwhile, Sergio Ramos, Luka Modrić, Toni Kroos and Karim Benzema all played crucial roles in one of the strongest squads assembled in modern football.
Real Madrid's football shirts are among the most recognizable in the world. The club has worn white since its foundation, earning the nickname Los Blancos, while only subtle design changes have been introduced over the years. Adidas has manufactured the shirts since 1998 after taking over from Kelme, and many of the club's most iconic kits have been produced during that partnership. The 2001/02 home shirt remains one of the most sought-after Real Madrid shirts after Zinedine Zidane scored his famous left-foot volley in the Champions League final against Bayer Leverkusen. Another favorite among collectors is the 2013/14 home shirt, worn during La Décima, when Real Madrid finally lifted their long-awaited tenth European Cup after defeating Atlético Madrid in Lisbon. Vintage shirts featuring sponsors such as Teka and Siemens Mobile have also become increasingly popular, making Real Madrid shirts some of the most collectible football shirts.
