Real Madrid is set to mark a monumental milestone as they prepare for their 500th match in the UEFA European Cup, squaring off against their rivals, Atlético de Madrid, at the Santiago Bernabéu on March 4, 2025. This event not only emphasizes the club's long-standing dominance, evidenced by their record of 15 European Cup victories, but it also cements their place as the first team to achieve this impressive feat—in both history and numbers.
Their record stands at 301 wins, 85 draws, and 113 losses, along with a staggering 1,101 goals. These statistics highlight the Merengues as the most successful club not just currently but throughout the rich history of European football. Their first match took place on September 8, 1955, resulting in a 2-0 victory over Servette at the Charmilles Stadium, marking the beginning of their legendary run.
Real Madrid’s accomplishment is celebrated through the years with notable milestones: they reached 100 matches against Dinamo Kiev with a scoreless draw on March 7, 1973. They then celebrated their 200th game with their fans at home against Porto, securing a 3-1 victory. The club celebrated its 300th match with another victory, this time against Werder Bremen, prevailing 2-1.
Remarkably, their 400th match was celebrated with great joy as they thumped Legia Warsaw 5-1 at the Bernabéu on October 18, 2016. Real Madrid holds numerous records within this prestigious competition, including participation 44 times and having played the most finals—18, winning 15 of those to confirm their standing as the kings of Europe.
Shifting focus, excitement is also brewing around the announcement of the Laureus 2025 awards nominees revealed on March 3, 2025. The gala, set to be held once again in Madrid on April 21, will celebrate the achievements of athletes across various sports.
The Spanish national football team, Real Madrid, rising star Carlos Alcaraz, and young talent Lamine Yamal are among the nominees at this year's premier sporting awards. With categories spanning from best male and female athlete to team of the year, the competition promises to be fierce. Notably, Alcaraz will strive to claim the male athlete award, contending against heavyweight candidates such as Mondo Duplantis, Leon Marchand, Tadej Pogacar, and Max Verstappen.
On the women’s side, Simone Biles targets to reclaim her title against strong contenders like Aitana Bonmatí, Sifan Hassan, Faith Kipyegon, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, and Aryna Sabalenka. For the coveted title of team of the year, the nominees include Real Madrid, the Spanish national team, Barcelona (women's team), Boston Celtics, McLaren, and the men’s national basketball team.
Lamine Yamal stands out among the nominees for breakthrough of the year. The young talent from Barcelona, who is not yet even 18 years old, has captured the spotlight with his dynamic performance throughout the last season. He is up against Julien Alfred, Bayer Leverkusen, Summer McIntosh, Letsile Tebogo, and Victor Wembanyama.
Another intriguing category is the world comeback of the year, with Marc Márquez aiming to take home this title after his spectacular return to motor racing with Gresini, where he celebrated race wins. His competitors include Rebeca Andrade, Caeleb Dressel, Lara Gut-Behrami, Rishabh Pant, and Ariarne Titmus, making the race for the award truly competitive.
These nominations are indicative of Real Madrid's significant role, embodying excellence not only within the grand history of the European Cup but also as they continue to shape the modern sporting narrative. The anticipation building toward both the gala and their 500th match serves as proof of the influence and legacy of Real Madrid. The footballing world, along with sports enthusiasts, awaits eagerly to witness both the achievements celebrated at the Laureus gala and the historic encounter at the Bernabéu.