The first finalist for the 2025/26 Champions League season has been confirmed, with Arsenal beating Atletico Madrid 2-1 on aggregate. The Gunners will now play either Bayern Munich or Paris Saint-Germain in the final on 30 May.
It was a tight affair across both legs, but Mikel Arteta's team will feel as though they did enough to deserve a place in their first final since 2006. Having drawn 1-1 at the Metropolitano Stadium, a single goal from Bukayo Saka, scored just before half-time, was enough to settle the tie at the Emirates.
While Arsenal have never won the Champions League before, losing to Barcelona in that final in Paris 20 years ago, they do have some notable past winners in their squad. What's more, one of them could make rather impressive history if the Gunners can win the tournament in Budapest.
Kepa Arrizabalaga Could Win Third Champions League Trophy With Different Club
Arsenal's Kepa Arrizabalaga
Pre-Season Friendly - Arsenal v AC Milan - National Stadium, Singapore - July 23, 2025 Arsenal's Kepa Arrizabalaga during the penalty shootout REUTERS/Caroline Chia
Kai Havertz scored the winner in the 2021 Champions League final for Chelsea, but he wasn't the only current Arsenal man to be involved that night. Indeed, Kepa Arrizabalaga was part of the squad, although he did not play against Manchester City in the final.
Not only that, but the Spanish goalkeeper also got his hands on a second trophy when Real Madrid won the competition in 2024. Once again, he sat on the bench as his team, this time, beat Borussia Dortmund in the final.
If Arsenal are to go all the way in 2026, Kepa would become just the second player in football history to win the Champions League with three different clubs. He would also become the first goalkeeper to achieve this feat. It certainly would be a remarkable achievement, especially as he's unlikely to play a minute in any of those finals, with just one European appearance for the Gunners this season.
Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone during a Champions League press conference Related
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Footballers Who Won the Champions League With Two Different Clubs
Player
Marcel Desailly
Didier Deschamps
Paulo Sousa
Christian Panucci
Deco
Edwin van der Sar
Owen Hargreaves
Thiago Motta
José Bosingwa
Paulo Ferreira
Xabi Alonso
Daniel Sturridge
Xherdan Shaqiri
Thiago Alcântara
Scott Carson
Antonio Rüdiger
Kepa Arrizabalaga
Achraf Hakimi
Lucas Hernandez
Fernando Redondo
Samuel Eto'o
Gerard Piqué
Mateo Kovačić
David Alaba
Cristiano Ronaldo
Toni Kroos
Clarence Seedorf Holds Three-Club Champions League Record
Clarence Seedorf celebrating with the Champions League trophy
Of course, Achraf Hakimi could win the competition for a third time, having also won with Real Madrid (2018) and Paris Saint-Germain (2025) in the past. But as he's still at PSG, he would not be lifting the prize with a third different club. The same can be said of teammate Lucas Hernandez, who won it last year and then with Bayern Munich in 2020.
The only player to have ever managed that is Clarence Seedorf. The Iconic Dutch midfielder – who has backed Arsenal for success this season – got his hands on the trophy four times across his career, first winning with Ajax in 1995, and then with Real Madrid in 1998, before tasting success twice with AC Milan in 2003 and 2007.
While he stands alone in that sense, Kepa could now join him if Arsenal win the tournament. However, both fall short when it comes to the players with the most Champions League wins. Dani Carvajal and Luka Modric both lead the way on that front, with six titles – all with Real Madrid.
With that in mind, it's no surprise that Spain has produced more Champions League winners than any other nation. Adding to that, Los Blancos' icons Karim Benzema, Toni Kroos and Cristiano Ronaldo have five titles each – only Ronaldo won his across two clubs, succeeding at Real Madrid and Man Utd.