Franz Beckenbauer, the iconic figure of Bayern Munich and German football, has cast doubt on the scale of Real Madrid’s recent successes, specifically questioning the difficulty of their path to Champions League glory.
In comments reported by the German newspaper Bild, Beckenbauer suggested that Real Madrid’s Champions League victories in 2022 and 2024 came against opponents who were not at their peak. “Real Madrid were lucky in the draw,” Beckenbauer stated. “They didn’t face the really tough teams like Manchester City or Bayern Munich in the final. They played against Liverpool in 2022 and Borussia Dortmund in 2024, and honestly, neither were in their best form.”
The German legend, a World Cup winner as both player and manager, expanded on his point by highlighting the semi-final stages. He pointed out that in the 2023-2024 season, Madrid eliminated Bayern Munich in a dramatic semi-final, only after the German side had previously knocked out the favorites, Manchester City, in the quarter-finals. “Bayern did the hard work by eliminating Manchester City, the best team in the world at that moment,” Beckenbauer said. “Then Real Madrid faced a tired Bayern in the semis.”
Beckenbauer’s critique extends to the upcoming 2026 Club World Cup, for which qualification is based on Champions League triumphs over a four-year period. He implied that this format has favored the Spanish giants. “The new Club World Cup in 2026 is practically made for Real Madrid,” he remarked, referencing their consistent presence in the latter stages of Europe’s premier competition.
These comments from one of football’s most respected voices are sure to fuel debate, offering a contrasting perspective on the narrative of Real Madrid’s modern-era dominance in the Champions League.
