The meaning of stars above logos on football shirts

You often see them in the world of football: stars above club logos, but what do they mean? They reveal something about the history of a club or country, from league titles to World Cups.

National titles in Europe:

In Europe, the tradition of awarding stars on shirts is closely linked to national championships. While some countries award a gold star for every 10 titles won, such as the Netherlands , others operate on a five-times-a-year basis. A similar system is used in countries like Turkey, Denmark, and Russia. Interestingly, Germany is unique in its approach, with a tiered system that awards clubs based on the number of Bundesliga titles won since 1963, the year the Bundesliga was founded.

Three times Bundesliga champions receive one gold championship star.
Being a five-time Bundesliga champion entitles you to two gold championship stars.
Being a 10-time Bundesliga champion entitles you to three gold championship stars.
Being a 20-time Bundesliga champion entitles you to four gold championship stars.
Being a 30-time Bundesliga champion entitles you to five gold championship stars.

The maximum number of stars that can be achieved in Germany is 5.

World Championships:

Some countries also feature stars above their national team logos. After Brazil won its third world title at the 1970 World Cup, a star was introduced above the Brazilian shirt for each title won. This sparked a trend among world champions, with countries like Italy and Germany quickly following suit.

Uruguay's unique approach, featuring four stars on their shirts, is noteworthy. This encompasses not only their two official world titles, but also their achievements at the 1924 and 1928 Olympic Games, which are recognized by FIFA as world titles.

Champions League:

Winning the Champions League also earns a badge showing the number of titles won. Clubs earn the right to wear a gold "Badge of Honour" on their shirts after winning a fifth or three consecutive titles in the Champions League or its predecessor, the European Cup. Only Real Madrid , AC Milan , Liverpool , Bayern Munich , Barcelona , ​​and Ajax wear this badge.