When Barceloneta captain Alberto Munarriz triumphantly lifted the Champions League trophy in Malta on Saturday 13th June, it marked the end of another spectacular European Aquatics water polo club season.
With the warm night sky above Valletta filled with fireworks, the Spanish giants celebrated with their fans as they returned to the top of the podium after a long 12-year wait.
The outstanding 2025/2026 season will be remembered as a vintage year for European club water polo, with record participation and highly entertaining and competitive tournaments in both the men’s and women’s game.
Across five competitions and 554 matches, clubs from 27 countries showcased the strength and diversity of the sport in Europe, delivering a season filled with drama, goals and memorable moments.
A total of 130 teams competed in European Aquatics club competitions over the past 12 months, comprising 74 men’s clubs and a record 56 women’s clubs.
More than 2,100 athletes represented their teams – an incredible 21% increase compared to 2024/2025 – which also highlighted the expanding reach of water polo throughout the continent.
The entertaining action in the pool also matched the growth off it. Teams combined to score 14,664 goals during regular time, rising to 15,007 when penalty shootouts are included.
These figures represent a 29% increase on the previous season and reflect the new attacking and entertaining nature of the sport.
Fans across Europe were treated to high-scoring games and fiercely contested knockout ties from the opening qualification rounds through to the Champions League finals in Malta.
Despite missing out on a record-equalling third Champions League title, FTC were last season’s most prolific attacking team, firing in 257 goals across 15 games (including shootouts and the Super Cup final).
Pro Recco were second with 235 goals, followed by this year’s Champions League winners Zodiac CNAB with 226, having played one game fewer.
Hungarian ace Vince Vigvari was forced to sit out the Final 4 in Malta due to a hand injury, but he still topped the individual Champions League scoring charts with 43 goals, while Novi Beograd’s Vasilije Martinovic finished three behind on 40, and Olympiacos’ Gergo Zalanki was third with 39.
On the women’s scoring side, European newcomers Zodiac CNAB came out on top, after rifling in 181 goals across their impressive Euro Cup campaign (12 games), which saw them reach the final, but fall just short to domestic rivals EPlus CN Catalunya.
Second were CN Sant Feliu, the runners-up in the inaugural Conference Cup, with 173 goals across 10 games, while beaten Champions League finalists FTC were third after hitting the target 170 times, also from 10 games.
In the women’s individual Champions League scoring charts, FTC’s Greta Kurucz-Gurisatti finished at the summit with 32 goals, while Olympiacos’ Aussie ace Abby Andrews was one behind with 31, and Sant Andreu’s Elena Ruiz was third with 28.
One of last season’s most significant success stories was the continued rise of women’s club water polo in Europe.
Since 2022/2023, the number of participating women’s clubs has grown by 133%, with 56 teams from 17 nations competing in 2025/2026.
With the introduction of the Conference Cup and the repositioning of the Challenger Cup, this created more opportunities for clubs to compete internationally than ever before.
As a result, the 2025/2026 water polo club season became the largest in European Aquatics history, providing a strong and powerful platform for future growth.
With more teams, more players, more matches and more goals than ever before, the season confirmed that European club water polo continues to go from strength to strength.
Following the conclusion of the 2025/2026 season, FTC-Telekom Waterpolo men’s team and Olympiacos SFP women’s team topped the recently updated European Aquatics club rankings.
To see the full rankings list, click here.
2025/2026 Roll of honour
Champions League Men
GOLD – Zodiac CNAB (ESP)
SILVER – Pro Recco (ITA)
BRONZE – FTC Telekom Waterpolo (HUN)
Champions League Women
GOLD – Olympiacos SFP (GRE)
SILVER – FTC Telekom Waterpolo (HUN)
BRONZE – CN Sant Andreu (ESP)
Euro Cup Men
GOLD – CN Marseille (FRA)
SILVER – VK Jadran Split (CRO)
Euro Cup Women
GOLD – EPlus CN Catalunya (ESP)
SILVER – Zodiac CNAB
Conference Cup Men
GOLD – De Akker Team (ITA)
SILVER – Endo Plus Service Honved (HUN)
BRONZE – GS Apollon Smyrnis (GRE)
Conference Cup Women
GOLD – Smile Cosenza Pallanuoto (ITA)
SILVER – CN Sant Feliu (ESP)
BRONZE – Panionios GSS (GRE)
Challenger Cup Men
GOLD – Galatasaray SK (TUR)
SILVER – EVK Zaibas (LIT)
BRONZE – Sliema ASC Nexawin (MLT)
Challenger Cup Women
GOLD – Goztepe Sport Klub (TUR)
SILVER – VK Jadran Split (CRO)
BRONZE – SSV Esslingen (GER)
Super Cup Men
GOLD – FTC Telekom Waterpolo (HUN)
SILVER – Pro Recco (ITA)
Super Cup Women
GOLD – CN Sant Andreu (ESP)
SILVER – ZV De Zaan (NED)
Stay tuned to the European Aquatics Water Polo social media accounts for more news and live updates on Facebook and Instagram
Andy Rollé for European Aquatics
