Analyzing top finalists

I'm considering outside top 5 finalists for major leagues in football. Some recent finalists include Tottenham in 2019 and Juventus in 2017. The claim about non-top 5 winners since 2004 seems largely true, with only Porto in 2004 breaking that trend. I'll organize my findings, noting that all winners since 2004 have come from England, Spain, Germany, or Italy. I'll also check with the user to see if they want fact-checking, context, or a debate.Assessing past champions

I’m analyzing non-top 5 champions, noting Porto's win in 2004 as a key example. Earlier exceptions include Porto in 1987, Crvena Zvezda in 1991, PSV in 1988, and Ajax in 1995. The statement about Porto being the last non-top 5 winner is accurate but could have nuances. I wonder if teams like Benfica, Ajax, or even Atalanta could challenge that narrative. I should also consider the effects of the Champions League format and financial disparities that affect transfer opportunities for breakout talents.Counting Champions League winners

I’m tallying Champions League winners since 2004: starting with Porto in 2004 and ending with Real Madrid's win in 2024. That gives us a clear trend: aside from Porto, all winners are from the top leagues, strongly supporting the idea that non-top 5 teams haven’t competed effectively recently. I’m considering including revenue disparity, noting that the Big 5 leagues account for over 75% of European football revenue. It might also be worth discussing recent non-top 5 winners in the Europa League to highlight exceptions.Reviewing recent European competition winners

I’m looking into various European competitions and their winners. Villarreal and Sevilla are both in La Liga's top 5. Porto won the Europa League in 2011, while Benfica reached the finals. As for the Conference League, I see that West Ham won in 2023 and Roma in 2022, but Olympiacos won the 2024 title, making them a non-top 5 team. However, the Champions League remains my main focus. I want to ensure I handle formatting lightly, possibly using bullets for clarity.Verifying non-top-5 winners

I’m gathering a quick verification on non-top 5 winners in the UCL era, specifically since 1992. Notable examples include Ajax in 1995 and Porto in 2004, with Marseille in 1993 being a top 5 team. Since then, all winners have been from big five leagues. The reasons for this include financial disparities, UEFA prize distribution, and changes in tournament formats. I could summarize potential non-top-5 contenders and offer to provide data on winners by league from 2004-2024. Keeping this concise with bullet points will help clarify these insights.