The final whistle has blown on the European Super League. In a historic development on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, Real Madrid CF announced they have reached a comprehensive "agreement of principles" with UEFA and the European Football Clubs (EFC), effectively ending their involvement in the breakaway project.
Coming just four days after FC Barcelona’s formal withdrawal, the move by Florentino Pérez marks the official collapse of the project that has polarized the football world since April 2021.
The "Peace Pact": Key Details of the Agreement
The joint statement released by the club and UEFA signals a total "armistice" after years of legal warfare:
Legal Ceasefire: Real Madrid has agreed to drop its massive €4.7 billion lawsuit against UEFA, which alleged an abuse of a dominant market position.
Return to the Fold: Real Madrid is expected to rejoin the European Football Clubs (EFC) (formerly the ECA), reclaiming their seat at the table alongside the continent’s other 800 member clubs.
Sporting Merit: The agreement explicitly emphasizes a commitment to "the principle of sporting merit," a direct pivot away from the "closed shop" format originally proposed by the Super League.
Technology & Fan Experience: While the Super League is dead, the agreement mentions collaborating on the "enhancement of fan experience through the use of technology"—a nod to some of the digital reforms Pérez had long advocated for.
Timeline of the Collapse:
April 2021,The ESL is launched with 12 founding members; 9 withdraw within 72 hours.
Dec 2023,"European Court of Justice rules that UEFA's block was ""unlawful,"" briefly reviving hopes for Pérez."
"Feb 7, 2026","FC Barcelona officially withdraws, leaving Real Madrid as the sole remaining member."
"Feb 11, 2026",Real Madrid signs the peace pact with UEFA. The project is officially over.
What This Means for Florentino Pérez
While critics are calling this a "spectacular humiliation" for the Real Madrid president, club insiders are attempting to frame the move as a strategic victory.
By dragging UEFA through the courts for five years, Madrid helped influence the Champions League revamp and secured a more influential role for clubs in commercial decision-making.
Aleksander Čeferin (UEFA President): "Today, football wins. We have shown that the European sports model is non-negotiable. We welcome Real Madrid back to the heart of the European football family."
The Verdict: The "Super League" will go down as the most turbulent chapter in modern football history. While the breakaway failed, it forced a fundamental shift in how UEFA operates. Real Madrid returns to the fold not as a defeated rebel, but as a power-broker that successfully shook the foundations of the game.