The top goalscorers in Champions League history

The Champions League, Europe’s premier club competition, is undergoing a significant facelift ahead of the 2024/25 campaign. The new Swiss-style format will see teams play more group games between September and January, pitting the continent’s best sides against each other and adding an extra layer of unpredictability to the Champions League betting. 

Current holders Real Madrid will be looking to extend their record as the side with the most Champions League wins with their 17th title. Carlo Ancelotti has added Kylian Mbappe to the Merengues attack, with the Frenchman a prolific goal scorer for club and country, already boasting 48 Champions League goals as he pursues his first title.

The Champions League has witnessed some of the greatest goalscorers in football history. Here, we focus on the top scorers in the competition’s history. Read on to find out more. 

Cristiano Ronaldo – 140 

Cristiano Ronaldo stands as the all-time top scorer in Champions League history with 140 goals. His goal-scoring prowess has seen him lift the trophy five times, most notably during his tenure at Real Madrid, where the club clinched four Champions League titles in five years between 2014 and 2018.

The Portugal forward’s best performances came in the 2013-14 season, where he scored 17 goals, a record for a single campaign. Ronaldo’s ability to deliver in crucial moments, including knockout stage matches, has cemented his legacy as a Champions League legend for both Madrid and Manchester United.

Lionel Messi – 129 

In second is Lionel Messi, whose 129 goals for Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain have helped the Argentina captain win the Champions League four times. 

Messi, arguably the best player the world has ever seen, broke into the Barca squad when they beat Arsenal in the 2006 final, although he played limited minutes. However, the wins in 2009 and 2011, both against Manchester United, were defined by Messi’s brilliance. 

He added a fourth title to his cabinet in 2015, scoring 10 goals in Europe that season as Barcelona beat Juventus in Berlin to lift the trophy.

Robert Lewandowski – 94 

A player unfortunate to not have more Champions League winners’ medals is Robert Lewandowski. The Poland international would have to wait until 2020 to get his hands on the trophy with Bayern Munich’s treble winning side, as they beat PSG behind closed doors in a tight 1-0 victory.

Lewandowski reached the 2013 final with Borussia Dortmund, but was beaten by Bayern at Wembley, while his time at Barcelona has been a frustrating one in Europe. Still, the 35-year-old will be hoping Barca’s return to the Champions League under Hansi Flick will bring him his 100th goal in the competition. 

Karim Benzema – 90

Karim Benzema, with 90 goals, has been a key contributor to Real Madrid’s recent successes. His first 13 goals in Europe came for Ligue 1 outfit Lyon before the French striker got his big move to the Spanish capital.

He played a crucial role in Madrid’s wins between 2014 and 2018 and was instrumental in the 2021-22 triumph. Despite his goal being disallowed in the win over Liverpool, he scored 44 times that season to make sure he picked up the trophy as well as the Ballon d’Or. 

Benzema’s ability to score crucial goals in knockout stages, including hat-tricks against PSG and Chelsea, underscores his significance to the team, now plying his trade in Saudi Arabia. 

The likes of Raul, Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Andriy Shevchenko all boast similarly impressive strike records in the Champions League; however, they pale in comparison to Ronaldo, Messi, Lewandowski and Benzema. Bayern’s Thomas Muller, plus Mbappe, and Mohamed Salah could all go up in the rankings if they enjoy lucrative seasons in front of goal this term. 

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