Categories: Football

From Messi to Ronaldo: Champions League’s All-Time Goal Kings

Champions League’s All-Time Goal Kings: The best soccer goalscorers have always shined brightest in the Champions League, Europe’s ultimate stage. Scoring in this tournament—from league-phase hat tricks to decisive strikes in the final—cements a player’s legacy and elevates their club. Launched as the European Cup in 1955, it became the Champions League in 1992–93, drawing history’s top talents and producing an unmatched list of legendary scorers.

Check out the list of the top 12 scorers in UEFA Champions League (UCL) history:

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1. Cristiano Ronaldo – 140 goals

The all-time top scorer in UCL history, Ronaldo scored 140 goals. He won the trophy five times—once with Manchester United and four times with Real Madrid. Notably, he’s the only player to have scored in three UCL finals.

2. Lionel Messi – 129 goals

Messi closely follows Ronaldo in goals and has won the UCL four times with Barcelona.

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3. Robert Lewandowski – 91 goals

Still playing in the UCL, Lewandowski is third on the list. However, at 36, his chances of catching up to Messi and Ronaldo are slim.

4. Karim Benzema – 90 goals

Recently retired from European football, Benzema’s contributions helped Real Madrid win multiple UCL titles.

5. Raúl González – 71 goals

A Real Madrid legend, Raúl’s 71 goals helped him stay among the UCL top scorers for years.

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6. Ruud van Nistelrooy – 56 goals

Despite scoring 56 UCL goals, van Nistelrooy never won the tournament.

7. Thierry Henry – 50 goals

With 50 goals in his UCL career, Henry never lifted the trophy either.

8. Thomas Müller – 50+ goals

Still active in the UCL, Müller’s goals have helped Bayern Munich win multiple titles.

9. Zlatan Ibrahimović – 48 goals

Though Ibrahimović scored 48 UCL goals, he never won the title.

10. Kylian Mbappé – 40+ goals

The youngest on the list, Mbappé is still actively scoring in the UCL but has yet to win the trophy.

11. Andriy Shevchenko – 48 goals

With 48 goals, Shevchenko is another historic scorer, mainly with AC Milan.

12. Alfredo Di Stéfano – 49 goals

An icon of early European football, Di Stéfano’s goals for Real Madrid made him one of the UCL’s early legends.

Notable Mentions: Van Nistelrooy, Henry, Ibrahimović, and Mbappé have each scored plenty of UCL goals but have never won the trophy.

Who Has the Most Champions League Hat Tricks of All Time?

1. Cristiano Ronaldo:

Total Hat Tricks: 8
Clubs: 7 with Real Madrid, 1 with Juventus

2. Lionel Messi:

Total Hat Tricks: 8
Club: All with Barcelona

3. Robert Lewandowski:

Total Hat Tricks: 6
Clubs: 1 with Dortmund, 4 with Bayern Munich, 1 with Barcelona

4. Karim Benzema:

Total Hat Tricks: 4
Clubs: All with Real Madrid

All-Time Leading Scorers in the European Cup

Alfredo Di Stéfano
- Club: Real Madrid
- Achievements: 5-time European Cup winner
Eusébio
- Club: Benfica
- Notable Stat: The only player besides Di Stéfano to score over 40 goals in the competition

These historic players are among the top scorers in European Cup history, making their mark in the competition’s golden era.

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Unnati Madan

Unnati is a passionate cricket writer with a deep love and understanding of the game. As a female cricket writer, she brings a unique perspective to the sport, having had to overcome various challenges to pursue her passion for cricket. Growing up, Unnati developed a love for cricket by watching matches with her family. She was always fascinated by the way the game was played, and would often spend hours reading about cricket, analyzing matches, and learning more about the sport. However, as a female in a male-dominated industry, she faced numerous obstacles to pursue her passion for cricket writing. Despite this, Unnati persevered and became an accomplished writer in the field. Unnati’s writing style is engaging and insightful, with a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the nuances of the game. Her articles are known for their depth of analysis, and she is often sought after for her strong opinions on the sport. Unnati has a unique ability to break down complex ideas and make them accessible to a wide audience, which has helped her build a large following of readers.