UEFA Champions League is the most prestigious club competition in Europe. The inaugural edition of this tournament took place in 1955. Since the very beginning up to 1992, the highest tier competition of Europe was known as the “European Champion Clubs’ Cup”. But in 1992, the tournament got it’s name changed as the UEFA Champions League. In this article, we will discuss about the Top 10 leading goal scorers in Champions League of all time.
Top 10 Leading Goal Scorers In Champions League
Ranking | Player Name | Number of UCL Goals | Clubs | Country |
1st | Cristiano Ronaldo | 140 Goals | Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus | Portugal |
2nd | Lionel Messi | 129 Goals | Barcelona, PSG | Argentina |
3rd | Robert Lewandowski | 94 Goals | Borussia Dortmund, Bayern München, Barcelona | Poland |
4th | Karim Benzema | 90 Goals | Lyon, Real Madrid | France |
5th | Raúl González | 71 Goals | Real Madrid, Schalke | Spain |
6th | Ruud van Nistelrooy | 56 Goals | PSV Eindhoven, Man Utd, Real Madrid | Netherlands |
7th | Thomas Muller | 54 Goals | Bayern München | Germany |
8th | Thierry Henry | 50 Goals | Monaco, Arsenal, Barcelona | France |
9th | Kylian Mbappe | 48 Goals | Monaco, PSG | France |
9th | Zlatan Ibrahimovic | 48 Goals | Ajax, Juventus, Inter, Barcelona, AC Milan, PSG, Man Utd | Sweden |
9th | Andriy Shevchenko | 48 Goals | Dynamo Kyiv, AC Milan, Chelsea | Ukraine |
12th | Filippo Inzaghi | 46 Goals | Juventus, AC Milan | Italy |
12) Filippo Inzaghi:
The Italian striker has scored 46 goals in his 81 appearances in the UCL. He retired in July 2012 but still in the 10th position in the list of highest ever scorers in this competition. Filippo played for Serie-A clubs Juventus and AC Milan. He won 2 Champions League titles with the Rossoneri’s in 2003 and 2007. The 2006 FIFA World Cup winner has also voted the man of the match in the 2007 UCL final.
9) Andriy Shevchenko:
The Ukranian legend is considered as his country’s greatest footballer of all time. He featured in this league for AC Milan, Chelsea and Dynamo Kiev. Shevchenko netted the ball on 48 occasions in his 100 appearances. He won the title in 2003 and also played in the 2005 and 2008 finals.
9) Zlatan Ibrahimovic:
The Swedish superstar is an absolute legend to play this beautiful game. In his long career, he has played for so many clubs. The list includes Ajax, Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona, Juventus, AC Milan, PSG and Man Utd. Success has kissed his feet wherever he went. He fell 2 shies of 50 UCL goals at the end of his career.
9) Kylian Mbappe
Currently sharing the 9th spot alongside legends like Shevchenko and Zlatan, soon we expect him to climb higher on this chart. He is still enjoying the peak of his career and with his new destination he might end up within top 5.
8) Thierry Henry:
The World Cup and UEFA Euro winner with the France national team was one of the best strikers in the UCL history. He featured for Monaco, Arsenal and Barcelona. The French sensation netted no less than 50 goals in this competition.
7) Thomas Muller
One of the most underrated players on this chart. One may wonder seeing him in this list. The Germany international is still continuing and has gone past 50 goals tally. Currently, he has 54 beside his name.
6) Ruud Van Nistelrooy:
The Dutchman was an iconic forward and an example of a proper striker. The former Netherlands international featured for PSV Eindhoven, man Utd and Real Madrid and has 56 goals beside his name.
5) Raul Gonzalez:
The former Spain skipper was at the top of the highest goal scorers list in the UCL with 71 goals which were surpassed later by Leo Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. During his 16 years’ career with the Los Blancos, the forward won 3 UCL trophies along with 6 La Liga titles. He was the first-ever player to score in two UCL finals in 2000 and 2002. Now he occupies the 5th spot in this list below Lewa and Benzema.
4) Karim Benzema:
Despite being rated no that much higher, the French number nine has got 90 UCL goals so far. Most of his success came wearing the Real Madrid shirt, with whom he has won 5 UCL titles between 2014 to 2021.
3) Robert Lewandowski:
The Poland captain is one of the best strikers of modern-day football. He has been a superstar of the German Bundesliga and then moved to the Spanish giants of Barcelona. The Polish star also has a tremendous record in the UCL. He already put the ball 94 times in the opposition’s net and is young enough to stop it. He has a good possibility to surpass the 100-goal mark.
2) Leo Messi:
FC Barcelona’s Argentine sensation has scored 129 goals in this competition and stands second in this list just behind his rival CR7. The Olympic Gold medalist has won 4 UCL trophies with the Blaugranas. He holds the record of most UCL goals with one club. Unfortunately, he might have scored his last ever UCL goal.
1) Cristiano Ronaldo:
The Portuguese superstar is the highest ever goalscorer in the UCL history so far with 140 goals. He has won 5 titles of this highest tier European competition. CR7 has won it with Man Utd and Real Madrid, now he is looking to win it with the Bianconeris of Turin. He stands second in the list of highest UCL goals with one club. However, the Portuguese star is also the most handsome soccer player in the World.