Frank Christian
The UEFA Champions League has been a stage for thrilling matches and remarkable goals over the years.
For the 2024/25 season, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland are likely to make their mark at the top of the Golden Boot contenders, facing strong rivals like Harry Kane and Robert Lewandowski.
Last season, Erling Haaland remarkably scored five goals in a single Champions League knockout match, a feat matched only by Lionel Messi back in 2011/12.
Here’s a summary of the all-time top goal scorers in Champions League and European Cup history.
All-Time Champions League Goal Leaders
Cristiano Ronaldo tops the list with 140 goals in his illustrious career, representing Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus. However, he cannot increase his tally this season as Manchester United is in the Europa League.
Lionel Messi is next with 129 goals scored with Barcelona and PSG, followed by Robert Lewandowski with 94 goals. Lewandowski also became the first player to score hat-tricks for three clubs (Dortmund, Bayern, and Barcelona) in this competition, netting three against Viktoria Plzen. His latest goal was in a 1-1 match with Napoli.
| Rank | Name | Goals | Appearances | Years | Club(s) |
| 1. | Cristiano Ronaldo | 140 | 183 | 2003-present | Man United, Real Madrid, Juventus |
| 2. | Lionel Messi | 129 | 160 | 2005-present | Barcelona, PSG |
| 3. | Robert Lewandowski | 94 | 119 | 2011-present | Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Barcelona |
| 4. | Karim Benzema | 90 | 152 | 2005-present | Real Madrid, Lyon |
| 5. | Raul | 71 | 142 | 1995-2011 | Real Madrid, Schalke |
| 6. | Ruud van Nistelrooy | 56 | 73 | 1998-2009 | PSV, Man United, Real Madrid |
| 7. | Thomas Muller | 54 | 150 | 2009-present | Bayern Munich |
| 8. | Thierry Henry | 50 | 112 | 1997-2012 | Monaco, Arsenal, Barcelona |
| 9. | Alfredo Di Stefano | 49 | 58 | 1955-1964 | Real Madrid |
| = | Kylian Mbappe | 49 | 73 | 2016-present | Monaco, PSG, Real Madrid |
| 11. | Zlatan Ibrahimovic | 48 | 124 | 2001-present | Ajax, Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona, AC Milan, PSG |
| 12. | Andriy Shevchenko | 48 | 100 | 1994-2012 | Dynamo Kyiv, AC Milan, Chelsea |
Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland’s Place in Champions League History
Both Kylian Mbappe and Haaland have made significant contributions in the Champions League and are set to continue their scoring prowess.
Mbappe currently ranks equal 10th in all-time Champions League scorers with 49 goals in 73 matches. This ties him with the legendary Alfredo Di Stefano.
The majority of Mbappe’s goals have been scored while playing for Paris Saint-Germain, although he also netted six during his time at Monaco and one with Real Madrid.
Kylian Mbappe’s Champions League Goals Breakdown
| Season | Goals | Games |
|---|---|---|
| 2016/17 | 6 | 9 |
| 2017/18 | 4 | 8 |
| 2018/19 | 4 | 8 |
| 2019/20 | 5 | 10 |
| 2020/21 | 8 | 10 |
| 2021/22 | 6 | 8 |
| 2022/23 | 7 | 8 |
| 2023/24 | 8 | 11 |
| 2024/25 | 1 | 1 |
| Total | 49 | 73 |
Erling Haaland has scored an impressive 41 goals in just 40 appearances in the Champions League, tying him with Sergio Aguero on the all-time scoring list.
Haaland’s Goals in the Champions League
| Season | Goals | Games |
|---|---|---|
| 2018/19 | 8 | 6 |
| 2019/20 | 2 | 2 |
| 2020/21 | 10 | 8 |
| 2021/22 | 3 | 3 |
| 2022/23 | 12 | 11 |
| 2023/24 | 6 | 9 |
| 2024/25 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 41 | 40 |
Robert Lewandowski and Karim Benzema have also shown their scoring prowess in the Champions League. However, catching up to Cristiano Ronaldo’s remarkable tally of goals, which exceeds 50, appears to be a formidable challenge for them. Veteran players like Thomas Muller and Zlatan Ibrahimovic are also in the mix, but both Benzema and Ibrahimovic missed the start of the 2023/24 campaign.
Mohamed Salah, currently participating in the Europa League with Liverpool, has netted 44 goals, yet both Kylian Mbappe and Haaland seem to be strong contenders to threaten Ronaldo’s record.
It is significant to note that even at 39 years old at the beginning of the 2023/24 season, Ronaldo might still enhance his all-time records if he decides to return to the Champions League after his stint in Saudi Arabia.
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