Top Players with Most Goals in a Single Champions League Match

The UEFA Champions League showcases some of the greatest individual performances in football. Scoring multiple goals in one game is rare, but a few players have made history by netting four or five goals in a single match. Names like Lionel Messi, Luiz Adriano, and Erling Haaland stand out for these remarkable feats.

Ranking the Top 12 Goal-Scorers in a Single UCL Game

• 12. Robert Lewandowski - 4 Goals
• 11. Mario Gomez - 4 Goals
• 10. Bafetimbi Gomis - 4 Goals
• 9. Lionel Messi - 4 Goals
• 8. Andriy Shevchenko - 4 Goals
• 7. Ruud van Nistelrooy - 4 Goals
• 6. Dado Prso - 4 Goals
• 5. Simone Inzaghi - 4 Goals
• 4. Marco van Basten - 4 Goals
• 3. Erling Haaland - 5 Goals
• 2. Luiz Adriano - 5 Goals
• 1. Lionel Messi - 5 Goals

Details on Key Performances

• Robert Lewandowski: Scored all four goals in Borussia Dortmund's 4-1 win over Real Madrid during the 2012-13 Champions League semi-finals, showcasing one of the competition’s finest individual displays.
• Mario Gomez: Netted four times in Bayern Munich's dominant 7-0 victory against FC Basel in 2012, reflecting his sharp goal-scoring ability.
• Bafetimbi Gomis: The first French player in over 40 years to score four goals in a European competition, achieving this in Lyon's 7-1 win over Dinamo Zagreb in 2011.
• Lionel Messi: Aside from his five-goal record, Messi also scored four goals against Arsenal in 2010, including a memorable chip over Manuel Almunia.
• Andriy Shevchenko: Scored four goals in AC Milan's 4-0 away win over Fenerbahce in 2005, becoming the first player to net four goals in an away Champions League game.
• Ruud van Nistelrooy: Scored four goals for Manchester United against Sparta Prague in 2004, the first Man United player to do so in a European match since 1968.
• Dado Prso: Achieved four goals during Monaco's thrilling 8-3 win over Deportivo La Coruna in 2003, helping his team reach the Champions League final.
• Simone Inzaghi: Scored four goals for Lazio in their 5-1 triumph over Marseille in 2000, an impressive feat from the current Inter Milan manager.
• Marco van Basten: The first player to score four goals after the European Cup was rebranded as the Champions League, doing so in 1992 against IFK Goteborg.
• Erling Haaland: Scored five goals in Manchester City's 7-0 win against RB Leipzig in 2023, marking him as the third player in history to net five in a UCL match.
• Luiz Adriano: Recorded five goals in Shakhtar Donetsk's 7-0 victory over Bate Borisov in 2014, setting a record for most goals against a single opponent.
• Lionel Messi: Holds the top spot with five goals in Barcelona's 7-1 win over Bayer Leverkusen in 2012, a legendary performance etched into Champions League history.

Champions League Records: Top Single-Match Goal Scorers

• Name: Lionel MessiGoals: 5Team: BarcelonaOpponent: Bayer LeverkusenYear: 2012
• Name: Luiz AdrianoGoals: 5Team: Shakhtar DonetskOpponent: Bate BorisovYear: 2014
• Name: Erling HaalandGoals: 5Team: Manchester CityOpponent: RB LeipzigYear: 2023
• Name: Marco van BastenGoals: 4Team: AC MilanOpponent: IFK GoteborgYear: 1992
• Name: Simone InzaghiGoals: 4Team: LazioOpponent: MarseilleYear: 2000
• Name: Dado PrsoGoals: 4Team: MonacoOpponent: Deportivo La CorunaYear: 2003
• Name: Ruud van NistelrooyGoals: 4Team: Manchester UnitedOpponent: Sparta PragueYear: 2004
• Name: Andriy ShevchenkoGoals: 4Team: AC MilanOpponent: FenerbahceYear: 2005
• Name: Lionel MessiGoals: 4Team: BarcelonaOpponent: ArsenalYear: 2010
• Name: Bafetimbi GomisGoals: 4Team: LyonOpponent: Dinamo ZagrebYear: 2011
• Name: Mario GomezGoals: 4Team: Bayern MunichOpponent: BaselYear: 2012
• Name: Robert LewandowskiGoals: 4Team: Borussia DortmundOpponent: Real MadridYear: 2013

FAQs About Champions League Scoring Records

• Who scored the most goals in a single Champions League match?Lionel Messi scored 5 goals against Bayer Leverkusen in 2012, the highest ever.
• Who else has scored 5 goals in one UCL game?Luiz Adriano and Erling Haaland have also reached this milestone.
• What is the record for most goals in a single Champions League season? Cristiano Ronaldo holds that with 17 goals in the 2013/14 season.
• Who scored the most UCL goals for a single club? That honor belongs to Lionel Messi.
• Which players appear multiple times on this list?Lionel Messi appears twice with both four and five-goal games.