Top 10 UEFA Champions League Goal Scorers of All Time

The UEFA Champions League stands as the premier European club competition since its start in 1992, featuring the continent's best teams and players. With the expanded 2024–25 season format including more teams and matches, scoring records are constantly being challenged. Legends like Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Robert Lewandowski, and Karim Benzema dominate the all-time charts, while rising stars such as Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé climb swiftly.

This article celebrates the top 10 highest goal scorers in the history of the Champions League, spotlighting their unforgettable moments on Europe's biggest stage.

Players With Most Goals in Champions League

• Rank: 10; Player: Thierry Henry; Position: Forward; Total Goals: 50
• Rank: 9; Player: Erling Haaland; Position: Striker; Total Goals: 55
• Rank: 8; Player: Ruud van Nistelrooy; Position: Striker; Total Goals: 56
• Rank: 7; Player: Thomas Müller; Position: Attacking Midfielder; Total Goals: 57
• Rank: 6; Player: Kylian Mbappé; Position: Forward; Total Goals: 64
• Rank: 5; Player: Raúl González; Position: Forward; Total Goals: 71
• Rank: 4; Player: Karim Benzema; Position: Striker; Total Goals: 90
• Rank: 3; Player: Robert Lewandowski; Position: Striker; Total Goals: 105
• Rank: 2; Player: Lionel Messi; Position: Forward; Total Goals: 129
• Rank: 1; Player: Cristiano Ronaldo; Position: Forward; Total Goals: 140

Details of Top 10 Champions League Goal Scorers

One of the best attackers of his era, Thierry Henry made his Champions League mark at Monaco in 1997 before becoming a star at Arsenal and Barcelona. Known for his speed and goal-scoring ability, he scored 50 goals in 112 appearances, also providing 26 assists. He won the Champions League once and remains one of Arsenal's most prolific European scorers.

• Apps: 112
• Goals: 50
• Assists: 26
• Clubs: Monaco, Arsenal, Barcelona
• UCL Titles: 1

Erling Haaland has quickly risen as one of the Champions League's deadliest forwards. The Manchester City striker helped his team win their first UCL title in 2022-23, finishing as top scorer with 12 goals in 11 games that season. Haaland boasts 55 goals in 54 appearances, making him the fastest to reach this tally. He started in Europe with Salzburg, also playing for Dortmund.

• Apps: 54
• Goals: 55
• Assists: 8
• Clubs: Salzburg, Dortmund, Manchester City
• UCL Titles: 1

The clinical Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy was known for his sharp finishing with clubs like Manchester United and Real Madrid. Despite never winning the trophy, he scored 56 goals and provided 18 assists in 73 appearances. He topped the Champions League scoring charts three times early in his career.

• Apps: 73
• Goals: 56
• Assists: 18
• Clubs: PSV Eindhoven, Manchester United, Real Madrid
• UCL Titles: 0

Thomas Müller has been a key figure for Bayern Munich since 2009. His intelligence and versatility led to 57 goals and 34 assists across 163 Champions League games. He holds the record for most Champions League goals for a single club and won two European titles with Bayern.

• Apps: 163
• Goals: 57
• Assists: 34
• Clubs: Bayern Munich
• UCL Titles: 2

Known for his explosive pace and precision, Kylian Mbappé has scored 64 goals and assisted 26 times in 87 Champions League matches. Representing Monaco, PSG, and now Real Madrid, he is yet to win the tournament but claimed the 2024-25 European Golden Boot. Mbappé also recorded five hat-tricks in the competition.

• Apps: 87
• Goals: 64
• Assists: 26
• Clubs: Monaco, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid
• UCL Titles: 0

Raúl was the top scorer before Ronaldo's arrival at Real Madrid, netting 71 goals in 142 appearances and assisting 29 times. He won the Champions League three times and was leading scorer for two straight seasons around 2000. Raúl is an iconic figure in Real Madrid’s history.

• Apps: 142
• Goals: 71
• Assists: 29
• Clubs: Real Madrid, Schalke
• UCL Titles: 3

After Ronaldo left Real Madrid, Karim Benzema became the main scorer, collecting 90 goals and 30 assists in 152 games. His 15 goals during the 2021-22 campaign were crucial for Real Madrid's fifth European title during his tenure. Benzema played for Lyon and Real Madrid in the Champions League.

• Apps: 152
• Goals: 90
• Assists: 30
• Clubs: Lyon, Real Madrid
• UCL Titles: 5

Robert Lewandowski holds the record for two fastest hat-tricks in the Champions League. With 105 goals in 131 matches for Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, and Barcelona, he won the competition once in 2019-20. At 37, he continues scoring for Barcelona, aiming to end their continental title drought.

• Apps: 131
• Goals: 105
• Assists: 29
• Clubs: Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, Barcelona
• UCL Titles: 1

The legendary Lionel Messi scored 129 goals in 163 Champions League matches mainly for Barcelona and PSG. A winner of multiple titles including the FIFA World Cup and six top scorer awards in the Champions League, Messi is regarded as one of football's greatest players ever.

• Apps: 163
• Goals: 129
• Assists: 40
• Clubs: Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain
• UCL Titles: 4

Cristiano Ronaldo tops the list with 140 goals and 42 assists in 183 Champions League games. Sixty-seven of his goals came in knockout rounds, the most by any player. He won five Champions League trophies with Manchester United and Real Madrid, and holds the record for most goals in a single season with 17.

• Apps: 183
• Goals: 140
• Assists: 42
• Clubs: Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus
• UCL Titles: 5

Common Questions About Champions League Scorers

• Q: Who is the all-time top scorer in the UEFA Champions League?A: Cristiano Ronaldo with 140 goals.
• Q: Which active player has the most Champions League goals?A: Cristiano Ronaldo remains the highest-scoring active player with 140 goals.
• Q: How many players have scored over 100 goals in the Champions League?A: Three players have surpassed 100 goals.
• Q: Who is the fastest to reach 55 goals in Champions League history?A: Erling Haaland, with 55 goals in 54 matches.