Top Scorers in Champions League History

The Champions League returns tomorrow, September 8, with the league phase getting under way. That makes it the perfect time to remember the players who wrote their names into the competition's history in golden letters.

In this article, we look at the Champions League's greatest goalscorers — from established legends whose records still seem almost untouchable to today's stars who are rewriting history right now. We revisit their biggest achievements and iconic moments, and consider which current players have a realistic chance of breaking into the elite list in the coming years.

Who is the all-time top scorer in Champions League history?

Cristiano Ronaldo leads the list with 140 goals. The number still looks almost unreal given the level of competition in Europe's premier club tournament.

The Portuguese star's defining trait was his ability to produce his best when his team needed him most. Ronaldo scored in finals, rescued seemingly hopeless knockout ties and became the first player in history to reach 100 goals in the competition. He did it across three different clubs — Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus. His spell in Madrid was the peak of his European career: Real won three Champions League titles in a row while Cristiano kept breaking one record after another.

Top 10 all-time Champions League scorers

As of September 2026, the top 10 goalscorers in Champions League history are:

1. Cristiano Ronaldo — 140 goals (183 matches, three clubs)
2. Lionel Messi — 129 goals (163 matches, two clubs)
3. Robert Lewandowski — 109 goals (144 matches, three clubs)
4. Karim Benzema — 90 goals (152 matches, two clubs)
5. Raul — 71 goals (142 matches, two clubs)
6. Kylian Mbappe — 70 goals (98 matches, three clubs)
7. Thomas Muller — 57 goals (163 matches, one club)
8. Erling Haaland — 57 goals (58 matches, three clubs)
9. Ruud van Nistelrooy — 56 goals (73 matches, three clubs)
10. Harry Kane — 54 goals (70 matches, two clubs)

Iconic names that changed Champions League history

Messi and Ronaldo are obviously on another level, but focusing only on those two would be unfair. Before they turned goalscoring into something resembling a video game, the Champions League had its own kings — players fans watched in amazement.

For a long time, Raul Gonzalez seemed almost eternal. His 71 goals looked like the limit of what was possible. Raul was never the fastest or most powerful player on the pitch. His edge was different: extraordinary instinct. He seemed to know where the ball would drop before anyone else and was always in the right place. For Real Madrid of that era, he was not just a captain but a symbol of winning.

Andriy Shevchenko deserves a chapter of his own. Every football fan from that era remembers his peak years with Milan in the early 2000s. Sheva was the complete striker: explosive, technical and capable of unleashing a thunderous shot. The winning penalty in the 2003 final, the Ballon d'Or and his status as a major threat to every elite club in Europe earned him a place among the greats.

Ruud van Nistelrooy was perhaps the ultimate penalty-box predator. If the ball reached him within 11 metres of goal, the goalkeeper could almost start walking to the net to collect it. Remarkably, Ruud never lifted the Champions League trophy despite scoring for Manchester United and Real Madrid with extraordinary efficiency. His goals-per-game rate remains one of the best in competition history.

Thierry Henry brought style to the Champions League. Watching him burst past defenders for Arsenal, and later help Barcelona complete the treble, was a joy. Henry did not just score — more than 50 goals in the competition — he did it with elegance. For many, he remains the model of how a modern forward should play.

Filippo Inzaghi was the player coaches joked had "been born offside". Pippo did not have Henry's technique or Shevchenko's power, but in the Champions League he became a different animal. His brace in the 2007 final was the perfect summary of his career. Inzaghi is proof that character and being in the right place at the right time can matter more than pure physical ability.

Modern stars rewriting history right now

While the legends of the past now watch from the stands, a new generation has already joined the race for records. One of them is Erling Haaland. The Manchester City striker is a goalscoring machine with almost no obvious weakness. Defenders are still looking for an answer to his power and explosive acceleration. Reaching 50-plus Champions League goals faster than anyone in history, in fewer than 60 matches, is absurd. If injuries stay away, Ronaldo's record may not look quite so permanent.

Kylian Mbappe reached the elite at a young age, first carrying an ambitious Monaco side and then scoring relentlessly for PSG. The Frenchman relies on devastating acceleration and composure: in open space he is almost impossible to stop. His move to Real Madrid has only opened up more possibilities — at a club built around winning the Champions League, his goal tally should keep rising quickly. Last season he won the Golden Boot after scoring 15 goals in 11 matches.

This pair could seriously shake up the all-time top five over the next couple of seasons. And there is already a younger wave pushing from behind: players such as Lamine Yamal and Desire Doue are only beginning their European careers but already have clear potential to join the competition's all-time greats. That only makes the race more interesting.

Champions League top scorer odds for the 2026/2027 season

For now, let's look at the bookmakers' prices for the Champions League top scorer race ahead of the new season.

*Odds are approximate, may vary between bookmakers and are accurate at the time of publication.

Read the latest Champions League match predictions in the dedicated section of our website.