Over more than three decades since the inception of the UEFA Champions League in its modern format, the tournament has witnessed strikers leaving their mark with goal-scoring records that are hard to replicate.
A select few players have surpassed the hundred-goal mark, with Cristiano Ronaldo firmly holding the top spot among goal scorers, far ahead of his closest rivals, and Kylian Mbappe rapidly climbing the historical ladder.
According to the latest data from UEFA, Ronaldo leads with 140 goals, followed by Lionel Messi with 129 goals, and Robert Lewandowski with 109 goals.
Top Goal Scorers in the Champions League:
1. Cristiano Ronaldo – 140 Goals
Cristiano Ronaldo tops the list with 140 goals in the UEFA Champions League across 183 matches. The Portuguese star scored his goals with Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus, with Real Madrid accounting for the majority, totaling 105 goals in 101 matches.
Ronaldo not only holds the record for the most goals but also for the highest number of goals in a single Champions League season, with 17 goals for Real Madrid in 2013-2014. He has been the tournament's top scorer for seven seasons, another record in itself.
2. Lionel Messi – 129 Goals
Lionel Messi ranks second with 129 goals in the UEFA Champions League over 163 matches. The Argentine star scored most of his goals in Barcelona, totaling 120, and added nine with Paris Saint-Germain.
Messi was the first player to reach the 100-goal milestone in the tournament after Ronaldo and shares the record with the Portuguese star for the most hat-tricks in the Champions League, with both achieving eight each.
3. Robert Lewandowski – 109 Goals
Robert Lewandowski stands in third place with 109 goals, making him the third player in Champions League history to surpass the century mark after Ronaldo and Messi.
The Polish striker scored with Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, and Barcelona, achieving a high scoring rate. Lewandowski was the top scorer for the 2019-2020 season with 15 goals, driving Bayern Munich to lift the title.
4. Karim Benzema – 90 Goals
Karim Benzema ranks fourth with 90 goals in the UEFA Champions League. The French striker scored these goals with Lyon and Real Madrid, with the bulk coming during his long tenure with the Spanish club.
Benzema was one of the top scorers for Real Madrid's period of dominance in the tournament and topped the scoring charts in the 2021-2022 season with 15 goals, helping the team to another European triumph.
5. Kylian Mbappe – 71 Goals
Kylian Mbappe climbed to fifth in the historical rankings with his 71st Champions League goal during a match between Real Madrid and Inter Milan in September 2026, tying him with Raul Gonzalez.
The significance of Mbappe's achievement lies in reaching 71 goals in just 99 matches, compared to Raul's 142. Mbappe scored with Monaco, Paris Saint-Germain, and Real Madrid and still has room for upward mobility as he continues to compete.
6. Raul Gonzalez – 71 Goals
Raul Gonzalez is tied with Mbappe at 71 goals, placing him fifth on the all-time scorer list. The Spanish striker scored his goals with Real Madrid and Schalke, and for a long time held the record for most goals before being surpassed by modern stars.
Raul scored 66 goals with Real Madrid and five with Schalke over 142 Champions League appearances.
7. Erling Haaland – 59 Goals
Erling Haaland ranks seventh with 59 goals in the UEFA Champions League, rapidly rising among all-time scorers.
The Norwegian forward netted his goals with Red Bull Salzburg, Borussia Dortmund, and Manchester City, achieving an impressive rate of one goal per game. At the start of the 2026-2027 season, he scored twice against Porto, bringing his total to 59 goals.
8. Thomas Muller – 57 Goals
Thomas Muller comes in eighth with 57 goals, all scored wearing Bayern Munich's jersey. The German player was crucial in pivotal moments and part of the team that won multiple Champions League titles.
Muller trails Haaland by only two goals, although his career spanned 163 Champions League matches, reflecting his long-term participation at the highest European level.
9. Ruud van Nistelrooy – 56 Goals
Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy ranks ninth with 56 goals in the UEFA Champions League, scoring with PSV Eindhoven, Manchester United, and Real Madrid.
Van Nistelrooy was one of the standout strikers during his era, noted for his exceptional efficiency inside the box, scoring 35 goals with Manchester United and 13 with Real Madrid.
10. Harry Kane – 54 Goals
Harry Kane rounds out the top 10 list with 54 goals in the UEFA Champions League. The English striker scored his goals with Tottenham and Bayern Munich and still has potential to increase his tally as he continues his participation in the competition.
Kane was a recent addition to the fifty-goal club in the Champions League, becoming one of the most influential forwards in the competition in recent years.
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