The Champions League all-time goal scorers list is led by Cristiano Ronaldo, who has 140 goals in 183 appearances in the European Cup and Champions League, according to Wikipedia’s list of top scorers. Lionel Messi is second on 129 and Robert Lewandowski third on 109. Here is the full top 10, how the numbers are counted, and the records behind them.
Quick facts: Champions League all-time goal scorers
- Record holder: Cristiano Ronaldo, 140 goals (since September 2015 he has been the outright leader, per Wikipedia).
- Most in one season: Ronaldo, 17 for Real Madrid in 2013-14.
- Most in one match: Lionel Messi, five for Barcelona against Bayer Leverkusen in March 2012.
- Most hat-tricks: Ronaldo and Messi, eight each, according to Opta Analyst.
- Fastest to 50 goals: Erling Haaland, in 49 games, per Opta Analyst.
Top Champions League scorers of all time: the top 10
The table below uses Wikipedia’s list, which covers the European Cup era and the Champions League and excludes qualifiers. Its season data runs to 2025-26, so active players may have added goals since. Always check a live source for current totals.
| Rank | Player | Country | Goals | Apps | Clubs scored for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Portugal | 140 | 183 | Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus |
| 2 | Lionel Messi | Argentina | 129 | 163 | Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain |
| 3 | Robert Lewandowski | Poland | 109 | 144 | Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, Barcelona |
| 4 | Karim Benzema | France | 90 | 152 | Lyon, Real Madrid |
| 5= | Kylian Mbappé | France | 71 | 99 | Monaco, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid |
| 5= | Raúl | Spain | 71 | 142 | Real Madrid, Schalke 04 |
| 7 | Erling Haaland | Norway | 59 | 59 | Salzburg, Borussia Dortmund, Manchester City |
| 8 | Thomas Müller | Germany | 57 | 163 | Bayern Munich |
| 9 | Ruud van Nistelrooy | Netherlands | 56 | 73 | PSV, Manchester United, Real Madrid |
| 10 | Harry Kane | England | 55 | 71 | Tottenham Hotspur, Bayern Munich |
Source for the table: Wikipedia, List of UEFA Champions League top scorers. Opta Analyst’s page, updated on 4 November 2026, gives slightly higher totals for some active players, including Mbappé on 74, Haaland on 62 and Kane on 58, which reflects more recent matches.
Who has the most Champions League goals? The big three
Ronaldo’s total is split across three clubs: 21 for Manchester United, 105 for Real Madrid and 14 for Juventus. Messi scored 120 of his 129 for Barcelona and nine for Paris Saint-Germain. Lewandowski has 17 for Borussia Dortmund, 69 for Bayern Munich and 23 for Barcelona. Karim Benzema, fourth with 90, scored 78 of them for Real Madrid and 12 for Lyon.
Ronaldo and Messi’s gap is 11 goals, but Messi did it in 20 fewer appearances. Per Opta Analyst, both have eight Champions League hat-tricks, a shared record. If you want more on Ronaldo’s career, see our Cristiano Ronaldo profile, and for the individual awards both men dominated, read our Ballon d’Or records explainer.
UCL top scorer all time: records worth knowing
Most goals in a Champions League season
Ronaldo’s 17 goals for Real Madrid in 2013-14 is the single-season record, according to Opta Analyst, and Real Madrid won the trophy that year by beating Atlético Madrid in the final. Wikipedia’s season table lists his 16 in 2015-16 next, then Lewandowski (15 in 2019-20), Benzema (15 in 2021-22) and Mbappé (15 in 2025-26 for Real Madrid). Messi’s best, 14, came in 2011-12.
Most goals in a single match
Messi scored five in a 7-1 win over Bayer Leverkusen in March 2012, and Opta Analyst says no one else has scored five in a Champions League match.
Fastest to 50 goals
Haaland reached 50 Champions League goals in 49 games, ahead of Ruud van Nistelrooy’s 62, per Opta Analyst. The same page lists Messi at 66 games, Kane at 66, Lewandowski at 77 and Mbappé at 79 for the same milestone.
Champions League most goals: why the totals differ between lists
Search for the top scorers and you will find different numbers. The reasons are straightforward. The European Cup became the Champions League in 1992, and some lists only count the newer format. Wikipedia includes European Cup-era scorers such as Alfredo Di Stéfano (49), Eusébio (46), Ferenc Puskás (36) and Gerd Müller (34). Qualifier goals are excluded by Wikipedia and Opta Analyst. UEFA’s own all-time list, published on 14 October 2026, counts all UEFA club competitions, so its totals are higher: Ronaldo 145, Messi 132, Lewandowski 117. It is not a like-for-like comparison.
Who could climb the list next?
Four of the top 10 are listed as active: Lewandowski, Mbappé, Haaland and Kane. Haaland is the one to watch. He has 59 goals in 59 appearances on Wikipedia’s table, a rate no one else on the list can match, and the Champions League league phase for 2026-27 is still in progress, with matchday five due on 24 and 25 November. Mohamed Salah, on 50, is also still active. Whether any of them can reach Messi’s 129 or Ronaldo’s 140 depends on how many more seasons they play at this level.
If you want to understand the competition itself, our Champions League format explained guide covers the league phase, and the list of Ballon d’Or winners shows how the same stars fared individually. More guides sit in our Football Explained section.
Frequently asked questions
Who has the most Champions League goals of all time?
Cristiano Ronaldo, with 140 goals in 183 appearances in the European Cup and Champions League, according to Wikipedia’s list of top scorers. Opta Analyst also gives him 140.
Who is second on the all-time Champions League scorers list?
Lionel Messi is second with 129 goals in 163 appearances (Wikipedia), 120 of them for Barcelona and nine for Paris Saint-Germain.
Which active player has scored the most Champions League goals?
Robert Lewandowski, with 109 goals, is the highest-ranked player still listed as active on Wikipedia’s table. Opta Analyst also puts him third overall on 109.
Who scored the most goals in a single Champions League season?
Cristiano Ronaldo scored 17 for Real Madrid in 2013-14, which Opta Analyst describes as the record for one Champions League season.
Who scored five goals in one Champions League match?
Lionel Messi, for Barcelona in a 7-1 win over Bayer Leverkusen in March 2012. Opta Analyst says he is the only player to score five in a single Champions League game.
Why do different lists show different totals for the same player?
Some lists count only the Champions League era, some include the European Cup before 1992, some include qualifiers, and some, like UEFA’s, count all UEFA club competitions. Totals for active players such as Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland also change with every match.
Sources: Wikipedia (List of UEFA Champions League top scorers), Opta Analyst (4 November 2026), UEFA.com (14 October 2026).
