The UEFA Champions League is the most prestigious club competition in world football.
Over the decades, it has seen some of the greatest talents and goalscorers in history come up against each other. Here is a ranking of the 10 players who have scored the most goals in this legendary competition.
| Rank | Player | Number of goals | Number of matches played | Goals/Match Ratio |
| 1 | Cristiano Ronaldo | 140 | 183 | 0,76 |
| 2 | Lionel Messi | 129 | 163 | 0,79 |
| 3 | Robert Lewandowski | 91 | 111 | 0,82 |
| 4 | Karim Benzema | 90 | 152 | 0,59 |
| 5 | Raúl González | 71 | 142 | 0,5 |
| 6 | Ruud van Nistelrooy | 56 | 73 | 0,77 |
| 7 | Thierry Henry | 50 | 112 | 0,45 |
| 8 | Thomas Müller | 54 | 151 | 0,36 |
| 9 | Zlatan Ibrahimović | 49 | 124 | 0,4 |
| 10 | Andriy Shevchenko | 48 | 100 | 0,48 |
Cristiano Ronaldo, often considered one of the greatest footballers of all time, tops the Champions League scoring charts. The Portuguese striker has scored 140 goals in 183 matches, an all-time record. His Champions League career is marked by numerous titles, most notably with Real Madrid, where he has won the competition four times. Ronaldo is renowned for his incredible pace, exceptional heading ability and innate eye for goal. He has also played for Manchester United and Juventus in the Champions League, scoring crucial goals at every stage.
Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo's eternal rival, takes second place in this prestigious ranking. The Argentinian genius has scored 129 goals in 163 Champions League appearances. Messi spent most of his career at Barcelona, where he won the competition four times. He is renowned for his devastating dribbling, exceptional vision and ability to score spectacular goals. Messi has also scored against a record number of different teams in the Champions League.
Robert Lewandowski, the Polish striker, completes the podium of top scorers in the Champions League. With 91 goals in 111 games, he boasts an impressive goals-per-game ratio of 0.82. Lewandowski shone for Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich, with whom he won the Champions League. He is regarded as one of the best finishers in the world, with excellent heading skills, a powerful shot and remarkable positional sense. His ability to score in all kinds of situations makes him a constant threat to opposing defences.
Karim Benzema is in fourth place with 90 goals in 152 games. The French striker spent most of his career at Real Madrid, where he won the Champions League five times. Benzema is a complete striker, with excellent technique, great intelligence and the ability to combine with his team-mates. His performances in the Champions League, particularly in the knockout stages, have been crucial to his team's success.
Raúl González, Real Madrid's iconic former striker, ranks fifth with 71 goals in 142 games. Raúl spent most of his career at Real Madrid, where he won the Champions League three times. He was renowned for his exceptional positioning, opportunism and ability to score important goals. Raúl is considered one of the greatest Spanish players of all time and a Champions League legend.
Ruud van Nistelrooy, the formidable Dutch striker, is in sixth place with 56 goals in just 73 games. Nicknamed 'Van Goal', he boasted an exceptional goals-per-game ratio of 0.77. Van Nistelrooy shone for Manchester United and Real Madrid in the Champions League. He was a pure finisher, with an incredible eye for goal and the ability to score from any position.
Thierry Henry, the legendary French striker, ranks seventh with 50 goals in 112 games. Henry made Champions League history with Arsenal and Barcelona. He was renowned for his lightning speed, elegant dribbling and ability to score spectacular goals. Henry won the Champions League with Barça in 2009, adding to his outstanding list of honours.
Thomas Müller is in eighth place with 54 goals in 151 games. Müller spent his entire career at Bayern Munich, with whom he won the Champions League twice. He is known for his exceptional intelligence, unique positioning and ability to score important goals. Müller is an iconic player for Bayern Munich and the German national team.
Zlatan Ibrahimović, the charismatic Swedish striker, is in ninth place with 49 goals in 124 games. Ibrahimović has played for many prestigious clubs in the Champions League, including Ajax Amsterdam, Juventus Turin, Inter Milan, FC Barcelona, AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain. He is known for his unique style of play, exceptional technique, powerful shots and acrobatic goals.
Andriy Shevchenko, the former Ukrainian striker, ranks tenth with 48 goals in 100 games. Shevchenko shone for Dynamo Kiev and AC Milan in the Champions League. He won the competition with Milan in 2003 and was renowned for his speed, eye for goal and ability to score important goals. Shevchenko is regarded as one of the greatest Ukrainian players of all time.
