The list for the Champions League top scorers of all time stretches from players who played in the European Cup (first held during the 1955-56 season) to its current branding as the Champions League (renamed as such in 1992). The competition is now synonymous with the active footballing behemoths known as Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, and for good reason.
The two monsters of the modern game hold the top two spots when it comes to top scorers in Champions League history. In fact, Ronaldo has more than twice as many goals in the competition as the player who lands fourth all time, a truly staggering testament to the Portuguese’s lasting brilliance.
While Neymar doesn’t crack the top 15, the 27-year-old has the best chance of shaking things up with 32 goals in his first 53 UCL games. He’s joint-21st in the all-time list alongside Real Madrid legend Paco Gento.
And, if you like this list, check out our list of the players with the most career goals in soccer history.
The Champions League Top Scorers Of All Time
UEFA’s ranking of the top 15 scorers in the history of the Champions League is as follows:
#1: Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd, Real, Juve) — 124 goals from 160 matches (0.78 per match)
#2: Lionel Messi (Barcelona) — 108 goals from 131 matches (0.82 per match)
#3: Raúl (Real, Schalke) — 71 goals from 142 matches (0.50 per match)
#4: Karim Benzema (Lyon, Real) — 60 goals from 112 matches (0.54 per match)
#5: Ruud van Nistelrooy (PSV, Man Utd, Real) — 56 goals from 73 matches (0.77 per match)
#6: Robert Lewandowski (Dortmund, Bayern) — 53 goals from 80 matches (0.66 per match)
#7: Thierry Henry (Monaco, Arsenal, Barca) — 50 goals from 112 matches (0.45 per match)
#8: Alfredo Di Stefano (Real) — 49 goals from 58 matches (0.84 per match)
#9: Andriy Shevchenko (Kyiv, Milan, Chelsea) — 48 goals from 100 matches (0.48 per match)
#9: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Ajax, Juve, Inter, Barca, Milan, PSG, Man Utd) — 48 goals from 120 matches (0.40 per match)
#11: Eusebio (Benfica) — 46 goals from 63 matches (0.73 per match)
#11: Filippo Inzaghi (Juve, Milan) — 46 goals from 81 matches (0.57 per match)
#13: Didier Drogba (Marseille, Chelsea, Galatasaray) — 44 goals from 92 matches (0.48 per match)
#14: Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus) — 42 goals from 89 matches (0.47 per match)
#14: Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich) — 42 goals from 105 matches (0.40 per match)
(All facts and numbers courtesy of the UEFA Champions League Statistics Handbook 2018/19, accurate as of March 20, 2019.)
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