By Nicholas Walter
Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski achieved an extraordinary milestone, becoming the third player in UEFA Champions League history to score over 100 goals.
The Polish forward secured his spot in this elite group with a penalty goal in Barcelona’s 3-0 victory over Brest. This feat places Lewandowski alongside football icons Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi as the only players to achieve this in the tournament’s history.
Lewandowski’s Path to the Top
At 36 years old, Lewandowski’s consistency and goal-scoring prowess across three top clubs—Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, and Barcelona—have been remarkable.
His Champions League tally now stands at 101 goals in just 125 appearances, giving him a stellar average of 0.81 goals per game. This latest milestone underscores his dominance in Europe’s premier competition.
While Ronaldo and Messi no longer compete in Europe, their legacies continue to shine brightly. Ronaldo, the all-time leader, boasts an astonishing 140 goals in 183 matches. Known as “Mr. Champions League,” his records include the highest number of goals in a single campaign (17) and the most hat tricks (8).
Messi, with 129 goals in 163 games, has a similarly storied career, highlighted by his eight Ballon d’Or titles and unparalleled performance for Barcelona, where he netted 120 of his Champions League goals.
The All-Time Top Five Champions League Scorers
- Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus) – 140 goals in 183 matches.
Ronaldo’s career is marked by defining moments, including his record-breaking 17 goals in the 2013–14 season. - Lionel Messi (Barcelona, PSG) – 129 goals in 163 matches.
Messi remains the record-holder for most goals scored for a single club in the competition. - Robert Lewandowski (Dortmund, Bayern, Barcelona) – 101 goals in 125 matches.
Lewandowski’s milestone was achieved through his clinical finishing, including a prolific run with Bayern Munich, where he won the Champions League in 2020.. - Karim Benzema (Lyon, Real Madrid) – 90 goals in 152 matches.
Known for his clutch performances, Benzema rose to prominence in recent years, scoring 15 goals in Real Madrid’s triumphant 2021–22 campaign. - Raúl González (Real Madrid, Schalke) – 71 goals in 142 matches.
A symbol of Real Madrid, Raúl’s efficiency and consistency made him the original standard-bearer for goal-scoring excellence before the rise of Ronaldo and Messi.
As Lewandowski continues to compete in the Champions League, his focus will undoubtedly remain on narrowing the gap with Messi and Ronaldo.
