'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#3 Hernan Crespo (25 goals in 65 appearances)
One of the greatest goalscorers to have emerged from Argentina, Hernan Crespo was lethal in the Champions League. With 35 goals in 64 games, Crespo was a top performer for his national team too.
He represented numerous clubs in European competitions, including Parma, Chelsea and AC Milan. However, Crespo's best displays in the Champions League came with Inter Milan. In the 2002-03 season, he scored nine goals in 12 games in the competition.
In league football, Crespo is best remembered for his time with Parma in Italy, for whom he scored 94 goals in 201 games. However, the Argentinean never won the Champions League.
#2 Sergio Aguero (41 goals in 79 appearances)
Sergio Aguero has a convincing case for being one of the best strikers of his generation. Manchester City's record scorer (260 goals in 390 games), the striker also netted 41 times for his country.
Another Argentinean superstar who never won the Champions League, Aguero can hardly be faulted for trying. He averaged over a goal every two games in the competition. Only five of his 41 UCL goals came for Atletico Madrid, although Aguero managed 101 strikes for the Rojiblancos.
He was sadly forced to retire in late 2021 due to a heart issue. However, nothing can change Aguero's status as one of the finest forwards the game has ever seen.
#1 Lionel Messi (125 goals in 155 appearances)
With 125 goals and 41 assists, Lionel Messi is one of the greatest performers in the history of the Champions League. The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner has also lifted the coveted trophy four times, all with Barcelona.
The Argentinean superstar's goal-to-game ratio of 0.81 is the second-highest among the competition's top-15 scorers, behind the legendary Alfredo Di Stefano (0.84).
Messi has hit double figures in five different Champions League campaigns. His best display came in 2011-12, when he scored 14 goals and assisted five times in 11 games.
Despite a tough start to life at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), the playmaker has five goals in six UCL games this season.
He is 43 goals ahead of third-placed Robert Lewandowski, and will look to cut the gap between all-time top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo (140).
