'%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)
Led by the formidable Bayern Munich, German clubs have consistently impressed in the UEFA Champions League and other European competitions.
Die Mannschaft's ability to produce well-rounded and balanced footballers remains unparalleled. Known for their solid technique and ruthless efficiency, German stars are vital parts of some of the best club teams in the world right now.
Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund have led the German charge in the Champions League
The usual suspects, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, have made several deep runs in the premier European club competition during the 2010s. More recently, RB Leipzig have also emerged as a team to watch out for and have put in some good displays over the last few years.
Bayern Munich, in particular, have played a crucial role in ending the dominance of La Liga sides in the Champions League. The Bavarian giants have made a habit of dismantling Barcelona and are the most recent German club to have won the continental title. They picked up the trophy in the 2019-20 season, defeating Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 in the final, to complete a continental treble.
On that note, here's a look at five German stars who have scored the most goals in the history of the prestigious European club competition:
#5 Michael Ballack, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, and Dieter Hoeneß (16 goals)
In fifth place, we have a tie between three German legends, all of whom represented Bayern Munich at some point in their careers.
Former Bayern Munich CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge is the only member of the trio to have won the Champions League though. The former striker, who scored 217 goals in 423 games for the Bavarian giants, won back-to-back European Cups with the club in 1975 and 1976.
Former Germany skipper Michael Ballack took the most games (93) to reach his tally of 16 goals. His best displays in the competition came with Bayer Leverkusen, with whom he reached the 2002 final and scored nine of his 16 goals.
Dieter Hoeneß, who scored 149 goals in 303 games for Bayern Munich, was the quickest to reach the mark, scoring 16 times in just 27 games. Although the forward barely played for his national team (six caps), he won five Bundesliga titles with the Bavarian giants.
#4 Marco Reus (21 goals in 56 appearances)
Borussia Dortmund's versatile 32-year-old attacking midfielder is already a club legend. Marco Reus has scored 153 goals and provided 108 assists in 348 games for the BVB.
He also has 21 goals and 18 assists to his name in the Champions League. Despite being absent from a handful of international tournaments, Reus has 15 goals in 48 games for the German national team as well.
Although his individual quality has never been in question, Reus' career has been marred by his injury woes. The midfielder missed out on Germany's victorious 2014 FIFA World Cup campaign and has never won a Bundesliga title or the Champions League in his career.
Reus has, however, been named Bundesliga's Player of the Year thrice during the course of his career.
#3 Mario Gomez (26 goals in 44 appearances)
Retired German striker Mario Gomez is best known for his time with VFB Stuttgart and Bayern Munich, winning the 2013 Champions League with the Bavarian giants. An instinctive goal poacher, he also netted 31 times in 78 games for the national team.
The majority of Gomez's appearances came for Stuttgart, where he scored 110 times in 230 games. However, his spell at Bayern Munich was also very productive, as the striker scored 113 times in 174 games.
Gomez's best display in Europe came in the 2011-12 Champions League season, when he scored 12 times in 12 games.
#2 Gerd Muller (34 goals in 35 appearances)
Despite his numerous achievements, there is a sense that the late Gerd Muller is still underrated by modern football fans. Der Bomber is undoubtedly one of the greatest goalscorers in the history of the game.
The 1970 Ballon d'Or winner is Bayern Munich's record scorer with 523 goals and 102 assists in just 580 games. He is also the all-time leading Bundesliga scorer with a staggering tally of 365 goals in only 327 games.
Muller was Germany's record scorer until Miroslav Klose went past him to finish with 71 goals in 124 games. Nonetheless, Der Bomber is the only player in the top 25 of the national scoring charts to average over a goal per game, recording 68 strikes in 62 appearances.
Along with the 1974 FIFA World Cup, Muller also won three European Cups, all with Bayern Munich. He finished as the highest scorer in four editions of the tournament. The German legend also held numerous goalscoring records during his long career.
Muller passed away in 2021 at the age of 75.
#1 Thomas Muller (50 goals in 131 appearances)
Today, Thomas Muller is recognized as the most prolific assist-provider in European football. In his younger days, though, the Bayern Munich forward was primarily a lethal goal poacher.
The Ramdeuter is a club legend, having spent his entire career so far with Bayern Munich. Muller has scored 224 goals and provided 240 assists in 614 games across all competitions for the Bavarians.
The German forward has been part of 14 Champions League campaigns for the Bundesliga giants and has scored in 13 of them. His best return of eight goals came on two occasions (2012-13 and 2015-16). Muller has two Champions League triumphs to his name (2013 and 2020) as well.
The 32-year-old also has 42 goals in 110 games for the German national team. Although Muller has certainly lost some of his pace over the last few years, his IQ and vision are arguably sharper than ever.
