5 Italian players with the most goals in Champions League history

Filippo Inzaghi walks past the Champions League trophy after AC Milan's win in 2007.
Filippo Inzaghi walks past the Champions League trophy after AC Milan's win in 2007.

#3 Jose Altafini and Marco Simone (24 goals)

The legendary Jose Altafini (centre) attends an AC Milan fixture.
The legendary Jose Altafini (centre) attends an AC Milan fixture.

Another tie for third involves two AC Milan veterans, both of whom won the UEFA Champions League on different occasions.

The legendary Jose Altafini played 235 games for AC Milan, scoring 150 times. That tally includes 14 goals in nine games at the 1962-63 European Cup, which was won by the Rossoneri.

He also played over 200 games for Napoli and more than 100 times for Juventus. Born in Brazil, Altafini was eventually granted Italian citizenship but only played a handful of games for the Azzurri. He ended his club career with 24 goals in 28 European Cup games.

Marco Simone won two UEFA Champions League titles, both with AC Milan (1990 and 1994).

Deployed as a secondary striker, he netted 75 goals and provided 36 assists in 260 games for the Rossoneri. Simone scored 24 goals and provided nine assists in 47 Champions League games, which also included appearances for PSG and Monaco.


#2 Alessandro Del Piero (42 goals in 89 appearances)

Del Piero waves to the crowd ahead of Barcelona vs Juventus.
Del Piero waves to the crowd ahead of Barcelona vs Juventus.

Juventus' all-time leading goalscorer, Alessandro Del Piero is the greatest player in the Bianconeri's history.

With 290 goals and 143 assists in 705 games for the Serie A giants, Del Piero has a record that is unlikely to be broken. Giampiero Boniperti is a distant second with 179 strikes.

Del Piero and Juventus won six Serie A titles together, as well as the 1996 UEFA Champions League. His best showing came in the 1997-98 edition when he scored ten goals and provided four assists in ten games, finishing as the tournament's top scorer.

He also enjoyed a successful career with Italy, scoring 27 goals in 91 games and winning the 2006 FIFA World Cup.


#1 Filippo Inzaghi (46 goals in 81 appearances)

Filippo Inzaghi turned to management after retiring from professional football.
Filippo Inzaghi turned to management after retiring from professional football.

One of the greatest goal poachers of all time, Filippo Inzaghi joins his younger brother on our list. Best known for his time with AC Milan (126 goals in 300 games), Inzaghi also excelled for Juventus (89 goals in 165 games).

The 2006 FIFA World Cup winner has two UCL titles to his name, both of which came with AC Milan (2003 and 2007). Known for his clever movement, lethal finishing, astute positioning and darting runs behind defences, Inzaghi mastered the art of playing on the shoulder of the last defender.

He took 81 games to reach his tally of 46 UCL goals and netted ten times in the 2002-03 edition, which Milan eventually won. The striker also scored 25 times in 57 games for Italy.

Quick Links