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Every Champions League match is a big game. The best of the best in Europe come together each year to compete for the biggest title there is in club football.
The competition began as a straight knockout tournament in 1955 and was named the European Champion Clubs' Cup. It was renamed the Champions League in 1992. Since its inception, the top prize in European football has been won by 22 different clubs. A dozen of these have won the coveted trophy more than once.
Liverpool are the reigning champions and Real Madrid is the most successful club in the history of the tournament with 13 titles. Performing at such a big stage is no easy task but there are some outstanding players who have given exceptional performances in the Champions League.
In this article, we list out the 5 players with the most goals in UEFA Champions League history.
NOTE: The data used in this article is as of 8th Jan 2020.
#5 Robert Lewandowski (63 goals)
The Bayern Munich striker is fifth on the list of all-time top goalscorers in the UCL. Blessed with immaculate technique and finishing ability, Lewandowski has scored 63 goals in the coveted tournament in just 85 appearances. The 31-year-old also has three hat-tricks to his name in the flagship event.
He is truly a force to reckon with and his ability to finish with both feet makes him a special player. He is also excellent in the air and his vision for the game is commendable.
A good physique and quick feet help Lewandowski ensure that his work-rate is high in every game. The disciplined player has always been praised by pundits around the world.
In just five appearances in UCL 2019-2020, Lewandowski has scored ten goals and is currently the top scorer in the competition. He is enjoying a good run in the Bundesliga as well with 19 goals in 17 matches thus far.
#4 Karim Benzema (64 goals)
Karim Benzema has 64 UCL goals in 118 appearances. The French striker is extremely potent inside the box and has a knack for scoring a lot of goals. The 32-year-old is a prominent part of Real Madrid's line-up and has been one of their most consistent performers.
Benzema is skillful in attack and is creative on the field as well. He has a brilliant sense of space. His ability in the air is an added strength. The forward is also adaptable and can operate on the wing or as a number 10 with ease. His link-up play and good understanding with the midfielders help Madrid immensely.
The tactically intelligent player has 238 goals in 489 appearances for Real Madrid.
In the ongoing 2019-2020 UCL season, the prolific forward has four goals and two assists in six games.
#3 Raúl González (71 goals)
Raúl González is the only inactive player to feature on this list. El Ferrari, as he is fondly known, is one of the best Spanish players of all time.
Currently the Manager of Real Madrid Castilla, Raúl was one of the best strikers of his time. He scored 71 goals in 144 Champions League appearances.
In an illustrious career, he spent 16 years at Real Madrid during which he scored 323 goals in 741 appearances.
The 42-year-old also won three Champions League titles with Los Blancos. Besides Madrid, he also played for Schalke 04, Al Sadd, and eventually retired in 2015 -- on a high while playing for New York Cosmos as he won the domestic treble.
The highly creative forward has 44 International goals to his name. He was lethal with his left foot and had the ability to score from both inside and outside the box. Raúl was potent as a striker and was also extremely creative on the field.
#2 Lionel Messi (114 goals)
Lionel Messi and the next player to feature on this list are in a league of their own. Leo has an astounding 114 goals in 140 UCL appearances.
A majority of the pundits consider the scintillating Argentine forward the best in the world. Barcelona's number 10 has won a record six Ballon d'Or awards. The little maestro has won a spectacular number of titles and awards, both individually and for his club.
Messi has won a total of 34 trophies with Barcelona. Apart from four Champions League triumphs, the dynamic forward has ten La Liga titles as well. He is also the all-time top scorer in La Liga with 432 goals overall.
The 32-year-old occupies the first place along with Cristiano Ronaldo when it comes to the highest number of UEFA Champions League hat-tricks (eight). A fantastic dribbler, Messi is Argentina's all-time leading goalscorer with 70 goals. A legend in his own right, the pacy striker is one of the most decorated players of all time.
Clinical finishing, playmaking, accurate free kicks and spot kicks, precision in passing, hard-working -- Messi possesses innumerable qualities which make him an extremely versatile forward.
Messi has scored two goals and made three assists in five matches so far in the 2019-2020 UCL season.
#1 Cristiano Ronaldo (129 goals)
No surprises here! Cristiano Ronaldo is the all-time top goalscorer of the UEFA Champions League with 129 goals in 172 appearances.
A winner of five Ballon d'Or awards, Ronaldo now represents Serie A giants Juventus. He has also won a total of five UCL trophies, four of which were with Real Madrid while one was with Manchester United. In all, the Madeira-born player has won 29 trophies in his career.
The Portuguese player is the most capped player for his national team as well as their all-time top goalscorer with 99 goals in 164 appearances. One of the most influential players of the modern era, Ronaldo has a tremendous fan following.
With 450 goals across all competitions, the 34-year-old is Madrid's all-time leading goal scorer. The versatile striker is also one of the quickest in the game. Ronaldo is also an excellent dribbler with a plethora of skills and tricks under his belt. His tremendous athleticism helps him score goals from both inside and outside the box. Cristiano is also excellent in the air and is a set-piece specialist.
Overall, CR7 is the most complete forward and an inspiration to many. The record-breaking striker continues to impress. In the 2019-2020 UCL season, Ronaldo has two goals and one assist in the six matches he has played so far.
