Top 5 all-time goal scorers in the Champions League

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Champions League is one of the most awaited and prestigious leagues in the world of football.

The Champions league has a history of amazing goal scorers making it a platform honored by numerous icons of football. Neymar, Firmino and Kane have no doubt marked their presence as scoring machines of the current season, but they aren't on the list of all time Champions League top goal scorers.

Without much ado let us look at the top 5 goal scorers of all time in the Champions League.

Note: Data as of February 17, 2018.

5) Karim Benzema

Karim Benzema has scored 53 goals in the Champions League.

Clubs- Lyon and Real Madrid.

Games- 99

Goals- 53

France and Real Madrid striker, Karim Benzema is at number 5 on this list. He has scored 53 goals in 99 matches.

Karim Benzema started his career with Lyon, before moving to Real Madrid in 2009. He has established himself as one of the top strikers in Europe since his move to Real Madrid and is currently the 7th highest goal scorer for the club.

Benzema had made his international debut in 2004 and has played 81 matches as a part of the French National Football Team and scored 27 goals since then.

He has won 3 Champions League titles with Real Madrid, with him playing a vital role in all of them.

4) Ruud van Nistelrooy

Van Nistelrooy is the fourth- highest goal scorer in Champions League.

Clubs- PSV, Manchester United and Real Madrid.

Games- 73

Goals- 56

The former Netherlands and Real Madrid legend, Ruud Van Nistelrooy, is at number 4 on this list. He had scored 56 goals in 73 games.

Nistelrooy had won UEFA Champions League top goalscorer 3 times, all during his time with Manchester United. However, Ruud Van Nistelrooy is the only footballer in this list to have never won any Champions League title.

The two times Dutch player of the year winner, Nisterlrooy has featured 70 times for Netherlands scoring 35 goals.

3) Raul Gonzalez

Raul is at third Place.

Clubs- Real Madrid and Schalke 04.

Games- 142

Goals- 71

Real Madrid legend, Raul is at the third place on this list. He had scored 71 goals in 142 games, with the majority of them coming for Real Madrid.

The former Spain Striker was the Champions League top scorer in 1999-2000 and 2000-01 seasons and had also won 3 Champions League titles with Real Madrid. Apart from that, he had won La Liga top scorer award on two different occasions and has 6 La Liga titles to his name.

Raul Gonzalez is the Real Madrid's record appearance maker and was also their top scorer until Cristiano Ronaldo surpassed his record.

2) Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi is at number two

Clubs- Barcelona

Games- 121

Goals- 97

Lionel Messi, the 'Golden Boy' of football is at the second place on the list of the top 5 Champions League goal scorers. The Argentine has scored 97 goals in 121 games.

The all time Argentina and Barcelona top goal scorer, Messi has five Ballon d'Or awards to his name and is widely considered one of the greatest footballers of all time. He is La Liga's all time top goal scorer and also holds the record of scoring most goals in a La Liga season (50).

He has won Champions League 4 times, with him finishing as the top-scorer on 5 different occasions and also has the joint most Champions League hat-tricks to his name.

1) Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo is the top goal scorer in Champions League.

Clubs- Manchester United and Real Madrid.

Games- 147

Goals- 116

The 5 times Ballon d'Or winner, Cristiano Ronaldo is at the top of this list.

Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 116 Champions League goals in the 147 games he played in. He is the only player to score 100 goals in the Champions League and has the highest number of UEFA Champions League top scorer awards - six. He also holds the record of scoring joint-most hat-tricks in the Champions League.

Apart from these, Cristiano Ronaldo is the highest ever goal-scorer for both Portugal National Football Team and Real Madrid. Also, he is the only player in history to win four European Golden Shoes.