The UEFA Champions League is one of the top football competitions in the world. The tournament is simply known as the Champions League. It is largely organized by the Union of European Football Association (UEFA) since 1955 and is regarded as the most prestigious football competition in Europe. The competition was officially known as European Champion Clubs’ Cup prior to 1992, when it was initially a straight knock out competition, which was opened only to the champion club of each European country. Afterwards the Champions League began to be expanded including a round-robin group stage and more teams.
The UEFA Champions League has able to draw huge popularity throughout the world. Most notably, the 2012-13 Champions League final achieved the status of most watched annual sporting event in the world, which drew over 360 million television viewers in 2013.
10 Goal scorers in UEFA Champions League of All time:
The Sporty Ghost desk, hereby took an initiative to enlist the top 10 goal scorers in UEFA Champions League of All time. Footballers all over the world in their respective clubs always try their utmost level in this ultimate stage of European club football. It is a dream for any footballer to score in a champions league match. Great players compete each other to be the top scorer of champions league. Here is the list of champions league top scorers of all time.
10. Filippo Inzaghi, Italy
Goals: 46
UCL matches: 81
Years active: 1997-2012
Clubs: Juventus, Milan
The Italian striker spent most of his life time in Juventus and Milan. Inzaghi won two Champions League titles (2003, 2007) and three Serie A titles (1998, 2004, and 2011). He scored a total 46 goals including a penalty in the UEFA Champions League. Most notably, in the final of 2007 champions league, Inzaghi was voted as the Man of the match for his overwhelming performance. In the European club competitions, he made his place at 4th highest goal scorer with 70 goals, behind only Raul, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Inzaghi also holds the record of scoring most hat-tricks (10) in the history of Serie A.
For the Italian National team, he earned a total 57 caps and scored 25 goals. He represented his country in three occasions of FIFA World Cup, and winning the 2006 edition. Now, he stands at no. 10 in the list of top 10 goal scorers in UEFA champions League of All time.
9. Karim Benzema, France
Goals: 46
UCL matches: 77
Years active: 2006- present
Clubs: Lyon, Real Madrid
Karim Benzema is a French professional footballer who also plays for the Spanish club Real Madrid. He has been regarded as one of the most talented footballers and a potent finisher from inside the box. In the champions league, Karim Benzema has crowned with 46 goals in his 77 UCL appearances. His contribution is remarkable in Real Madrid when they won Copa del Rey in 2011, scoring stunning 32 goals for his club. The three times French Player of the Year winner, Karim Benzema is truly an asset for Real Madrid in their Champions League campaign.
Also read: Top 10 Fastest strikers in the world
He appeared in 81 games for France and scored a total 27 goals. He represented his country two times in UEFA European Football Championship and once in FIFA World Cup in 2014. His astonishing hat-trick against Malmo in the Champions League this season was one of his amazing displays.
8. Eusebio, Portugal
Goals: 46
UCL matches: 65
Years active: 1961-1974
Club: Benfica
Eusebio, commonly nicknamed as “The Black Panther”, is one of the greatest footballers of all time in the history. The Portuguese striker scored a stunning total 749 goals in 745 matches at the club level. He also scored 41 goals for his national side in his 64 appearances.
Eusebio is a prolific goal scorer, who has a very ferocious right foot. Besides, his speed, technique and passion for football made him a world class player. In the season of 1961-62, Eusebio won the European Cup for his club Benfica by scoring two goals in the final against Real Madrid. Benfica won the final by 5-3. He was awarded the 2nd place in 1962 FIFA Ballon d’Or for his remarkable performance. He is truly a gem in the Champions League history. His place has been untouched for many years in the champions league top goal scorers list.
7. Andriy Shevchenko, Ukraine
Goals: 48
UCL matches: 100
Years active: 1994-2012
Clubs: Dynamo Kyiv, Milan, Chelsea
Andriy Shevchenko is now a retired Ukrainian national team striker. He also played for Dynamo Kyiv, Milan and Chelsea. He is at no 7 position in our list of Top 10 Goal scorers in UEFA Champions League of All time. His football career has been highlighted by many awards. The most prestigious was that he won the 2004 FIFA Ballon d’Or. He also won the Champions League title in 2003 with Italian club Milan and became runner-up in 2005 and 2008 Champions league.
He scored an amazing 48 goals in his 100 champions league matches. He is one of the most eminent players for Milan, where he scored a tally of 175 goals. In addition with his bright club career, he also led Ukraine in the quarter-finals of 2006 FIFA World Cup. He is well known for his powerful and accurate shots and his unparallel skills with the ball.
6. Alfredo Di Stefano, Spain
Goals: 49
UCL matches: 58
Years active: 1955-1964
Club: Real Madrid
Alfredo Di Stefano is regarded as one of the most complete and influential footballer of all time in the football history. He was best during his time, winning numerous trophies for his team. The Real Madrid legend won the champions league trophies for the five consecutive season, from 1956. Di Stefano made history by scoring goals in each of the champions league finals for Real Madrid.
This powerful, quick and prolific forward scored a total 49 goals in his 58 champions league appearances. Not only as a forward, he could play anywhere in the pitch. During his period in Real Madrid, he marked his name as the highest goal scorer for them with 216 goals in just 282 matches. The 1957 and 1959 FIFA Ballon d’Or winner, Alfredo Di Stefano remains at no 6 in the list of top 10 goal scorers in UEFA Champions league of all time.
5. Thierry Henry, France
Goals: 50
UCL matches: 112
Years active: 1997-2010
Clubs: Monaco, Arsenal, Barcelona
The French striker, Thierry Henry spent most of his career in Arsenal FC and became the club’s all-time top goal scorer. Henry contributed to win two premier league titles and three FA cups for the Gunners. He played as Arsenal captain when he led them to 2006 champions league finals. This world class player spent eight years in Arsenal before moving to Barcelona in 2007.
Thierry Henry scored 50 goals in his 112 UCL appearances. He played an integral part in Barcelona FC in their historic treble in 2009, La Liga, the Copa Del Rey and the UEFA Champions League. His name was included in the UEFA Team of the Year five times. As a France national team player he also won the prestigious FIFA world cup in 1998 and UEFA European Championship in 2000. Thierry Henry is ranked at no 5 in our list of top 10 goal scorers in UEFA champions league of all time.
4. Ruud van Nistelrooy, Netherlands
Goals: 56
UCL matches: 73
Years active: 1998-2009
Clubs: PSV, Manchester United, Real Madrid
With 56 goals in 73 champions league appearances, Ruud van Nistelrooy stands at no 4 spot in the list of top 10 goal scorers in UEFA champions league of all time. The former Dutch international is a three-time champions league top scorer and also became top goal scorer in three different European domestic leagues.
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Nistelrooy scored a total 150 goals in 219 matches for the Manchester United before securing his position at Real Madrid in 2006. The most successful period was at United, achieving Premier league, FA Cup, Football league cup and FA Community Shield. His playing style and his aggressiveness in the box made him one of the lethal strikers in the football world.
3. Raul Gonzales, Spain
Goals: 71
UCL matches: 142
Years active: 1995-2011
Clubs: Real Madrid, Schalke 04
The retired Spanish footballer and former Real Madrid striker, Raul Gonzales is one of the most valuable players in the history of Real Madrid. During his 16 years in Real, he scored a total of 323 goals, which made him the 2nd all-time top goal scorer, just behind Cristiano Ronaldo. With Real Madrid, Raul won six La Liga titles, three UEFA Champions league titles, one UEFA Super Cup, and two Intercontinental Cup. He stands at no. 3 in the list of top 10 goal scorers in UEFA champions league of all time.
Raul became the first player to score in two champions league finals, in 2000 and 2002. His football career was flourished with many awards. He received the Best striker award by IFFHS in 1999, became the only player to be included in UEFA Club forward of the year three times, placed 2nd in 2001 FIFA Ballon d’Or, award for champions league top goal scorer, five Don Balon awards and so many.
2. Lionel Messi, Argentina
Goals: 80
UCL matches: 102 (Till date)
Years active: 2005-present
Club: Barcelona
Lionel Messi, the magician of football is truly a goal machine for both the Argentina national team and the Spanish club Barcelona. The Barcelona forward is a four time Ballon d’Or winner. Messi is considered as the best player of the world by many. As a Barcelona forward, he won seven La Liga titles, four champions league titles and three Copa del Rey titles so far. Messi has scored 292 goals for Barcelona in his 326 matches and still counting.
Also Read: Top 10 fun facts about Lionel Messi
Last year in the Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich, Messi scored twice and made an assist in their 3-0 win. His 2nd goal which came as a chip over the Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer after he dribbled past Jerome Boateng, was named the best goal of the season by UEFA. There are many more mesmerizing goals that came through his feet. After the end of this season of Champions league, you could see more that you expect from the mighty Leo.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal
Goals: 88
UCL matches: 121 (Till date)
Years active: 2003-present
Clubs: Manchester United, Real Madrid
The Real Madrid star and Portuguese national team captain, Cristiano Ronaldo is the champions league top goalscorer with 88 goals in 121 matches. Cristiano won Ballon d’Or three times and FIFA World player of the year in 2008. He is often regarded as the best Portuguese footballer of all time. His career has been enlightened with many achievements. He attained three Premier league titles, one FA Cup and two football league cups with Manchester United. With Real Madrid, he won one La Liga, two Copa del Rey, two UEFA Champions league, one UEFA Super Cup and two FIFA Club world cups.
He holds the record for the most goal scorer in a single UEFA champions league season, which is 17 in 2013-14 season. He is now the top goal scorer for Real Madrid with 239 goals in his 217 matches. Ronaldo scored a hat-trick against Shakhtar Donetsk in the group stage match of 2015-16 Champions league, to be the all time top goal scorer in UEFA Champions League, making the tally 80, ahead of Lionel Messi (77).
Also read: Cristiano Ronaldo Net Worth in 2015-16
He is fast, he is aggressive and he is a prolific goal scorer. There is always a hidden rivalry between Cristiano and Leo in regard of breaking records after records. May be we are luckiest to see the beautiful game of football becoming more astonishing.
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