The UEFA Champions League has produced some sensational matches over the years, often accompanied by memorable goalscoring feats.
Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland are expected to feature towards the top of the Golden Boot standings for 2025/26, along with the likes of Barcelona forwards Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha.
Lewandowski is the third-highest goal-scorer in the competition, but there is little chance of him catching the top two unless his career spans well into his 40s.
The Sporting News brings you a look at the all-time top scorers in Champions League and European Cup history.
MORE: All the latest UEFA Champions League news | Players with the most UCL titles in history
Most goals in Champions League history
Cristiano Ronaldo leads the way, having scored 140 goals in the competition during his illustrious career, which saw him bag goals for Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus in the Champions League.
Lionel Messi, meanwhile, is second with 129 goals for Barcelona and PSG, while Lewandowski is third, having become just the third player to reach a century of goals in the competition on November 26, 2024. The Poland international is also the only player to score a hat-trick for three different teams in the competition (Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich and Barcelona).
*Active players
| Rank | Name | Goals | Appearances | Years | Club (s) |
| 1. | Cristiano Ronaldo* | 140 | 183 | 2003-present | Man United, Real Madrid, Juventus |
| 2. | Lionel Messi* | 129 | 160 | 2005-present | Barcelona, PSG |
| 3. | Robert Lewandowski* | 103 | 133 | 2011-present | Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Barcelona |
| 4. | Karim Benzema | 90 | 152 | 2005-present | Real Madrid, Lyon |
| 5. | Raul | 71 | 142 | 1995-2011 | Real Madrid, Schalke |
| 6. | Kylian Mbappe | 57 | 88 | 2016-present | Monaco, PSG, Real Madrid |
| = | Thomas Muller | 57 | 163 | 2009-2025 | Bayern Munich |
| 8. | Ruud van Nistelrooy | 56 | 73 | 1998-2009 | PSV, Man United, Real Madrid |
| 9. | Erling Haaland* | 50 | 49 | 2019- | Salzburg, Borussia Dortmund, Man City |
| = | Thierry Henry | 50 | 112 | 1997-2012 | Monaco, Arsenal, Barcelona |
| = | Alfredo Di Stefano | 49 | 58 | 1955-1964 | Real Madrid |
| 12. | Mohamed Salah* | 48 | 89 | 2013-present | Basel, Chelsea, Roma, Liverpool |
| = | Andriy Shevchenko | 48 | 100 | 1994-2012 | Dynamo Kyiv, AC Milan, Chelsea |
| = | Zlatan Ibrahimovic | 48 | 124 | 2001-present | Ajax, Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona, AC Milan, PSG |
Where do Mbappe and Haaland rank in all-time Champions League goal scorers?
Mbappe and Haaland have already impressed in the Champions League and are expected to continue to do so for some time to come.
Mbappe is already in 6th place on the all-time Champions League/European Cup scoring charts, with the striker having scored 57 goals in 88 games in the competition. That puts him above the great Alfredo Di Stefano, Thierry Henry and Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Kylian Mbappe Champions League goals
| Season | Goals | Games |
|---|---|---|
| 2016/17 | 6 | 9 |
| 2017/18 | 4 | 8 |
| 2018/19 | 4 | 8 |
| 2019/20 | 5 | 10 |
| 2020/21 | 8 | 10 |
| 2021/22 | 6 | 8 |
| 2022/23 | 7 | 8 |
| 2023/24 | 8 | 12 |
| 2024/25 | 7 | 14 |
| 2025/26 | 2 | 1 |
| Total | 57 | 88 |
Haaland is on 50 goals in just 49 career appearances in the Champions League. He is already ahead of Sergio Aguero in the all-time goals list and has broken Van Nistelrooy's record for the fewest games to reach 50 goals in the competition.
Erling Haaland Champions League goals
| Season | Goals | Games |
|---|---|---|
| 2018/19 | 8 | 6 |
| 2019/20 | 2 | 2 |
| 2020/21 | 10 | 8 |
| 2021/22 | 3 | 3 |
| 2022/23 | 12 | 11 |
| 2023/24 | 6 | 9 |
| 2024/25 | 8 | 9 |
| 2025/26 | 1 | 1 |
| Total | 50 | 49 |