Lewandowski above Messi & Ronaldo but not 1st 

©TM/IMAGO

For almost a century the Champions League, or European Cup as it used to be formerly called, has been the epicentre of top-level football in Europe. The most sought-after and admired club competition has seen the very best lift the famous trophy. Since the re-brand in the 1992/93 season, the tournament’s reputation has only been further enhanced. In that timeframe of 33 years, just 14 teams have won the coveted trophy. But which players have really performed on Europe’s biggest stage?

Most people are aware that the prolific Cristiano Ronaldo is the record goalscorer in the Champions League with 140 goals, but when it comes to goals per game, how does the Portuguese star fare? Robert Lewandowski continued his own superb record in UEFA’s top competition with a brace in Barcelona’s mesmerising 5-4 win at Benfica on Tuesday night, further enhancing his goals per game record in the Champions League. Incredibly, the Polish star now stands above both Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, but isn’t quite at the top of the tree. So what is the order of the top 20 players with the best goals per game ratios in the competition? We have only included players with 25+ goals in the Champions League. The list can be scrolled through below.

Players with best Champions League goals per game records

Leading the way, surpassing the greats before him in this category, is none other than Manchester City goal machine Erling Haaland. From his time at RB Salzburg, Borussia Dortmund and City, the Norwegian boasts a mind-boggling record of 46 goals in 45 Champions League games, leaving him with 1.02gpg (goals per game). In second place is the aforementioned Lewandowski, with 103 goals in 127 games, equating to a record of 0.81gpg. Next up is Messi, slightly ahead of Ronaldo – the Argentinian magician scored 129 goals in 163 games, with a record of 0.79gpg. Ronaldo comes next with 0.77gpg, from his 140 goals in 183 matches.

In fifth place is former Manchester United and Real Madrid striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, also with a record of 0.77gpg, but with fewer goals scored (73) than Ronaldo. Sixth goes to Kylian Mbappé, who has scored 50 Champions League goals in 79 games, equating to 0.63gpg. He’s followed by another Frenchman in Karim Benzema, whose 90 goals in 152 matches sees him take a record of 0.59gpg. Also on 0.59gpg, but with fewer goals (44) is former Bayern Munich striker Mario Gómez, and completing the top 10 is Italian striker Filippo Inzaghi with a record of 0.57gpg.