Ronaldo and Messi Reign Supreme
The revamped Champions League format introduced last season has received mixed reactions from fans across Europe. However, it has undoubtedly resulted in an increase in the number of matches, which usually translates to more goals. This season features eight matches in the new league phase—two more than the previous group stage—as well as a playoff round that contributes another 16 matches. Many attacking players are seizing the opportunity to rack up goals, with Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé leading the charge.
The Frenchman netted two goals against his former club, Monaco, in a decisive 6-1 victory for Madrid this past Tuesday, bringing his total to 11 goals in the competition this season, all scored in just six games. With this impressive tally, Mbappé appears to be on a quest to break the record for the most goals in a single Champions League season. Let’s take a closer look at his position and the top 10 players who have scored the most goals in a single Champions League campaign.
Top Goal Scorers in a Champions League Season
At the top of the list is Cristiano Ronaldo, the competition’s all-time leading scorer. He set the bar with an astonishing 17 goals during the 2013/14 season, helping Real Madrid secure their tenth Champions League title. Notably, Ronaldo also occupies the second and third spots, with 16 goals in the 2015/16 season and 15 goals in the 2017/18 campaign. Fourth place belongs to Robert Lewandowski, who netted 15 goals for Bayern Munich in the 2019/20 season, while Karim Benzema also scored 15 for Real Madrid in the 2021/22 season.
Lionel Messi follows in sixth place, having scored 14 goals in the 2011/12 season, even though his Barcelona side did not win the title that year. Lewandowski returns in seventh with 12 goals in the 2021/22 season. Raphinha of Barcelona and Serhou Guirassy of Borussia Dortmund are tied for eighth and ninth, respectively, both scoring 13 goals last season. Currently, Mbappé stands at 17th on the list with his 11 goals. Should Madrid progress to the playoffs and then advance all the way to the final, he could potentially play in as many as 10 more games.
