Lewandowski, Ronaldo, Benzema: What's the highest-scoring XI in Champions League history?
Robert Lewandowski set yet another incredible Champions League record on Tuesday evening.
In his 100th game in the competition, the Bayern Munich goal-machine netted a breathtaking hat-trick in the 5-2 demolition of Benfica at the Allianz Arena.
That treble means he’s now found the back of the net 81 times in the Champions League, the highest total achieved by any player in their first century of appearances.
Yes, that includes both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
Lewandowski is playing football from a different planet right now and his outrageous form in 2021 can certainly be described as ‘Ballon d’Or worthy’.
The Polish striker is now comfortably clear as the third-highest goalscorer in Champions League history and takes his place in a very exclusive XI as a result.
Transfermarkt have provided a full 11-man team with the most goals scored in Europe’s top-tier competition since it was rebranded way back in 1992, with Lewandowski part of a delicious two-man strike partnership.
Let’s take a look at the XI in full…
The XI with the most goals in Champions League history
GK | Hans Jorg Butt
Games: 62
Goals: 3
RB | Dani Alves
Games: 111
Goals: 12
CB | Sergio Ramos
Games: 129
Goals: 15
CB | Gerard Pique
Games: 122
Goals: 16
LB | Roberto Carlos
Games: 120
Goals: 16
CM | Paul Scholes
Games: 124
Goals: 24
RW | Lionel Messi
Games: 152
Goals: 123
LW | Cristiano Ronaldo
Games: 180
Goals: 139
CAM | Thomas Muller
Games: 128
Goals: 49
Champions League 2021/22: Fixtures, Draw, Results, Odds, Scores And Everything You Need To Know
ST | Robert Lewandowski
Games: 100
Goals: 81
ST | Karim Benzema
Games: 134
Goals: 75
Total goals: 553
An incredible XI that is essentially wall-to-wall legends.
If Pique finds the back of the net again for Barcelona in Champions League action this season, he’ll officially become the highest-scoring defender outright.
Ronaldo and Messi are streets clear of the rest when it comes to goals scored
And even Lewandowski will struggle to get anywhere near the pair of GOATs in his final years at the very highest level.
However, while that may be the case, Bayern’s main man stands a very good chance of becoming just the third player to reach the 100-goal mark in the Champions League.
That in itself is an stellar achievement.