Top 10 most goals scored in Champions League group stage: Messi stays ahead of Ronaldo and Lewandowski

Over nearly 70 years of history, Ronaldo has been one of the most outstanding players in the Champions League, leading in many categories such as appearances, goals, and assists. However, there is one statistic where he does not rank first: goals scored in the Champions League group stage. In this article, soccerwayuk.com updates the list of the most goals scored in Champions League group stage.

Top 10 most goals scored in Champions League group stage

Statistics are updated to the end of the League Phase of the 2025/26 Champions League season, with data taken from the official UEFA website.

10. Mohamed Salah - 37 goals (FC Basel, AS Roma, Liverpool FC)

Salah has scored 37 goals in the Champions League group stage while playing for FC Basel, AS Roma, and Liverpool. Most of his goals came during his time at Liverpool. His most impressive moment in the group stage was scoring three goals in just 6 minutes and 12 seconds in Liverpool’s win over Rangers in the 2021/22 season. This remains the fastest hat-trick in Champions League history.

9. Raúl González - 37 goals (Real Madrid CF, FC Schalke 04)

Next is Real Madrid legend Raúl González, who also scored 37 group stage goals. One of his most notable achievements was his first career hat-trick against Ferencváros in 1995, when he was only 18 years and 113 days old, making him one of the youngest players to score a hat-trick in the competition. He also scored in 15 consecutive Champions League seasons, from 1995/96 to 2010/11.

8. Harry Kane - 37 goals (Tottenham Hotspur FC, FC Bayern Munich)

Harry Kane ranks eighth on the list and is currently the highest-scoring English player in the Champions League group stage. Since joining Bayern Munich in the summer of 2023, his goal tally has continued to grow, and he still has the opportunity to improve his ranking in the coming seasons.

7. Ruud van Nistelrooy - 39 goals (PSV Eindhoven, Manchester United FC, Real Madrid CF, Hamburger SV)

Van Nistelrooy recorded 39 group stage goals in just 51 matches, a very strong scoring rate. During his career, he won the Champions League Golden Boot in three seasons (2001/02, 2002/03, 2004/05) and set a record by scoring in nine consecutive Champions League matches in the 2002/03 season.

6. Erling Haaland - 40 goals (FC Red Bull Salzburg, Borussia Dortmund, Manchester City FC)

Erling Haaland represents the new generation of top strikers. He has scored 40 group stage goals and is known for his excellent scoring efficiency. He became the youngest player to reach 40 Champions League goals at 23 years and 130 days old. One of his most memorable performances came against RB Leipzig in 2023, when he scored five goals in 57 minutes.

5. Kylian Mbappé - 44 goals (AS Monaco FC, Paris Saint-Germain FC, Real Madrid CF)

Mbappé has scored 44 group stage goals. Although he is regarded as one of the best forwards of his generation, he has yet to win a Champions League title. In the 2025/26 season, he reached 13 group stage goals, setting a new single-season group stage record and moving closer to Cristiano Ronaldo’s record of 17 goals in a single Champions League campaign.

4. Karim Benzema - 56 goals (Olympique Lyonnais, Real Madrid CF)

Karim Benzema has scored 56 group stage goals, making him the highest-scoring French player at this stage of the competition. Along with Lionel Messi, he holds the record for scoring in the most consecutive Champions League seasons, from 2005/06 to 2022/23. Most of his goals came from open play, showing his strong finishing ability.

3. Robert Lewandowski - 73 goals (Borussia Dortmund, FC Bayern Munich, FC Barcelona)

Lewandowski has scored 73 group stage goals. In 2024, he reached 100 goals in the Champions League overall, becoming the third player to achieve this milestone. He also equaled Messi’s record of scoring against 40 different opponents in the competition. Even at 37 years old, he could still add to his total if he continues playing in Europe.

2. Cristiano Ronaldo - 73 goals (Manchester United FC, Real Madrid CF, Juventus FC)

Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 73 group stage goals. In the 2017/18 season, he became the first player to score in all six group stage matches. Although he is best known for his performances in the knockout rounds, his group stage record is also very impressive, especially considering he once went through a long period without scoring in the competition early in his career.

1. Lionel Messi - 80 goals (FC Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain FC)

Lionel Messi leads the list with 80 group stage goals, averaging 0.93 goals per match. He has scored against 40 different opponents in the Champions League. English clubs such as Manchester City and Arsenal were among the teams he scored against most frequently, with a total of 15 goals combined.

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