140 Champions League goals. An incredible record that still impresses.

First three seasons in the Champions League without scoring a goal

Cristiano Ronaldo's early Champions League adventure gave no indication that he would become a true legend years later. He made his debut in the 2003/04 season for Manchester United. He racked up 291 minutes of action in three matches without finding the back of the net.

It was a similar story in the next two campaigns, where he played 502 and 506 minutes respectively. His breakthrough came in the 2006/07 season, when the Portuguese scored three goals for the Red Devils, and thus began his remarkable run.

16 consecutive seasons with a Champions League goal

Cristiano Ronaldo is an absolute phenomenon. He has found the net in 16 consecutive Champions League seasons, reaching double figures seven times during that time. It's no wonder he's nicknamed Mister Champions League by experts. This title perfectly suits the Portuguese, who has set records.

His best numbers came with Real Madrid, where he achieved his record-breaking 17 goals in the 2013/14 season. Two years later, he had 16. Year after year, he increased his tally, approaching the all-time greats, eventually surpassing them.

The absolute record holder for goals in the Champions League

For several seasons now, Cristiano Ronaldo has continued his career outside of Europe. However, he remains the absolute Champions League goalscorer, with 140 goals in 183 matches – a remarkable average.

During his extensive Champions League career, he played for clubs such as:

Real Madrid (105 goals),

· Manchester United (21 goals),

Juventus (14 goals).

We last saw him in the 2021/2022 season, when he returned to Manchester United. He scored six goals in seven games and continued to impress with his strike rate. He achieved a record that will be incredibly difficult to beat.

TOP 5 Champions League top scorers

The top scorers in Champions League history are all major stars of world football. There's also a Polish touch, as Robert Lewandowski tops the list. The experienced Pole is still looking to improve his tally and will be doing so for FC Barcelona in the 2025/2026 season. Below are the top 5 Champions League scorers:

Cristiano Ronaldo – 140 goals (Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus), Lionel Messi – 129 goals (FC Barcelona, PSG), Robert Lewandowski – 105 goals (Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, FC Barcelona), Karim Benzema – 90 goals (Olympique Lyonnais, Real Madrid),

Raul Gonzalez – 71 goals (Real Madrid, Schalke 04).