Real Madrid talisman Kylian Mbappe reached a special milestone with his opener in the nail-biting 3-2 win over Atalanta in the UEFA Champions League on 10th December. The goal marked his 50th in the most coveted cup competition in Europe, placing him in the company of an elite group of individuals. The Frenchman is now the ninth player in history to enter the 50-goal club in the UEFA Champions League.
In the list below, we will take a quick look at all the players who have managed to hit 50 in the Champions League (excluding qualifiers) and identify the youngest among them.
Let’s get to it!
#9 Thomas Muller: 32 Years and 86 Days
Kicking off the list is Bayern Munich stalwart Thomas Muller, with the German hitting 50 Champions League goals at the age of 32 years and 86 days. Muller took 130 games to reach the milestone.
Muller, who has been at Bayern Munich all his life, has played 156 games in the competition so far, scoring 55 goals and providing 34 assists. He has won the competition two times with the Bavarians in 2012-13 and 2019-20.
#8 Thierry Henry: 31 Years and 234 Days
One of the most eye-catching and clinical forwards the game has ever seen, Thierry Henry was 31 years and 234 days old when he scored his 50th goal in the UEFA Champions League. The 1998 FIFA World Cup winner needed 103 games to enter the 50-goal club.
Henry, who represented AS Monaco, Arsenal, and Barcelona in the competition, played a total of 112 games. He finished with 50 goals and 22 assists, having lifted the trophy with the Blaugrana in 2009.
#7 Ruud van Nistelrooy: 31 Years and 79 Days
Manchester United legend Ruud van Nistelrooy was 31 years and 79 days old when he hit his 50th Champions League goal. Although he is not the youngest in history to reach the special milestone, he remains the fastest, having taken just 62 games to hit the back of the net 50 times.
Nistelrooy, who played for PSV Eindhoven, Manchester United, and Real Madrid in the Champions League, played 76 games in the competition. The Dutchman scored 56 goals and provided 18 assists. Unfortunately, the legendary centre-forward did not get to lift the trophy.
#6 Robert Lewandowski: 30 Years and 98 Days
One of the most ruthless finishers the game has ever seen, Robert Lewandowski hit his 50th Champions League goal at the age of 30 years and 98 days. The Polish striker required 77 matches to score his 50th goal in the competition.
Lewandowski, who has scored for Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, and Barcelona in the competition, is the third-highest scorer — and the leading active scorer — in the competition’s history. Playing 126 games in the competition, he has scored 101 times and provided 26 assists. His sole UCL triumph came with Bayern Munich in the 2019-20 season.
#5 Karim Benzema: 28 Years and 354 Days
Scoring his 50th goal in the UEFA Champions League at the age of 28 years and 354 days, Real Madrid legend Karim Benzema has clinched the fifth place in the rankings. Benzema, who has played for Lyon and Los Blancos in the Champions League, hit the milestone in an admirable 88 matches.
The Al-Ittihad star played 152 games before bidding Europe goodbye. He scored 90 goals and provided 30 assists, winning the competition a whopping five times (2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022). The 2021-22 campaign marked the best of his career, as he chipped in with 15 goals and two assists in 12 games to fire Madrid to UCL glory. His heroics allowed him to win the Ballon d’Or towards the end of 2022.
#4 Raul: 28 Years and 93 Days
The Prince of Real Madrid, Raul was 28 years and 93 days old when he scored his 50th goal in the UEFA Champions League. The former Spain frontman needed 97 games to reach the landmark.
Raul represented Real Madrid and Schalke in the competition. He played a total of 142 games, scoring 71 times and providing 32 assists, winning the trophy three times (1998, 2000, 2002) with Los Merengues.
#3 Cristiano Ronaldo: 28 Years and 78 Days
Mr. Champions League, Cristiano Ronaldo, is the third name on the list, having scored his 50th goal at the age of 28 years and 78 days. The Portuguese superstar needed 91 games to reach the special milestone.
Ronaldo, who lined up for Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus in UCL, is the competition’s all-time leading scorer. The Al-Nassr talisman played a record 183 games before leaving Europe, scoring 140 goals and providing 48 assists. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner scored 21 goals for Manchester United, 105 for Real Madrid, and 14 for Juventus, winning the competition five times (2008, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018).
#2 Kylian Mbappe: 25 Years and 356 Days
The latest entrant to this list of elites, Real Madrid sharpshooter, Kylian Mbappe was 25 years and 356 days old when he scored the opening goal against Atalanta. He has taken 79 matches to amass 50 Champions League goals.
Mbappe, who played for AS Monaco and PSG before switching to Real Madrid, also has 27 assists to his name. The 2018 FIFA World Cup winner scored six goals in nine games for Monaco, 42 goals in 64 games for PSG, and has so far, struck twice in six games for the All-Whites.
#1 Lionel Messi: 24 Years and 284 Days
Arguably the greatest footballer of all time, Lionel Messi has been the youngest to score 50 goals in the UEFA Champions League. The 2022 FIFA World Cup winner was just 24 years and 284 days old when he crossed that landmark. He is also the second fastest — behind Ruud van Nistelrooy — to score as many, needing just 66 matches.
Messi, who plays for Major League Soccer (MLS) outfit Inter Miami, represented Barcelona and PSG in the Champions League. At Barcelona, he played 149 matches, scoring 120 times and providing 41 assists. Messi won four UCLs (2006, 2009, 2011, 2015) with his boyhood club. His PSG spell, meanwhile, was quite underwhelming, as he only scored nine goals and claimed four assists in 14 games.
With a total of 129 goals to his name in 163 games, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner is the second-highest scorer in the tournament’s illustrious history.
