Where does Robert Lewandowski rank among the great Champions League No.9s?

Robert Lewandowski’s goals against Olympiacos took him to 57 strikes in the UEFA Champions League, moving him one clear of Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Ground rules

Let’s first establish the criteria. Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are way out in front in terms of goals scored alone. Ronaldo has 127 Champions League strikes, 15 more than his great career rival, Messi. The now-Juventus man is the only one of the two who could today be described as a striker, though. His journey from the right-hand side of Manchester United’s midfield to the left wing of Real Madrid’s attack before becoming a focal point for the record European champions has also seen him collect five Champions League titles.

Messi has averaged 0.82 goals per game at Europe’s top table – to Ronaldo’s 0.77 – winning the competition four times in the process, but to describe the beating heart of Barcelona as a striker would perhaps be a bigger injustice for a player who has redefined attacking play in soccer’s final third than simply leaving him out of this particular equation altogether.

Finally, Alfredo Di Stefano scored 49 goals in helping Real to five European Cups between 1956 and 1960; Ronaldo’s countryman Eusebio managed just three fewer and helped Benfica inherit Real’s crown in 1962. But with the modern Champions League only founded in 1992, they don’t qualify any more than the legendary Lionel.

So, who is the greatest striker in Champions League history? Let’s get cracking…

1) Cristiano Ronaldo
Clubs: Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus
Goals: 126
Games: 166

A five-time winner of the competition – once with Man United and four times with Real – the Juventus attacker has scored a barely fathomable 126 goals from 166 games at a ratio 0.77 per appearance, and Lewandowski coming second to the competition’s all-time record goalscorer on this list is, in itself, something to celebrate. The Poland captain has also stolen his Portuguese counterpart’s thunder before now…

Back in 2013, Lewandowski obliterated Ronaldo’s Real with one of the most remarkable performances in the competition’s history, hitting all four goals for Borussia Dortmund in a 4-1 victory at Signal Iduna Park. Typically, Ronaldo got Real’s consolation that night, but it’s no surprise he and Madrid captain Sergio Ramos were reportedly keen on the club adding Lewandowski to their ranks.

If you’re playing at one of the best clubs in Europe, in the world, you know you can be happy, Lewandowski explained to the BBC at the time. And I’m happy being at Bayern Munich. Because what we have here is a high level. And if you play here it’s simple – you have to be focused on your game, give the fans what they want and what the team needs.

2) Robert Lewandowski
Clubs: Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich
Goals: 57
Games: 83

He may not have scored as many Champions League goals as Ronaldo – 57 to Ronaldo’s 126 – but their ratios are much closer, Lewy being worth 0.68 goals per game to Ronaldo’s 0.77. Raul and Karim Benzema remain ahead of Lewy on the all-time goals count, meanwhile, but they scored theirs at 0.5 and 0.53 per game respectively, and both are within sight.

Lerwandowski’s 57 goals leave him 14 behind Raul, who has retired, and three behind Benzema, who has not, although the rate at which the Frenchman scores compared to the Bayern man means he will likely be reined in this season. Raul’s tally might take a bit longer, but Lewandowski shows no sign of slowing down despite turning 31 in the summer.

3) Raul
Clubs: Real Madrid, Schalke
Goals: 71
Games: 142

If I had to pick one [idol], it would be Raul. I’ve always liked him. Those were the words of Lewandowski back in 2015, confirming the Spaniard’s status as one of the most influential players of his generation.

After nearly 15 years as the focal point of Real Madrid’s attack – which took in three Champions League triumphs – Raul moved to Schalke. Even at 33, Raul was still a force to be reckoned with, scoring five goals and assisting three more as the Royal Blues went all the way to the competition’s semi-finals in 2011.

4) Karim Benzema
Clubs: Lyon, Real Madrid
Goals: 60
Games: 115

That’s the podium accounted for, but what about the rest? Benzema’s 60 goals in the competition leave him behind Ronaldo, false-9, withdrawn right-winger, positional revolutionary Messi, and Raul, and whilst Lewandowski may be closing in on his goal-haul, it’s worth mentioning that his peak years came alongside Ronaldo’s, and he spent as much time making goals as taking them.

Lewandowski’s position ahead of him is safe, though, the Bayern man showing the same generosity in his game, as Philippe Coutinho’s first goal for the club attests…

5) Ruud van Nistelrooy
Clubs: PSV Eindhoven, Manchester United and Real Madrid
Goals: 56
Games: 73

Rounding out the top five is Van Nistelrooy, whom Lewandowski overtook with his brace against Olympiacos. A Champions League goalscorer with PSV Eindhoven, Manchester United and Real Madrid, the Dutchman later turned out for Hamburg, scoring 12 goals in 33 Bundesliga appearances across two years at the Volksparkstadion.

Honourable mentions

Thierry Henry – Monaco, Arsenal, Barcelona – 50 goals in 112 games
Andriy Shevchenko – Dynamo Kyiv, AC Milan, Chelsea – 48 goals in 100 games
Zlatan Ibrahimovic – Ajax, Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona, AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United – 48 goals in 120 games