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Champions League 40-goal club: Lionel Messi edges closer to Cristiano Ronaldo record

Sports Mole rounds up the latest standings in the all-time Champions League top scorers list as Lionel Messi closes in on Cristiano Ronaldo's record.

Lionel Messi closed the gap on perennial rival Cristiano Ronaldo in the all-time Champions League goalscoring charts with his strike for Paris Saint-Germain against Maccabi Haifa on Wednesday night.

The Argentine maestro levelled things up for his side after they surprisingly fell behind in Israel, and in doing so scored against a 39th different team in the competition - a record he now holds outright ahead of Ronaldo.

The goal was Messi's 126th in the Champions League, leaving him only 14 behind Ronaldo in the all-time list and with the chance to close that gap further this season due to Ronaldo not being involved in the competition.

Neymar was also on the scoresheet for PSG, with his 42nd Champions League strike taking him level with Juventus legend Alessandro Del Piero.

Here, Sports Mole rounds up the latest standings in the Champions League 40-goal club following this week's action.



1. Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus)

Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring against Villarreal in the Champions League on September 29, 2021© Reuters

Goals: 140
Appearances: 183
Ratio: 0.77



2. Lionel Messi (Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain)

Lionel Messi in action for PSG on August 6, 2022© Reuters

Goals: 126
Appearances: 158
Ratio: 0.80



3. Robert Lewandowski (Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, Barcelona)

Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski celebrates scoring their fourth goal to complete his hat-trick on September 7, 2022© Reuters

Goals: 89
Appearances: 108
Ratio: 0.82



4. Karim Benzema (Lyon, Real Madrid)

Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema celebrates scoring against Chelsea on April 5, 2022© Reuters

Goals: 86
Appearances: 143
Ratio: 0.6



5. Raul (Real Madrid, Schalke 04)

Raul in action for Real Madrid in 2009© Reuters

Goals: 71
Appearances: 142
Ratio: 0.50



6. Ruud van Nistelrooy (PSV Eindhoven, Manchester United, Real Madrid)

Ruud van Nistelrooy for Manchester United© Reuters

Goals: 56
Appearances: 73
Ratio: 0.77



7. Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich)

Bayern Munich's Thomas Muller celebrates their third goal scored by Jamal Musiala on December 8, 2021© Reuters

Goals: 52
Appearances: 136
Ratio: 0.38



8. Thierry Henry (Monaco, Arsenal, Barcelona)

Thierry Henry celebrates scoring for Arsenal against Sparta Prague in the Champions League on October 18, 2005© Reuters

Goals: 50
Appearances: 112
Ratio: 0.45



9. Alfredo Di Stefano (Real Madrid)

Goals: 49
Appearances: 58
Ratio: 0.84



10. Andriy Shevchenko (Dynamo Kiev, AC Milan, Chelsea)

Andriy Shevchenko pictured for AC Milan in 2006© Reuters

Goals: 48
Appearances: 100
Ratio: 0.48



11. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Ajax, Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona, AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain)

AC Milan's Zlatan Ibrahimovic celebrates scoring their second goal on September 12, 2021© Reuters

Goals: 48
Appearances: 124
Ratio: 0.39



12. Eusebio (Benfica)

Eusebio pictured for Benfica during his playing career© Reuters

Goals: 46
Appearances: 65
Ratio: 0.71



13. Filippo Inzaghi (Juventus, AC Milan)

Filippo Inzaghi celebrates for AC Milan in 2010© Reuters

Goals: 46
Appearances: 81
Ratio: 0.57



14. Didier Drogba (Marseille, Chelsea, Galatasaray)

Didier Drogba with the Champions League trophy in 2012.© Reuters

Goals: 44
Appearances: 92
Ratio: 0.48



15. Neymar (Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain)

Neymar celebrates scoring for Paris Saint-Germain on August 21, 2022© Reuters

Goals: 42
Appearances: 77
Ratio: 0.55



16. Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus)

Alessandro Del Piero celebrates scoring for Juventus in 1998© Reuters

Goals: 42
Appearances: 89
Ratio: 0.47



17. Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid, Manchester City)

Sergio Aguero in action for Manchester City on March 10, 2021© Reuters

Goals: 41
Appearances: 79
Ratio: 0.52


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Paris Saint-Germain's Lionel Messi in action with Maccabi Haifa's Daniel Sundgren on September 14, 2022
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CParis Saint-GermainPSG312010176294770
2MonacoMonaco32187762422061
3Brest32169749331657
4Lille311510645271855
5Nice31149836251151
6Lens32147114234849
7Rennes32129115143845
8Marseille31111194738944
9Lyon31135134251-944
10Montpellier HSCMontpellier321011114144-340
11Toulouse321010123942-340
12Reims31117133845-740
13StrasbourgStrasbourg3299143547-1236
14NantesNantes3296172949-2033
15Le HavreLe Havre32711143342-932
16Metz3285193454-2029
17Lorient3268183763-2626
18Clermont32510172654-2825


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