Champions League 40-goal club: Karim Benzema closes in on Robert Lewandowski tally

Karim Benzema further wrote his name into the Champions League history books on Wednesday night when he became only the second player - after former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo - to score back-to-back hat-tricks in the knockout stages of the competition.

The Frenchman's treble against holders Chelsea ensured that Real Madrid put one foot in the semi-finals courtesy of a 3-1 victory at Stamford Bridge.

Following on from his heroics against Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16, Benzema has now become just the fourth player in history to pass the 80-goal mark in the Champions League.

Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski is now within Benzema's sights, and here Sports Mole rounds up the latest standings in the all-time Champions League top-scorers list.

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

Goals: 140 Appearances: 183 Ratio: 0.77

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

Goals: 125 Appearances: 156 Ratio: 0.80

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3. Robert Lewandowski (Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich)

Goals: 85 Appearances: 105 Ratio: 0.81

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4. Karim Benzema (Lyon, Real Madrid)

Goals: 82 Appearances: 138 Ratio: 0.59

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5. Raul (Real Madrid, Schalke 04)

Goals: 71 Appearances: 142 Ratio: 0.50

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

Goals: 56 Appearances: 73 Ratio: 0.77

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7. Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich)

Goals: 52 Appearances: 133 Ratio: 0.39

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8. Thierry Henry (Monaco, Arsenal, Barcelona)

Goals: 50 Appearances: 112 Ratio: 0.45

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9. Alfredo Di Stefano (Real Madrid)

Goals: 49 Appearances: 58 Ratio: 0.84

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

Goals: 48 Appearances: 100 Ratio: 0.48

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

Goals: 48 Appearances: 124 Ratio: 0.39

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12. Eusebio (Benfica)

Goals: 46 Appearances: 65 Ratio: 0.71

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13. Filippo Inzaghi (Juventus, AC Milan)

Goals: 46 Appearances: 81 Ratio: 0.57

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14. Didier Drogba (Marseille, Chelsea, Galatasaray)

Goals: 44 Appearances: 92 Ratio: 0.48

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15. Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus)

Goals: 42 Appearances: 89 Ratio: 0.47

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16. Neymar (Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain)

Goals: 41 Appearances: 75 Ratio: 0.55

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17. Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid, Manchester City)

Goals: 41 Appearances: 79 Ratio: 0.52

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