Champions League

Champions League 40-goal club: Thomas Muller leapfrogs Alfredo Di Stefano into elite group

Thomas Muller becomes just the eighth player to reach a half-century of Champions League goals, leapfrogging the legendary Alfredo Di Stefano in the all-time rankings.

Bayern Munich attacker Thomas Muller has become just the eighth player to reach a half-century of Champions League goals courtesy of his strike against Barcelona on Wednesday night.

Remarkably, eight of those 50 goals have come against the Spanish giants - the most any player has ever scored against Barcelona in the history of the competition.

There was more history for Muller too as he became the first German player to reach 50 Champions League goals, leapfrogging Real Madrid legend and five-time European Cup winner Alfredo Di Stefano in the all-time standings.

Muller now sits level with Arsenal legend Thierry Henry, albeit with a worse goals-per-game ratio in the competition.

Here, Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at every player to have scored more than 40 Champions League goals, and where Muller now ranks following his historic achievement.

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: 181
Ratio: 0.77

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

Lionel Messi celebrates scoring for Paris Saint-Germain in November 2021 © Reuters

Goals: 125
Appearances: 154
Ratio: 0.81

3. Robert Lewandowski (Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich)

Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski pictured on September 29, 2021 © Reuters

Goals: 82
Appearances: 102
Ratio: 0.80

4. Karim Benzema (Lyon, Real Madrid)

Karim Benzema celebrates scoring for Real Madrid in November 2021 © Reuters

Goals: 76
Appearances: 135
Ratio: 0.56

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. 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

8. Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich)

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

Goals: 50
Appearances: 130
Ratio: 0.38

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)

Goals: 46
Appearances: 81
Ratio: 0.57

14. Didier Drogba (Marseille, Chelsea, Galatasaray)

Goals: 44
Appearances: 92
Ratio: 0.48

15. Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus)

Goals: 42
Appearances: 89
Ratio: 0.47

16. Neymar (Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain)

Goals: 41
Appearances: 73
Ratio: 0.56

17. Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid, Manchester City)

Goals: 41
Appearances: 79
Ratio: 0.52

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