Robert Lewandowski joins Lionel Messi in elite Champions League club and beats Cristiano Ronaldo to milestone feat
Yesterday at 03:20 PM
Robert Lewandowski has followed in the footsteps of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo with his latest and historic Champions League goal.
The striker scored for Barcelona in their home clash against Brest on Tuesday night as they build towards qualification for the last-16.
Lewandowski‘s goal was his 100th in the competition and has seen him join an exclusive club with two fellow legends.
The 36-year-old found the back of the net in the tenth minute from the penalty spot at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys – his sixth in the Champions League this term.
Only he, Messi and Ronaldo are the only players to have ever hit a century of goals in European Cup and Champions League history.
Ronaldo leads the overall standings with 140 goals scored across spells at Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus.
Messi is second with 129 goals, with 120 coming at Barcelona and the remaining eight at Paris Saint-Germain.
Lewandowski’s 100th Champions League goal has extended his tally to 14 in the competition for his current club.
It has also come on his 125th appearance in UEFA’s elite tournament, with only Messi reaching a century of goals in fewer games with 123.
Ronaldo reached the same feat on his 137th appearance and it seems there won’t be any other players joining the 100 club anytime soon.
Only former Lyon and Madrid striker Karim Benzema is closest on 90 goals in 152 matches, but he’s now at Saudi Pro League side Al Ittihad.
Madrid and Schalke legend Raul completes the top five with a tally of 71 goals in 142 appearances.
Lewandowski is the latest inductee in the now three-man elite list of Champions League stars.
His competition debut came for Borussia Dortmund in 2011 when they drew 1-1 with Arsenal in the group stages.
He netted 17 goals in 28 appearances on the big stage for the club before signing for their German rivals Bayern Munich in 2014.
Lewandowski netted a further 69 goals throughout his 78 matches there and won the Champions League title with them in 2020.
The Poland international has also now already reached an incredible 21 goals for the season with Barcelona so far.