Top 10 Footballers with the Most Goals in a Single Champions League Season
The UEFA Champions League stands as one of football's most intense and thrilling competitions. Scoring frequently in this tournament is a feat few achieve, but some players have consistently managed to rack up impressive goal tallies in a single season. This list highlights those who have scored the most goals during one Champions League campaign.
The statistics include goals scored during all official stages of the Champions League season, covering both group matches and knockout rounds, but exclude qualifying games and penalty shootouts. Leading the charge are stars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Robert Lewandowski, and Lionel Messi, known for their prolific scoring against top European clubs throughout one tournament cycle.
No adjustments were made for changes in competition format or tactical trends, so this ranking reflects a straightforward record of highest goals scored within a single Champions League season.
List of Top Goal Scorers in a Single Champions League Season
- Rank: 1, Player: Cristiano Ronaldo, Goals: 17, Season: 2013–14, Club: Real Madrid
- Rank: 2, Player: Cristiano Ronaldo, Goals: 16, Season: 2015–16, Club: Real Madrid
- Rank: 3, Player: Cristiano Ronaldo, Goals: 15, Season: 2017–18, Club: Real Madrid
- Rank: 4, Player: Robert Lewandowski, Goals: 15, Season: 2019–20, Club: Bayern Munich
- Rank: 5, Player: Karim Benzema, Goals: 15, Season: 2021–22, Club: Real Madrid
- Rank: 6, Player: Lionel Messi, Goals: 14, Season: 2011–12, Club: Barcelona
- Rank: 7, Player: José Altafini, Goals: 14, Season: 1962–63, Club: AC Milan
- Rank: 8, Player: Robert Lewandowski, Goals: 13, Season: 2021–22, Club: Bayern Munich
- Rank: 9, Player: Erling Haaland, Goals: 12, Season: 2022–23, Club: Manchester City
- Rank: 10, Player: Ruud van Nistelrooy, Goals: 12, Season: 2002–03, Club: Manchester United
Additional Insight
Cristiano Ronaldo holds the record for the highest individual goals scored in a single Champions League season, achieving this three times: 17 goals in 2013–14, 16 goals in 2015–16, and 15 goals in 2017–18. His consistency sets him apart as the leading scorer in the tournament’s history.
