Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi: The Kings of Goals and Assists in Champions League History

Few things in club soccer carry as much weight as scoring a goal in the Champions League. It's the most demanding stage on the planet, the pressure hits differently, and yet some names have turned that pressure into a habit. Who are the players who have made the net ripple the most times, and who has set up the most goals in the history of the tournament? Let's take a look.

The top scorers: Cristiano leads, Messi right behind

At the very top sits Cristiano Ronaldo, with 140 goals, a tally that keeps him as the competition's all-time leading scorer. Right behind him comes Lionel Messi, with 129, in what is probably the most talked-about scoring rivalry of the last two decades. Rounding out the podium is Robert Lewandowski, with 109 goals, the only player besides those two to have crossed the hundred-goal mark in the tournament.

Further down, Karim Benzema has 90 and Kylian Mbappe already has 72, numbers that, given the pace at which he plays, suggest he'll keep climbing this list. Raul Gonzalez shows up with 71 goals, a reminder that before the Cristiano-Messi era there was also a Real Madrid legend who dominated the competition.

Erling Haaland stands at 61, a notable figure considering he has far fewer seasons on the continent than most names on this list. Rounding out the group of top scorers are Thomas Muller (57), Ruud van Nistelrooy (56), Harry Kane (55), and, tied with 50 goals apiece, Mohamed Salah and Thierry Henry.

The kings of the assist

On the other side of the coin, the business of setting up someone else's goal, Cristiano Ronaldo also comes out on top. Beyond being the all-time leading scorer, he also leads in assists with 42. Close behind him is Angel Di Maria, with 41, a figure that confirms why he has always been one of the most sought-after playmakers for the final pass. Lionel Messi rounds out the top three with 40 assists.

Next come Neymar (33) and Vinicius Junior, with 32, two names associated more with dribbling than passing, but who have also known how to leave teammates alone in front of the goalkeeper. Kevin De Bruyne and Ryan Giggs share 31 assists each, while Xavi Hernandez and Thomas Muller have 30. Closing out the list are Karim Benzema and Andres Iniesta, both with 29.

Looking back at these lists is, in essence, looking back at two decades of Champions League history told through its leading figures. Between Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Manchester City, and the clubs these stars have passed through, the tournament has produced a harvest of numbers that can still keep growing, especially with players like Mbappe, Haaland, and Vinicius still in the thick of competition.