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Top Players With Most Goals Scored in a Single Champions League Match

The UEFA Champions League showcases some of the greatest individual scoring feats in football history. Among these, Lionel Messi stands out by netting five goals against Bayer Leverkusen in 2012, the highest ever in a single game. Luiz Adriano and Erling Haaland also achieved this remarkable five-goal tally in one match. Other legends like Robert Lewandowski, Marco van Basten, and Ruud van Nistelrooy made their mark with four goals apiece in single games. Messi appears twice on this elite list, adding his four-goal performance against Arsenal to his record.

Players Who Scored Most Goals in One Champions League Game

  • 12. Robert Lewandowski – 4 Goals
  • 11. Mario Gomez – 4 Goals
  • 10. Bafetimbi Gomis – 4 Goals
  • 9. Lionel Messi – 4 Goals
  • 8. Andriy Shevchenko – 4 Goals
  • 7. Ruud van Nistelrooy – 4 Goals
  • 6. Dado Prso – 4 Goals
  • 5. Simone Inzaghi – 4 Goals
  • 4. Marco van Basten – 4 Goals
  • 3. Erling Haaland – 5 Goals
  • 2. Luiz Adriano – 5 Goals
  • 1. Lionel Messi – 5 Goals

Notable Scorers and Their Achievements

The Champions League is the pinnacle of European club football, where every player dreams of shining. Scoring multiple goals in a single match is rare, but several players have etched their names into history with explosive performances.

  • Robert Lewandowski scored four goals in the 2012-13 semi-final first leg against Real Madrid, leading Borussia Dortmund to a 4-1 victory before eventually falling to Bayern Munich in the final. His campaign included 10 goals, earning him a big move later.
  • Mario Gomez netted four goals in Bayern Munich’s 7-0 thrashing of FC Basel in 2012. Known for his physical style and consistency, Gomez ended his Bayern career with 113 goals in 174 appearances.
  • Bafetimbi Gomis scored four times during Lyon's 7-1 win over Dinamo Zagreb in 2011, becoming the first French player in over 40 years to achieve that feat in European competitions.
  • Lionel Messi dazzled in 2010 with four goals against Arsenal, including a memorable chipped finish over Manuel Almunia, showcasing his extraordinary skill in knockout matches.
  • Andriy Shevchenko netted four goals in AC Milan’s 4-0 away win over Fenerbahce in 2005, becoming the first to score four in an away UCL game that season, also finishing as Golden Boot winner with nine goals.
  • Ruud van Nistelrooy matched the four-goal mark in 2004 against Sparta Prague, the first Manchester United player since 1968 to do so in European competition, cementing his place as one of the competition's all-time top scorers.
  • Dado Prso was vital for Monaco, scoring four in an 8-3 rout of Deportivo La Coruna in 2003 during their run to the final.
  • Simone Inzaghi scored four goals for Lazio in a 5-1 win over Marseille in 2000, an impressive achievement from a player now known for his managerial success.
  • Marco van Basten, part of AC Milan’s legendary trio, was the first player to score four goals after the competition was rebranded to the Champions League, achieving it against IFK Goteborg in 1992.
  • Erling Haaland, the modern goal machine, scored five goals in Manchester City's 7-0 win over RB Leipzig in 2023, becoming the third player in history to reach five goals in a UCL match.
  • Luiz Adriano unleashed five goals for Shakhtar Donetsk in 2014’s 7-0 win against Bate Borisov, setting records for most goals against a single opponent in the competition.
  • Lionel Messi tops the chart with his five-goal performance against Bayer Leverkusen in 2012, a game remembered for his complete dominance and creativity.

Summary of Players With Most Goals in a Single Champions League Match

  • Name: Lionel MessiGoals: 5Team: BarcelonaOpponent: Bayer LeverkusenYear: 2012
  • Name: Luiz AdrianoGoals: 5Team: Shakhtar DonetskOpponent: Bate BorisovYear: 2014
  • Name: Erling HaalandGoals: 5Team: Manchester CityOpponent: RB LeipzigYear: 2023
  • Name: Marco van BastenGoals: 4Team: AC MilanOpponent: IFK GoteborgYear: 1992
  • Name: Simone InzaghiGoals: 4Team: LazioOpponent: MarseilleYear: 2000
  • Name: Dado PrsoGoals: 4Team: MonacoOpponent: Deportivo La CorunaYear: 2003
  • Name: Ruud van NistelrooyGoals: 4Team: Manchester UnitedOpponent: Sparta PragueYear: 2004
  • Name: Andriy ShevchenkoGoals: 4Team: AC MilanOpponent: FenerbahceYear: 2005
  • Name: Lionel MessiGoals: 4Team: BarcelonaOpponent: ArsenalYear: 2010
  • Name: Bafetimbi GomisGoals: 4Team: LyonOpponent: Dinamo ZagrebYear: 2011
  • Name: Mario GomezGoals: 4Team: Bayern MunichOpponent: BaselYear: 2012
  • Name: Robert LewandowskiGoals: 4Team: Borussia DortmundOpponent: Real MadridYear: 2013

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Who scored the most goals in a single Champions League game?Lionel Messi holds this record with five goals against Bayer Leverkusen in 2012.
  • What is the record for most goals in a single Champions League season? Cristiano Ronaldo scored 17 goals in the 2013/14 season, the highest ever.
  • Which players have scored five goals in a single UCL match?Lionel Messi, Luiz Adriano, and Erling Haaland are the only ones.
  • Who has scored the most Champions League goals for a single club? That honor goes to Lionel Messi.
  • Who scored 17 goals in a Champions League season? Cristiano Ronaldo achieved this feat.

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