{
  "id": 3671331,
  "title": "FULL LIST: Champions League top scorers since 2000",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/27/full-list-champions-league-top-scorers-since-2000",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-27T05:10:17.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch Nigeria",
    "slug": "punch-nigeria",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/full-list-champions-league-top-scorers-since-2000/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The UEFA Champions League has seen a variety of top scorers since the 2000/01 season, with Kylian Mbappé leading the current generation. Mbappé finished as the leading scorer in the 2025/26 campaign with 15 goals, outperforming Harry Kane. He achieved this feat in just 11 appearances, scoring 13 goals in the league phase, a new record. Mbappé's achievement continues a streak dominated by Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, who alone accounted for the top-scorer honor in 12 of the 13 seasons between 2007/08 and 2019/20. Robert Lewandowski broke that run in the 2019/20 season. The full list of top scorers since 2000/01 is as follows: 2025/26 - Kylian Mbappé (15 goals), 2024/25 - Raphinha and Serhou Guirassy (13 goals each), 2023/24 - Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappé (8 goals each), 2022/23 - Erling Haaland (12 goals), 2021/22 - Karim Benzema (15 goals), 2020/21 - Erling Haaland (10 goals), 2019/20 - Robert Lewandowski (15 goals), 2018/19 - Lionel Messi (12 goals), 2017/18 - Cristiano Ronaldo (15 goals), 2016/17 - Cristiano Ronaldo (12 goals), 2015/16 - Cristiano Ronaldo (16 goals), 2014/15 - Messi, Neymar and Ronaldo (10 goals each), 2013/14 - Cristiano Ronaldo (17 goals), 2012/13 - Cristiano Ronaldo (12 goals), 2011/12 - Lionel Messi (12 goals), 2010/11 - Lionel Messi (12 goals), 2009/10 - Lionel Messi (8 goals), 2008/09 - Lionel Messi (9 goals), 2007/08 - Cristiano Ronaldo (8 goals), 2006/07 - Kaká (10 goals), 2005/06 - Andriy Shevchenko (9 goals), 2004/05 - Ruud van Nistelrooy (8 goals), 2003/04 - Fernando Morientes (9 goals), 2002/03 - Ruud van Nistelrooy (12 goals), 2001/02 - Ruud van Nistelrooy (10 goals).",
  "summary": "See the full list of UEFA Champions League top scorers from the 2000/01 season to 2025/26, featuring stars like Mbappé, Messi, and Ronaldo. Read More: https://punchng.com/full-list-champions-league-top-scorers-since-2000/",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Fenerbahce stun Lyon in Champions League as AEK crush Levski",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/27/fenerbahce-stun-lyon-in-champions-league-as-aek-crush-levski",
        "published": "2026-08-27T00:02:29.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Punch",
        "title": "FULL LIST: Champions League top scorers since 2000",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/27/full-list-champions-league-top-scorers-since-2000-3674462",
        "published": "2026-08-27T05:42:16.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}