The UEFA Champions League has provided us fans with unmatched joy over decades, and the greatest joyous moments arrive when the team we support scores a sublime goal. The team with the most UEFA Champions League goals is quite a record to brag about.
Over the years, we have witnessed some of the most iconic goals in football during the UEFA Champions League. The question is, which club has scored the most UEFA Champions League goals in the 21st century?
Let's take a look at the list:
5. Manchester United
Matches: 181
Goals: 298
The English giants have won just one UEFA Champions League trophy in 2008 and since then, they have become more of a fallen giant in Europe. Especially after Sir Alex Ferguson's departure from the club in 2013. But under Sir Alex, United were a dominant force in Europe. Reaching the finals thrice and losing to Barcelona in both 2009 and 2011.
4. Chelsea
Matches: 173
Goals: 300
The Blues from London have been a staple team in the UEFA Champions League since Roman Abramovich took over in 2003. With two UCL trophies to their name in 2012 and most recently in 2021. The historic 2012 final saw Chelsea defeat Bayern Munich in their home stadium, the Allianz Arena. Making it into the semi-finals many times. They are one of the most consistent European performers under the Abramovich era.
3. FC Barcelona
Matches: 221
Goals: 432
Barcelona are one of the most successful teams of the 21st century, thanks to their brilliance in the Champions League as well. The Blaugrana outfit have won the competition on four occasions (2006, 2009, 2011, 2015), while they also won the last edition of the European Cup in 1992. However, it is no surprise that their most successful years have come over the last 15 years. The La Masia graduates, consisting of Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Messi, Sergio Busquets, and several others, were at the epicenter of it.
2. Bayern Munich
Matches: 219
Goals: 476
Bayern Munich have arguably been the most consistent side in the Champions League over the last 30 years. The German side have always relied on the brilliance of their squad rather than depending on individual quality. The reigning Bundesliga champions have won the tournament on three occasions (2001, 2013, 2020) in the UCL era. Thanks to strikers like Alexander Zickler, Mario Gomez, Luca Toni, Robert Lewandowski, and many more, Bayern has achieved a lot of success over the last three decades.
1. Real Madrid
Matches: 237
Goals: 500
Real Madrid are European royalty and hold the record for the highest number of UEFA Champions League titles, winning 13 trophies. But one of the most impressive things about Los Blancos is their mentality in the competition and their willingness to keep the game alive in the most vulnerable situations.
Their ability to produce sensational comebacks, coupled with masterful goal-scorers like Raul, Karim Benzema, and Cristiano Ronaldo, is an integral reason behind their success. The Portuguese is the highest goal-scorer (140) in the UCL and scored a lot of those strikes during his time at the Santiago Bernabeu.