When you think of a side rising to the occasion, you think of Real Madrid.
And when you think of Real Madrid, you think of their dominance of the European Cup/Champions League – a competition they have a won record-breaking 13 times.
Madrid have housed some of the finest players to ever play the game, with many achieving legendary status in the Spanish capital for their exploits in European competition. But who has led the charge and scored the goals, you ask?
Never fear, 90min is here to spin you through their greatest goalscorers since the reformatting of the Champions League.
Appearances: 31
Goals: 4
Remember the days when Ozil used to play football? Yeah, he was quite good, wasn’t he?
Four goals in the Champions League for Real isn’t exactly spectacular, but the German also chipped in with 16 assists as well.
Iván Zamorano scored 101 goals in 173 games for Real Madrid…
Wish ‘Bam Bam’ a happy birthday! #UCL ??? https://t.co/ejcJ1OSOMp
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) January 18, 2017
Appearances: 5
Goals: 4
Although Bam Bam – as he came to be known – netted 101 goals in 173 games for Real and was instrumental in their 1994/95 La Liga success, Zamorano only made five appearances in the Champions League for Los Blancos. Typically, he managed to find the net with great regularity.
Appearances: 24
Goals: 5
Unfortunately for Florentino Perez, Madrid fans didn’t get to see the best of Kaka – but this shouldn’t take detract from his excellence. Injuries troubled the Brazilian magician during his time in Spain, but he still showed his artistry and quality before returning to Milan.
As well as grabbing five goals, Kaka provided 12 assists in the Champions League while at Real.
?? Steve McManaman ??
Real Madrid cult hero ?
Two-time winner ??#UCL final goalscorer ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/JfWk81aGsL— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) February 11, 2019
Appearances: 43
Goals: 5
Sure, he may not be everyone’s favourite commentator on BT Sport, but this is about goalscoring – and that’s something McManaman was more than capable of.
The Liverpool legend has claimed that he decided to join Real so that he could play Champions League football, and it ultimately proved to be a wise decision. He went on to win the competition twice, being named Man of the Match in the 2000 final.
Appearances: 21
Goals: 5
It’s been quite the journey for Robinho. Once tipped by the legendary Pele to be his heir apparent at the age of 15, he later found himself becoming something of a journeyman footballer.
He was, however, a star in the making when he signed for Real, but despite putting out fairly respectable figures, Robinho’s inconsistency let him down.
? Pase preciso ➕ instinto goleador
?? Clarence Seedorf
??⚽️ Davor Suker
? @valenciacf
? 1996/97@futbolmahou | #ElSaborQueNosUne pic.twitter.com/JbovWv4AXU— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) June 17, 2020
Appearances: 12
Goals: 5
During three seasons with the club, the charismatic Suker helped the club to four titles, including the Champions League.
Suker was a ruthless finisher and had an eye for the spectacular as well, with his perfectly-executed volley against Porto in 1997 just one of the many examples.
Appearances: 82
Goals: 6
A player whose game extends so much further beyond the goals and assists figures, Modric was key to Real Madrid‘s European success during the 2010s.
What more needs to be said other than the fact that he’s the only player not named Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi to win the Ballon d’Or between 2007 and 2019?
Appearances: 61
Goals: 6
An extremely gifted footballer, but also a very frustrating one to watch at points. But no matter Isco’s frustrations regarding his lack of playing time, it probably wasn’t the best idea to complain about his boss’ decision making in public and be caught on camera in the process….
The outcome? A spot on Zinedine Zidane’s ‘black list’.
?️ @Casemiro
? 5 seasons in the @ChampionsLeague!
? 54 matches
⚽ 6 goals
? 4 titles
?? 1 craque#RMUCL | #RealFootball pic.twitter.com/C76ascQCmM— Real Madrid C.F. ???? (@realmadriden) October 28, 2020
Appearances: 58
Goals: 6
Despite the Brazilian’s success with Real Madrid, Casemiro remains an under-appreciated talent.
Acting as the glue within the team, he’s provided the platform for those around him to shine, popping up with the odd important goal.
Appearances: 48
Goals: 7
It’s safe to say Solari’s spell as a player at the Bernabeu was slightly more successful than his time in charge of the first team. The hard-working midfielder featured over 200 times in total, winning the league twice as well as the Champions League.
Appearances: 35
Goals: 7
Marco Asensio’s career at Real Madrid falls into one particular category; stop-start.
Still, he’s a more than capable performer who can make the game look simple at times.
Appearances: 9
Goals: 7
Well, this isn’t exactly a bad return, is it?
What is particularly impressive about Callejon’s goal record is that he started just five of these nine games, mainly operating as the right winger.
In a list filled with some of Real’s all-time greats, it is….Callejon who has one of the best goal-to-game ratios.
? Fernando Hierro ?
The @realmadrid legend turns 52 today ?
? 1998, 2000, 2002
? 601
⚽️ 127 #UCL | #HBD pic.twitter.com/f93LPEYAF4— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) March 23, 2020
Appearances: 68
Goals: 7
A true Real Madrid legend, who perhaps still doesn’t receive the amount of praise and recognition he deserves for his stellar displays during his 14-year stay in Madrid.
For a player classified as more ‘defensive-minded’, Hierro sure did know where the goal was. In fact, he netted 127 times in just over 600 games in total.
Appearances: 48
Goals: 8
Sure, he may not necessarily be every fans’ favourite striker, but his goal record speaks for itself. Despite the competition for places, Higuain still managed 121 goals in 264 games for Los Blancos.
His rise and progression during the early stages of his Real career was a joy to behold, with the obvious highlight being his outstanding 2009/10 campaign.
Appearances: 39
Goals: 8
It’s clear Di Maria never really wanted to be at Man Utd, despite claiming that they were the only club he would have left Real Madrid for.
He managed eight goals and 13 assists in 39 appearances for Real, helping them to Champions League glory once during his stay.
Appearances: 98
Goals: 9
Few are able to make the game look as simple as Marcelo makes it look. The Brazilian’s ability to get forward and support attacks time and time again has been key to his side’s success over the years.
The four-time Champions League winner not only has nine goals to his name from left-back, he also has 24 assists.
Do goals get any more iconic than Zidane’s volley to win the 2002 Champions League against Bayer Leverkusen? ?pic.twitter.com/DVhMhnV3px
— 90min (@90min_Football) April 25, 2020
Appearances: 45
Goals: 9
The name Zinedine Zidane will forever be associated with one of the greatest goals in Champions League history.
No, no, no, we’re not talking about his effort against Sparta Praha in the group stages in 2001/02. Instead, it is the simply unforgettable strike he produced in the 2002 final against Bayer Leverkusen to help his side achieve Champions League glory.
The patience to watch the ball drop out of the sky and then the simply sublime technique to connect so sweetly made this goal nothing short of perfection.
Appearances: 35
Goals: 10
It was a fairly productive five years in Madrid for Savio, winning the Champions League on three occasions. Could be worse, eh?
Savio managed just 16 goals and 15 assists in 105 league games for Real, but in Europe, he managed 20 goal contributions in just 35 appearances. A valuable first team squad player….that was, until a certain Zidane arrived and forced him down the pecking order. He’d leave a year later.
Appearances: 19
Goals: 13
One of the best finishers to have played the game, Van Nistelrooy netted 13 goals and provided a further seven assists in just 19 appearances in the competition.
In total, he managed 56 goals in 73 Champions League games for Manchester United, Real and PSV.
Not bad, eh?
? OTD in 2003…
12′ ⚽️
50′ ⚽️
59′ ⚽️The Old Trafford crowd clapped Ronaldo off the pitch after he scored a stunning Champions League hat-trick for Real Madrid against Manchester United…
??? pic.twitter.com/5F3RRVqaTv
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 23, 2019
Appearances: 34
Goals: 13
Sometimes, just sometimes, football fans put aside their loyalties to their clubs and recognise true brilliance from an opposing player.
And this is exactly what happened at Old Trafford as the phenomenal Ronaldo effortlessly grabbed himself a stunning hat-trick against Man Utd in 2003.
The end result? A standing ovation from the Man Utd faithful as Ronaldo was substituted.
He was that good.
? @SergioRamos ©️
? 16 seasons in the @ChampionsLeague
? 125 matches
✔️ 76 wins
⚽ 13 goals
? 4 titles#RMUCL | #RealFootball pic.twitter.com/CtXLOycjfA— Real Madrid C.F. ???? (@realmadriden) October 28, 2020
Appearances: 128
Goals: 15
Love him or loathe him, there’s no denying Sergio Ramos‘ world class talent – as well as his impact at Real Madrid.
15 of his 100+ goals (yes, you read that right) have come in the Champions League, with that header against none other than Atletico Madrid in the 2014 final a particular highlight.
Appearances: 81
Goals: 15
Helguera’s role change, moving from the midfield back into the centre of defence, didn’t necessarily suit him, but he grew into the role after Florentino Perez’s decision not to bring in another central defender.
The two-time winner of the competition never really received the plaudits he deserved, bringing stability to a back four which needed support.
?? @Oficial_RC3 ??
1⃣9⃣9⃣8⃣?
2⃣0⃣0⃣0⃣?
2⃣0⃣0⃣2⃣??? Happy Birthday, Roberto Carlos! ?#UCL | @realmadrid pic.twitter.com/cEAX4a5PfD
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) April 10, 2019
Appearances: 107
Goals: 16
One of the famed Galacticos. the left back role will forever be associated with Roberto Carlos’ name.
The Brazilian was vital to his side’s Champions League success, whether it be defensively, from set pieces or going forward. There are few quite like Roberto Carlos, a player who knew how to get the best out of himself – even when he was told he wasn’t suited to the left back role.
How wrong Roy was, eh?
Appearances: 97
Goals: 16
A true Madridista, Guti joined Real aged nine and worked his way up through the ranks, eventually going on to make 542 appearances in total.
Guti has three Champions League wins to his name, although he didn’t actually feature in the final of each of these victories.
#Throwback to 2000, when Luis Figo crossed the unthinkable divide – joining Real Madrid from Barcelona.
You might remember it went down well in Catalonia…? pic.twitter.com/EZAHekaFyh
— 90min (@90min_Football) July 27, 2020
Appearances: 58
Goals: 16
The Barcelona faithful’s uproar at Figo’s decision to cross the divide and make the switch to Real Madrid wasn’t a surprise considering the rivalry between the two clubs. But it was also a clear indicator of their bitter disappointment at seeing such a remarkable talent move elsewhere.
Figo would go on to win the Champions League once (his only triumph), while he also picked up the Ballon d’Or in 2000.
Appearances: 55
Goals: 16
For a player who was made out to be the root of all of Real Madrid’s problems, Bale sure does sit high up on this list, doesn’t he?
Whatever the fans’ opinions of him are and despite what the Spanish press tried to make out, Bale delivered on the big stage for Los Blancos and deserves far greater recognition for his efforts than he currently does.
Oh, and among his 16 goals is that stunning overhead kick against Liverpool in the final.
Appearances: 58
Goals: 17
Morientes netted 17 goals in 58 appearances in the white of Real before joining Monaco on loan – and yep, he finished that season as the competition’s top goalscorer.
He scored in both legs against Real Madrid as well, oops.
Appearances: 107
Goals: 58
Benzema sits fourth in the list of all-time Champions League top goalscorers for one club. And while this is a simply outstanding achievement, his game involves so much more than just finding the back of the net.
He helps bring the best out of those around him, dropping deep and constantly looking to bring his teammates into the game. A ruthless finisher, yes, but also a vital team player.
? THE START OF A LEGEND ?
? On this day in 1994, @RaulGonzalez made his @realmadriden debut… and the rest is #RMHistory!
? 16 titles
⚽ 323 goals
? 741 matches#HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/CJJphvbGLT— Real Madrid C.F. ???? (@realmadriden) October 29, 2020
Appearances: 130
Goals: 66
Real Madrid’s all-time leading appearance-maker and the club’s second top goalscorer as well, Raul was a true Madridista and the face of Los Blancos.
Not only did the three-time Champions League winner possess the kind of quality which had fans constantly gasping in anticipation during games, he also had the appetite and hunger to match as well.
A Real Madrid legend.
Appearances: 101
Goals: 105
105 goals in 101 Champions League games for Real Madrid.
105 in 101. Just let that sink in.
The competition’s all-time top goalscorer was nothing short of phenomenal at Real Madrid, leading his former club to Champions League glory four times during his stay.
Ronaldo also finished as top goalscorer in the Champions League on six occasions while with Los Blancos.
One of the greatest of all time.
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