Top Players with Most Goals in a Single Champions League Match

Top Players Who Scored the Most Goals in One Champions League Game

The UEFA Champions League is Europe's premier club football tournament, showcasing some of the finest talents on the planet. Scoring multiple goals in one game at this level is rare and memorable. This list highlights players who have delivered extraordinary goal-scoring performances in a single match.

12. Robert Lewandowski – 4 Goals

In the 2012-13 Champions League semi-final first leg, Robert Lewandowski scored all four goals for Borussia Dortmund against Real Madrid, leading to a 4-1 victory. This performance was a key moment in Dortmund’s run to the final under Jurgen Klopp. Lewandowski ended that campaign with 10 goals, boosting his reputation before moving to Bayern Munich.

• Matches: 130
• Goals: 103
• Assists: 26

11. Mario Gomez – 4 Goals

Known for his strength and poaching skills, Mario Gomez netted four times during Bayern Munich’s 7-0 thrashing of Basel in the 2012 round of 16. Throughout his time with Bayern, Gomez scored 113 goals in 174 games.

• Matches: 44
• Goals: 26
• Assists: 6

10. Bafetimbi Gomis – 4 Goals

Bafetimbi Gomis scored four goals in Lyon’s 7-1 victory over Dinamo Zagreb in 2011, becoming the first French player in over 40 years to do so in European competition. He also played for St Etienne, Marseille, Galatasaray, and Al Hilal.

• Matches: 23
• Goals: 9
• Assists: 0

9. Lionel Messi – 4 Goals

One of the greatest ever, Lionel Messi tore apart Arsenal in 2010, scoring four goals in a 4-1 win. His chip over goalkeeper Manuel Almunia remains iconic. Messi ranks as the second highest scorer in UCL history.

• Matches: 163
• Goals: 129
• Assists: 45

8. Andriy Shevchenko – 4 Goals

Andriy Shevchenko netted four goals in AC Milan’s 4-0 triumph over Fenerbahce in 2005, becoming the first player to score four goals in an away Champions League game. He won the Golden Boot that season with nine goals.

• Matches: 100
• Goals: 48
• Assists: 6

7. Ruud van Nistelrooy – 4 Goals

The prolific Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy scored four goals against Sparta Prague in 2004, making him the first Manchester United player since 1968 to achieve that in Europe. He is sixth in the all-time UCL scoring charts with 60 goals.

• Matches: 73
• Goals: 56
• Assists: 18

6. Dado Prso – 4 Goals

Dado Prso shone for AS Monaco, scoring four goals in an 8-3 win over Deportivo La Coruna in 2003 as Monaco reached the UCL final. He won Croatian Footballer of the Year three times during his career.

• Matches: 21
• Goals: 9
• Assists: 1

5. Simone Inzaghi – 4 Goals

Before becoming Inter Milan’s manager, Simone Inzaghi scored four goals in Lazio’s 5-1 victory over Marseille in 2000. Though not as renowned as his brother Filippo, he left a mark with this performance.

• Matches: 31
• Goals: 15
• Assists: 3

4. Marco van Basten – 4 Goals

Marco van Basten, one of AC Milan’s legendary trio, became the first player to score four goals after the rebranding to Champions League, achieving this against IFK Goteborg in 1992. He won three Ballon d'Or awards in his career.

• Matches: 5
• Goals: 6
• Assists: 2

3. Erling Haaland – 5 Goals

Erling Haaland, the modern goal machine, netted five goals for Manchester City against RB Leipzig in 2023, part of a 7-0 victory. This made him the third player to score five goals in a Champions League game. He finished that season as top scorer.

• Matches: 48
• Goals: 49
• Assists: 5

2. Luiz Adriano – 5 Goals

Brazilian striker Luiz Adriano scored five times for Shakhtar Donetsk in a 7-0 win over Bate Borisov in 2014, setting a record for most goals against a single opponent in the UCL. He also had a hat-trick in the reverse fixture.

• Matches: 47
• Goals: 21
• Assists: 5

1. Lionel Messi – 5 Goals

At the summit stands Lionel Messi again, who scored five goals against Bayer Leverkusen in 2012, stunning the German side in a 7-1 win. This remains one of the most remarkable individual displays in Champions League history.

• Matches: 163
• Goals: 129
• Assists: 45

Summary of Top Champions League Single-Game Goal Scorers

• Lionel Messi - 5 goals for Barcelona vs Bayer Leverkusen (2012)
• Luiz Adriano - 5 goals for Shakhtar Donetsk vs Bate Borisov (2014)
• Erling Haaland - 5 goals for Manchester City vs RB Leipzig (2023)
• Marco van Basten - 4 goals for AC Milan vs IFK Goteborg (1992)
• Simone Inzaghi - 4 goals for Lazio vs Marseille (2000)
• Dado Prso - 4 goals for Monaco vs Deportivo La Coruna (2003)
• Ruud van Nistelrooy - 4 goals for Manchester United vs Sparta Prague (2004)
• Andriy Shevchenko - 4 goals for AC Milan vs Fenerbahce (2005)
• Lionel Messi - 4 goals for Barcelona vs Arsenal (2010)
• Bafetimbi Gomis - 4 goals for Lyon vs Dinamo Zagreb (2011)
• Mario Gomez - 4 goals for Bayern Munich vs Basel (2012)
• Robert Lewandowski - 4 goals for Borussia Dortmund vs Real Madrid (2013)

Frequently Asked Questions

• Who scored the most goals in a single Champions League game? Lionel Messi holds the record with 5 goals against Bayer Leverkusen in 2012.
• Which players have scored 5 goals in one UCL match? Lionel Messi, Luiz Adriano, and Erling Haaland have each achieved this feat.
• Who scored the most goals in a single Champions League season? Cristiano Ronaldo scored 17 goals in the 2013/14 season, the highest ever.
• Who has the most UCL goals for a single club? Lionel Messi has scored the most goals for a single club in the Champions League.