It’s a dream of every footballer to register his name in Champions League, Europe’s elite club competition. Here we dissect a list of footballers who have managed astonishing feats in Champions League quarterfinal.
- Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo is a Champions League legend with a giant trail in Champions League quarterfinals and the entire competition.
Ronaldo made 101 Champions League appearances for Real Madrid, 59 for Manchester United, and 23 for Juventus.
He is the all-time highest goal-scorer in the competition with 140 goals.
Ronaldo outscored his Champions League quarterfinal appearance, having scored 25 goals in 22 appearances.
- Lionel Messi
The PSG forward is second on the list of Champions League quarterfinals top scorers.
Messi has made more appearances in Champions League quarterfinal than Cristiano Ronaldo but have scored less goals.
In 23 appearances, he has scored 17 goals. He is second on the chart of of all-time top scorers list in the competition with 129 goals, 11 behind Cristiano Ronaldo.
- Raul
Third on the list is former Spain football and Real Madrid legend, Raul. Raul was regarded as one of the best footballers in his era. He is currently the manager of Real Madrid Castilla.
Raul made 17 appearances in Champions League quarterfinal, scoring 10 goals.
- Inzaghi
Nicknamed “Superippo”, Inzaghi was another big name in Italian and European football. He played as striker and was prolific in front of goal throughout his spell in Italian league.
Currently a manager at Serie B side Reggina, Inzaghi made 12 Champions League quarterfinal appearances, scoring 9 goals.
- Shevchenko
Andriy Shevchenko, 49, is another lethal forward who left his mark in Champions League. The former AC Milan and Chelsea striker made 14 appearances in Champions League quarterfinals, scoring 9 goals.
He is now a football manager and has coached Ukraine national team and Italian club Genoa.
- Frank Lampard
Frank Lampard’s domestic success with Chelsea in the Premier League translated into a great Champions League feat.
Currently incharge of Chelsea as interim manager, Lampard made 16 appearances in Champions League quarterfinals, scoring 8 goals.
During his spell with the Blues, Frank Lampard won the competiton in 2012.
7. Didier Drogba
Didier Drogba is another Chelsea legend on the list of Champions League quarterfinal top scorers. He was a contemporary to Lampard and was part of the squad that won the Blues’ first Champions League under former manager Roberto Do Matteo.
Drogba has 7 Champions League quarterfinal goals in 13 appearances. Didier Drogba scored 100 goals in 226 appearances for Chelsea and scored 4 goals in 28 appearances in his second spell with the club.
- Karim Benzema
Reigning Laliga and Champions League winner, Karim Benzema is 8th on the list. He has 7 Champions League quarterfinal goals in 16 appearances.
Benzema led Real Madrid to the Champions League trophy last season, he hit a record season tally of 46 goals in all competitions for Real Madrid.
- Thomas Muller
Bayern Munich forward Thomas Muller is one of the oldest set of Champions League heroes still active in the game.
Muller has been prolific for both Bayern and Germany national team. He has scored 7 Champions League quarterfinal goals in 22 appearances for Bayern Munich.
10. Emmanuel Adebayor
Emmanuel Adebayor is bottom on the list with 6 goals. He played less number of games than others on the list – just 7 appearances.
Adebayor is one of the biggest names in African football and are contemporaries to the likes of Didier Drogba, Yaya Toure, Kolo Toure, Asamoah Gyan, Nnwankwo Kano, and other top African footballers that graced the pass decade.
During his spell in the Premier League, he played for some of the biggest clubs in England – Manchester City, Liverpool, and Arsenal.
