Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski has etched his name into Champions League history by becoming only the third player to surpass 100 goals in Europe’s premier club competition. The 36-year-old achieved this monumental feat during Barcelona’s 3-0 victory over Brest in a group-stage match on Tuesday. Lewandowski opened the scoring with a first-half penalty, bringing his tally to 100 goals, before adding a second goal to seal the win and move to 101.
Robert Lewandowski now finds himself alongside footballing legends Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, both of whom have surpassed the century mark in the Champions League. Ronaldo, the all-time top scorer with 140 goals, and Messi, with 129, have long been the benchmark for European footballing excellence. Lewandowski’s achievement is a testament to his consistency and exceptional goal-scoring ability. “I’m very content, very happy,” he said after the match. “Sometimes I didn’t believe I would reach this impressive figure in the Champions League. Now I’m in good company with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo,” he added.
A Closer Look at Robert Lewandowski’s Champions League Journey
Robert Lewandowski reached the 100-goal milestone in his 125th Champions League appearance, a remarkable achievement given that it took Messi 123 matches and Ronaldo 137 to reach the same figure. However, Lewandowski’s current rate of 0.8 goals per game in the competition slightly outpaces both of his illustrious peers. His Champions League journey has been long and successful, with the majority of his goals coming inside the penalty area—97 in total, including 17 penalties. This ranks him just behind Ronaldo, who scored 19, and Messi, who has 18 from the spot.
Robert Lewandowski’s first goals in the competition came with Borussia Dortmund, where he netted 17 goals. He then went on to score an additional 69 goals for Bayern Munich before transferring to Barcelona, where he has already added 15 to his tally. Despite the varying challenges posed by different leagues and teams, Lewandowski’s ability to consistently score at the highest level of European football has made him one of the best strikers in the history of the game.
Robert Lewandowski’s Form and Age-Defying Performance in 2024
Even as Robert Lewandowski enters his late 30s, his goal-scoring exploits show no signs of slowing down. This season, he has netted an impressive 22 goals in just 19 appearances across all competitions, making him the top scorer in La Liga and nine goals ahead of his nearest rival. His form is a continuation of his stellar performances last season, where he finished with 26 goals in 49 games. It is clear that the aging striker is still in his prime and remains a pivotal figure for Barcelona.
Since turning 30, Lewandowski has consistently been one of the top goal-scorers across Europe’s top leagues. His 368 goals put him third on the list behind Messi and Ronaldo, and he is currently over 100 goals ahead of fourth-placed Harry Kane. In fact, Lewandowski’s 188 goals since his 30th birthday are the most of any player in Europe’s top five leagues, a testament to his remarkable longevity and the quality of his performances as he ages. With 55 of his Champions League goals coming since turning 30, he is proving that age is just a number when it comes to maintaining elite performance levels.
Football Fans Celebrate Lewandowski’s Legendary Status
Lewandowski’s remarkable feat has not gone unnoticed by fans and pundits alike, with many hailing his consistency and excellence over the years. Fans on social media have praised the Polish striker for his career achievements, with some even suggesting he deserved a Ballon d’Or during the pandemic-stricken 2020 season. One fan on Twitter, using the handle @FurboX, congratulated Lewandowski, saying, “He’s up there with Ronaldo and Messi. Should’ve won the Ballon d’Or during lockdown.” Others, like @SLFX, emphasized Lewandowski’s instinctive playing style, describing him as “one of the best I’ve ever seen” and “a proper, instinctive center forward.”
Football analyst Ray NN also praised Lewandowski for his determination and ability to always be in the right place at the right time, describing him as a player who is “constantly looking to get goals” and “very clever at reading the game.” With his continued brilliance on the field, Lewandowski’s place among football’s greatest will be forever cemented, and his 100+ goals in the Champions League are a testament to his enduring quality and legacy as one of the sport’s finest strikers.
