Champions League All Time Top Scorers: Lionel Messi Edges Closer to Cristiano Ronaldo

Champions League All Time Top Scorers: Lionel Messi Edges Closer to Cristiano Ronaldo

Isaac Darko
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:15 PM
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  • Lionel Messi's two goals for PSG against Maccabi Haifa on Tuesday pushed him close to Cristiano Ronaldo on the UEFA Champions League top scorers chart
  • The Paris Saint-Germain and Argentina forward has now scored 126 goals in Europe's biggest club competition
  • Messi scored a brace and contributed with two assists as the French champions made light work of Maccabi on Tuesday night

Paris Saint-Germain star Lionel Messi has closed the gap on his never-ending rival Cristiano Ronaldo, on the all-time UEFA Champions League goal scoring leaderboard.

Messi, 35, was in vintage form yet again as the Parisians crushed Maccabi Haifa on Tuesday night.

The Argetine maestro scored twice as the Parisians sealed a comfortable 7-2 victory over the Israeli side to secure a place in the last 16 of the competition.

Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Paris Saint-Germain, goal, score, top, chart
Lionel Messi has netted 126 goals in the Champions League, leaving him only 11 behind Cristiano Ronaldo. Credit: @uefa
Source: Twitter

The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner has thus moved a step closer to the top of the Champions League scoring charts.

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As it stands now according to UEFA, Messi has a tally of 129 goals in the Champions League, leaving him only 11 behind Ronaldo with 140.

However, the Portuguese cannot improve his record anytime soon as Manchester United are nowhere near the Champions League.

Given Messi's vintage showing so far, the record could be broken as early as this season.

Domenech praises 'wonderful' Lionel Messi

Meanwhile, Former France manager Raymond Domenech has lauded Lionel Messi, saying the Paris Saint-Germain star is the most wonderful player he has ever seen in his life.

The Argentine genius continued his fine form in his side's most recent win over Maccabi Haifa, scoring a brace and setting up Neymar and Carlos Soler.

He gave an astonishing display, with Domenech claiming the ex-Barcelona superstar is most exciting player he has seen.

Premier League clubs chase Messi

Sports Brief earlier reported that Lionel Messi has emerged on the radar of two English Premier League clubs.

The Paris Saint-Germain forward will become a free agent at the end of this season. He signed a two-year contract when he joined the French giants from Barcelona last year.

El Nacional, via Sportskeeda, now reports that Chelsea and Manchester United have emerged as potential suitors for the Argentinian.

Authors
Isaac Darko photo
Isaac Darko
Isaac Darko is a La Liga, Ligue 1 and Bundesliga editor at Sports Brief with a Degree in Journalism and Communications from Ghana Institute of Journalism (2010)
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