Messi, 51 goals in the Champions League

Leo Messi scored his 51st goal in the Champions League this Tuesday, so far he’s scored 14 in this year’s tournament.

The Argentine is one goal away from becoming the player with the most goals scored in one season in the Champions League.

Leo Messi can now say he’s scored 51 goals in the Champions League, making him the third highest all-time goalscorer of the competition. The Argentine has scored more goals than Thierry Henry, and is only behind Raúl (71) and Van Nistelrooy (56). FC Barcelona’s playmaker has celebrated 51 goals since his debut in the Champions League in the 2004/05 season, 42 of them came under the tutelage of Josep Guardiola. Messi has also been the highest goalscorer in the last three editions of the tournament, with 9, 8 and 12 goals, respectively. He could very well repeat the feat this year. So far this season, he’s beat his own personal best in the tournament and drawn level with the 14-goal record set by Altafini, ex-Milan player in the 1962/63 season.

Messi has scored in 32 matches in the Champions League, of those, Barça have won 28 and drawn 4. The Argentine has scored 27 of his 51 goals at the Camp Nou, 23 away from home, and 2 in Champions League finals, one in Rome and another at Wembley. (via FCBarcelona.com)


51 goals in 66 matches

2004/05 Season
No goals, only one game played

2005/06 Season
1 goal in 6 games played

2006/07 Season
1 goal in 5 games played

2007/08 Season
6 goals in 9 games played

2008/09 Season
9 goals in 12 games played

2009/10 Season
8 goals in 11 games played

2010/11 Season
12 goals in 13 games played

2011/12 Season
14 goals in 10 games played