It wasn’t long ago when this was considered to be Cristiano Ronaldo’s worst Champions League campaign in many years. Up until the quarter-final, the tournament’s all-time leading scorer had only two goals – that’s a goal every four games.
Lionel Messi, on the other hand, was enjoying a lovely campaign. 10 goals in the group stage – 11 after the amazing comeback against PSG – saw the Argentine lead the topscorers chart.
The tables have flipped three games past the last 8. Here’s how the chart looks like now.
Champions League topscorers this season
Lionel Messi: 11 goals
Cristiano: 10 goals
Cavani: 8 goals
Lewandowski: 8 goals
Only one goal separates the 32-year-old from the five-time Ballon d’Or winner. And given that Ronaldo could play another two games before the season ends – the second leg Atletico tie and the final – he is likely to overtake the Argentine.
Some could argue that La Pulga played fewer games, having bowed out in the quarter-final, and that he has scored more goals from fewer shots – 32 to Cristiano’s 45. However, Leo would still be in the competition had he single-handedly won their last 8 tie like Ronaldo did.
Eight goals in three games is an incredible number, but this is Cristiano we are talking about. He scored five past Manuel Neuer, he became the first player to score back-to-back hat-tricks, and is also the competition’s highest scorer in the knockout stage.
With 103 Champions League goals – 3 more than the entire Atletico have scored in the competition’s history – Cristiano is undoubtedly the tournament’s greatest goalscorer.
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This match has ended. Below are the original Live broadcast details for this match.
Live TV coverage and streaming in United States
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