Lionel Messi is one of the greatest players ever to grace European club football’s grandest stage, the UEFA Champions League.
During his time spent at Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, Messi made 163 appearances in the top competition on the European club calendar, playing some of the finest football the game has ever witnessed.
He is one of the leading goal scorers in the history of the tournament and a multiple winner of a trophy coveted by the very best players in the game today.
He has also set some remarkable records during his career in the competition, some that may not ever be matched or beaten. Although he is unlikely to play in UEFA competitions again — whenever he moves on from Inter Miami in MLS, a move to a major European side is unlikely at his age — his achievements will stand the test of time.
The Sporting News takes a look at how many Champions League medals Lionel Messi has won, how many goals he scored, and his notable records in the competition.
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Lionel Messi in UEFA Champions League: All-time record and trophies won
Messi has won the UEFA Champions League four times in his career, although, curiously, he has only played in three finals.
When Barcelona defeated Arsenal 2-1 in Paris in the 2006 final, the 18-year-old Messi was not involved in the match because of a hamstring injury.
Reports have stated he was so devastated about not being able to play, he opted against joining in with the celebrations — something he later admitted he regrets.
?? Leo Messi scored his 1st Champions League goal #OTD in 2005. The rest is history.#UCL | @FCBarcelona pic.twitter.com/UCyuZfsF8h
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) November 2, 2020
How many UEFA Champions League goals has Lionel Messi scored?
Messi sits second in the all-time list for UEFA Champions League goals. He scored 129 in 160 games in the competition for Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.
The all-time leading scorer in the competition is Cristiano Ronaldo, who has 140 goals in 183 games.
All-time most UEFA Champions League goals
| Rank | Name | Goals | Appearances | Years | Club (s) |
| 1. | Cristiano Ronaldo | 140 | 183 | 2003-present | Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus |
| 2. | Lionel Messi | 129 | 160 | 2005-present | Barcelona, PSG |
| 3. | Robert Lewandowski | 101 | 124 | 2011-present | Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Barcelona |
| 4. | Karim Benzema | 90 | 152 | 2005-present | Real Madrid, Lyon |
| 5. | Raul | 71 | 142 | 1995-2011 | Real Madrid, Schalke |
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Lionel Messi UEFA Champions League records
While Messi may not hold the most Champions League titles, he has still managed to set records in the competition throughout his career.
He is the leading goal scorer in the competition’s group stage, with 80 in total (71 of which came for Barcelona). His dominance extends to the knockout rounds, where he holds a record 29 goals in the Round of 16.
His loyalty to Barca also saw him set the record of 120 Champions League goals for the club. No player has more for one team.
- Most Champions League group stage goals: 80 (71 for Barcelona)
- Most Champions League round of 16 goals: 29
- Most Champions League goals for one club: 120 (Barcelona)
- Most successive seasons scoring in Champions League: 18
Lionel Messi UEFA Champions League all-time record, history
Messi has played in the UEFA Champions League in 18 different seasons for Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.
A four-time winner, he has played in three finals and reached at least the semifinal stage on nine different occasions.
| Season | Club | Stage reached | Eliminated by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005/06 | Barcelona | Champion | — |
| 2006/07 | Barcelona | Rd of 16 | Liverpool (2-2, lost on away goals) |
| 2007/08 | Barcelona | Semifinal | Manchester United (1-0 on agg.) |
| 2008/09 | Barcelona | Champion | — |
| 2009/10 | Barcelona | Semifinal | Inter Milan (3-2 on agg.) |
| 2010/11 | Barcelona | Champion | — |
| 2011/12 | Barcelona | Semifinal | Chelsea (3-2 on agg.) |
| 2012/13 | Barcelona | Semifinal | Bayern Munich (7-0 on agg.) |
| 2013/14 | Barcelona | Quarterfinal | Atletico Madrid (2-1 on agg.) |
| 2014/15 | Barcelona | Champion | — |
| 2015/16 | Barcelona | Quarterfinal | Atletico Madrid (3-2 on agg.) |
| 2016/17 | Barcelona | Quarterfinal | Juventus (3-0 on agg.) |
| 2017/18 | Barcelona | Quarterfinal | AS Roma (4-4, lost on away goals) |
| 2018/19 | Barcelona | Semifinal | Liverpool (4-3 on agg.) |
| 2019/20 | Barcelona | Quarterfinal | Bayern Munich (8-2 result)* |
| 2020/21 | Barcelona | Round of 16 | PSG (5-2 on agg.) |
| 2021/22 | PSG | Round of 16 | Real Madrid (3-2 on agg.) |
| 2022/23 | PSG | Round of 16 | Bayern Munich (3-0 on agg.) |
*Single-elimination match played due to COVID-19 restrictions