Have a look at any goal chart relating to European or international football, and the chances are that Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo fill the top two spots.
A couple of all-time greats have raised the bar of individual brilliance to a height that few can ever dream of reaching. For many, it is pointless trying to emulate the achievements of sporting GOATs that boast 13 Ballon dโOr awards between them.
Some, though, stubbornly refuse to throw in that towel. Robert Lewandowski slips into that category, with the Polish frontman boasting a strike rate to rival the very best in the business.
Cristiano Ronaldo in the UEFA
Champions League:โช๏ธ All-time most appearances (183)
โช๏ธ All-time top scorer
(140)
โช๏ธ Five time champion
โช๏ธ Only player to score in three finals
โช๏ธ Only
player to score in 11 straight games
โช๏ธ Most goals in a single season (17)And
now he’ll take onโฆ pic.twitter.com/rxCNwdSd9Nโ B/R
Football (@brfootball) A
ugust 22, 2023
He is showing no sign of slowing down at Barcelona, with domestic and continental titles once again being pursued by La Liga giants.
An exciting squad working under German coach Hansi Flick sit at 7/1 in Champions League ย winner odds from Paddy Power to claim a European crown in 2024/25.
The talent at their disposal makes it impossible for those delivering football predictions to ignore Barcelonaโs claims to the most prestigious of major honours.
If they are to make their way towards a final showdown that is due to be held at the Allianz Arena in Munich โ a venue that Lewandowski knows well from his time at Bayern โ then attacking inspiration will be required from somewhere.
Their talismanic No.9 is ready to literally lead from the front, with European glory having proved elusive across his distinguished career.
Lewandowski intends to right that wrong while potentially rewriting the history books.
As things stand, only three men have registered more than 100 goals in Champions League competition.
Lewandowski sits third on that list and has said of a notable achievement: โSometimes I
didn’t believe I would reach this impressive figure. Now I’m in good company with Lionel
Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.โ
That is decent company to be keeping, and proves how difficult reaching three figures on the goal front in elite European competition can be.
Lewandowski is, however, not about to settle for a standing in Messi and Ronaldoโs shadow. Passing CR7โs historic haul of 140 Champions League strikes may be too much to ask, but Messi on 129 could be within reach.
The iconic Argentine is no longer plying his trade in Europe, as he turns out for MLS side Inter Miami, meaning that his numbers will not be improved in the years to come.
Robert Lewandowski becomes
the third player in history to reach 100 Champions League goals ๏ฟฝ๏ฟฝ#UCL
pic.twitter.com/cXenLyGHDNโ
UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) November 26, 2024
ย
To become only the second man to reach 130 Champions League goals would require Lewandowski to compete at that level for a few more seasons.
That is not beyond the realms of possibility, with no indication being offered that is preparing for a day in which boots have to be hung up for the final time.
His CV makes him of obvious appeal to teams around the world, if ties were to be severed with Barcelona, and there is every reason to believe that he can still compete on the grandest of stages.
Breaking the Messi and Ronaldo duopoly would not come with any tangible reward, but it would cement a legacy that promises to stand the test of time.
Read –ย 30 of the most iconic football photos ever taken: Pele, Maradona, and Pickles the dog
See more –ย Iconic Performances: Lewandowski’s four-goal destruction of Real Madrid
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