All-time top goalscorers in Champions League group stage history

1. Lionel Messi (Barcelona): 68

Barcelona v Liverpool - UEFA Champions League Semi-Final: First Leg

It is quite obvious that the player occupying top spot in our list is none other than Lionel Messi. He had a memorable 2018-19 campaign with Barcelona, as he went on to score 12 goals, winning the top goalscorer award.

As it has been for the majority of the individual goal-scoring honours in the last 15 years, the title of the top group stage goalscorer has changed hands between the duo of Messi and Ronaldo.

Currently, they are separated by a slim margin of five goals and the Argentine only overtook the Juventus star last season, scoring six to take his tally to 66 and has since then added two more to his tally this season.

Messi was the first one to overtake erstwhile leader Raul's record of 71 goals in 2014. But a purple patch in the 2015-16 season saw Ronaldo hitting a record 17 goals that campaign, opening up a sizeable gap between himself and the Barcelona star.

Messi equalled his long-time rival's record of scoring 10 or more goals at the group stage in the 2016-17, as he reached double figures for goals that season. Will the left-footed wizard be able to dethrone Ronaldo from the all-time goalscoring charts? Only time will tell.