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Champions League is the greatest stage of all for European clubs. With some of the biggest clubs in football competing in the tournament, it is truly a spectacle and a treat for a football fan.
With the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo constantly in the tournament, goals are never far away when the pair are in action. These two, alongside some other great players, have made sure that there is no shortage of goals in Europe's premier club competition.
We look at 10 players with the most goals in a single Champions League season since the competition's inception in 1992.
#10 Lionel Messi | 2010-11 | 12 goals in 13 games
Arguably the greatest player to have played the game of football, Lionel Messi has been Barcelona's talisman for some time now.
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The Argentina international is a product of the famed La Masia academy, and at the moment is the one true shining light in a poor Barcelona side. He is the club's best passer, best creator and best goalscorer, and "Messidependencia" is well and truly in full flow.
In the 2010-11 season, the diminutive forward scored 12 goals in 13 Champions League games, including scoring in the final against Manchester United as they won 3-1.
#9 Cristiano Ronaldo | 2012-13 | 12 goals in 12 games
Cristiano Ronaldo is the only player who can rival Lionel Messi for the tag of the greatest of all-time.
Ronaldo joined Real Madrid from Manchester United in 2009 for a then world-record fee of €94 million, and the attacker would go on to achieve legendary status at the club. He is currently the club's all-time top goalscorer.
In the 2012-13 season, the Portugal international was in spectacular form, making 55 appearances in all competitions and scoring 55 goals. In that season, he scored his first hat-trick in the Champions League against Ajax. Despite his performances, Los Blancos were knocked out of the tournament in the semi-finals by Borussia Dortmund.
#8 Mario Gomez | 2011-12 | 12 goals in 12 games
A fine striker during his prime, Mario Gomez enjoyed some good years playing for the likes of VfB Stuttgart and Bayern Munich.
Bayern Munich lost the Champions League finals to Chelsea despite Gomez's performances in the competition. The Germany international was the club's top goalscorer for the season, as made 52 appearances in all competitions and scored 41 goals.
After one more season at the club, where he played an important role as Bayern Munich won the treble, Gomez left for Fiorentina. The striker had stints with Besiktas, Wolfsburg and Stuttgart before announcing his retirement this year.
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#7 Lionel Messi | 2018-19 | 12 goals in 10 games
A name that will come in this list quite frequently, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi enjoyed another phenomenal campaign for Barcelona in the 2018-19 season.
The 33-year old forward was the top goalscorer for his club across all competitions, scoring 51 goals in 50 appearances. In the Champions League, he played a pivotal role, scoring against the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool.
However, Barcelona endured a disappointing 4-0 loss away to Liverpool and were eliminated from Europe's premier club competition in the semi-finals. The loss was particularly embarrassing from Barcelona's point of view because they had won the home leg 3-0.
#6 Ruud van Nistelrooy | 2002-03 | 12 goals in 9 games
Regarded as one the best strikers of his generation, Ruud van Nistelrooy was renowned for his clinical finishing ability.
He enjoyed his most prolific season as a Manchester United player during the 2002-03 season. The Netherlands international made 52 appearances across all competitions and scored 44 goals. The Red Devils won the Premier League, but were eliminated from the Champions League in the quarter-finals by Real Madrid.
Van Nistelrooy scored in both ties against Real Madrid, but was unable to turn the tide. He left the club in 2006 to play for Real Madrid. After stints with Hamburg SV and Malaga, he retired in 2012.
#5 Lionel Messi | 2011-12 | 14 goals in 11 games
2011-12 has been Lionel Messi's most prolific goalscoring season till date.
The Argentine superstar was in fine form across all competitions under manager Pep Guardiola. He made 60 appearances in all competitions, scoring an astounding 73 goals. However, despite his performances Barcelona failed to win the league as well as the Champions League.
The Camp Nou outfit got eliminated in the semi-finals of the Champions League by eventual winners Chelsea, while losing the league to Real Madrid. Guardiola stepped down as manager after the season ended.
#4 Cristiano Ronaldo | 2017-18 | 15 goals in 13 games
2017-18 was Cristiano Ronaldo's last season as a Real Madrid player, and he left on a high.
Ronaldo made 44 appearances in all competitions for Los Blancos, scoring 44 goals. The former Sporting CP forward was instrumental as Real Madrid won their third consecutive Champions League title, and he finished with 15 goals in 13 games in the competition.
Ronaldo left for Juventus in the summer, as the Italian giants paid €100 million for his signature. Manager Zinedine Zidane too departed after the season, only to return a year later.
Also Read: 5 players Ronald Koeman could sign at Barcelona
#3 Robert Lewandowski | 2019-20 | 15 goals in 9 games*
The player who should have won the Ballon d'Or had it been awarded this year, Robert Lewandowski is now arguably the greatest striker of this generation.
The Poland international has been in scintillating form for some time now and is enjoying his finest goalscoring season for the Bavarians since joining the club in 2014. Lewandowski has made 46 appearances in all competitions so far, scoring 55 goals.
With the Champions League finals against Paris Saint-Germain left to go, more could be in store for the 31-year old, who has led the line for Bayern Munich spectacularly well.
#2 Cristiano Ronaldo | 2015-16 | 16 goals in 12 games
Another season in which Cristiano Ronaldo crossed the 50-goal mark for Real Madrid.
The forward made 48 appearances in all competitions and scored 51 goals, as Real Madrid won the Champions League, their first in a run of three consecutive triumphs.
The season began with the sacking of Carlo Ancelotti and the arrival of Rafa Benitez as manager. However, the Spaniard was also sacked in January and replaced by Zinedine Zidane. Los Blancos would go on to enjoy exceptional success under the Frenchman, who is now in his second spell as manager of the club.
#1 Cristiano Ronaldo | 2013-14 | 17 goals in 11 games
The player with the most goals in a Champions League season is Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored 17 goals in 11 games in the 2013-14 season.
Ronaldo finished the season with 51 goals in all competitions, as Real Madrid won the Champions League for the 10th time. Popularly dubbed as "La Decima", Carlo Ancelotti's men beat city-rivals Atletico Madrid 4-1 in the Champions League finals.
Goals from Sergio Ramos, Gareth Bale, Marcelo and Ronaldo sealed the deal for their side, as Diego Godin scored the solitary goal for Atleti. Los Blancos finished third in the league, behind Atletico Madrid and Barcelona.
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