Introduction

Erling Haaland has been unstoppable in the Premier League, finishing as the top scorer for two consecutive seasons and maintaining that red-hot form in his third. His goal-scoring prowess isn’t limited to domestic competitions—he led Manchester City to Champions League glory in the 2022/23 season, finishing as the tournament’s top scorer with 12 goals.

Cristiano Ronaldo recently became the first player to reach 900 goals for club and country—an extraordinary feat. He also holds the record as the all-time top scorer in Champions League history, with 140 goals in 183 appearances. While these numbers are monumental, the introduction of the new UCL format raises an intriguing question: could this once-unassailable record now be within easier reach?

The new Champions League Format

Starting with the 2024/25 season, the Champions League has rebranded itself with a new format. All participating teams now compete in a league phase, with each club playing eight matches against different opponents. The top eight teams from this phase advance directly to the Round of 16. Teams finishing 9th to 24th will battle in a two-legged knockout play-off to secure their spot in the last 16. Meanwhile, the bottom-placed teams are eliminated outright, with no fallback into the Europa League.

The new Champions League format offers fans more action, with each team playing eight matches in the league phase—two more than the old group stage. Teams finishing between 9th and 24th will also get two additional games through the play-off round. As a result, the maximum number of matches a team can play in a season has increased from 13 to 17, providing more opportunities for top players to rack up goals.

With this expanded schedule, Erling Haaland—already one of the most lethal finishers in football—has a greater chance to chase down Ronaldo’s record of 140 UCL goals. The question now is: can Haaland take advantage of the extra games and cement his legacy by becoming the all-time top scorer in the competition?

Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo, famously known as “Mr. Champions League,” holds the all-time UCL goal record with 140 goals in 183 appearances. Following him are Lionel Messi with 129 goals in 163 matches and Robert Lewandowski with 96 goals in 122 games. While these numbers seem almost superhuman, the revamped UCL format could make such feats more attainable. With more matches and opportunities, a player in peak form could realistically score 15+ goals in a single campaign.

Ronaldo’s best UCL season came in 2013/14 when he netted a staggering 17 goals in just 11 games, leading Real Madrid to their coveted La Decima. With the new format allowing teams to play up to 17 matches, could Erling Haaland—or another rising star—eclipse that record in the near future?

Erling Haaland

Erling Haaland has already amassed 42 goals in just 41 Champions League appearances—an astonishing start that puts him firmly on track to challenge Ronaldo’s all-time record. If he maintains this scoring rate and consistently makes deep runs in the tournament throughout his career, surpassing 140 goals seems well within reach.

Playing European football every season will be essential to his pursuit. Given Manchester City’s current dominance in the Premier League, regular UCL qualification seems all but guaranteed. Even if Haaland were to switch clubs in the future, it’s likely he would join a team with assured European football, ensuring he stays in the hunt to break the record. With the expanded UCL format offering more matches, Haaland’s path to becoming the all-time top scorer looks more achievable than ever.

So, does that mean Erling Haaland can easily surpass Ronaldo’s all-time UCL goal record? Not quite. While the Norwegian striker’s scoring rate is impressive, Ronaldo’s record is not just about quantity—it’s about quality and timing. Of Ronaldo’s 140 goals, a staggering 67 came in the knockout stages, nearly half of his total. Scoring at such a high level when the pressure is greatest is what truly sets Ronaldo apart and earned him the title of Mr. Champions League.

Haaland has the potential to become the tournament’s top scorer, but breaking Ronaldo’s record for most knockout-stage goals will be a monumental challenge. Knockout-stage goals require a different mentality—thriving under immense pressure, against the toughest opposition, and often delivering in clutch moments. Whether Haaland can replicate this consistency in the most decisive phases of the competition will ultimately determine how close he comes to not just matching but surpassing Ronaldo’s legacy in the Champions League.

Ronaldo’s 67 knockout-stage goals are unmatched not only among players but even compared to entire clubs. To put this into perspective, the second-highest tally belongs to Lionel Messi with 49 goals. Astonishingly, Ronaldo’s individual total surpasses Liverpool FC’s 66 knockout goals—one of the most successful clubs in European history.

This comparison highlights just how extraordinary Ronaldo’s record truly is. It’s not just about personal accolades; his ability to consistently deliver in high-stakes moments across multiple seasons has set a benchmark that may remain untouched for generations. Haaland may have the potential to break the all-time goal record, but reaching Ronaldo’s knockout-stage numbers is a different kind of challenge—one that might even be harder to achieve.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Erling Haaland has a real shot at surpassing Ronaldo’s record for the most goals scored in Champions League history—provided he stays injury-free and maintains his incredible scoring consistency throughout his career. However, Ronaldo’s knockout-stage goal record of 67 remains on a different level and, at least for now, seems untouchable.

That said, football is unpredictable, and records are made to be broken. Whether Haaland can rewrite history or not, what truly matters is that we get to witness his brilliance on the biggest stage. Let’s enjoy every moment of his journey and see how far he can go in the years to come.

Leave a comment telling us what you think. Weather Haaland can break Ronaldo’s Record or not? See you soon, Till then read my Introduction post here.