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Champions League 40-goal club: Mohamed Salah equals Didier Drogba record

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah equals Didier Drogba's record as the highest-scoring African player in Champions League history, while Karim Benzema closes the gap on Robert Lewandowski.

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah became the joint-highest scoring African player in Champions League history courtesy of his goal against Real Madrid at Anfield this evening.

The Egyptian capitalised on an horrendous error from Thibaut Courtois to make his 44th Champions League goal one of his easiest, moving himself above Paris Saint-Germain's Neymar in the all-time rankings and level with Chelsea legend Didier Drogba.

No player from his continent has now scored more goals in the competition than Salah, whose goal also saw him move clear of Steven Gerrard's as Liverpool's all-time leading scorer in European competition.

However, despite his strike putting Liverpool 2-0 up inside 15 minutes at Anfield, it proved to be a miserable night for Salah and his teammates as Real Madrid stormed back to win 5-2.

Central to yet another famous Champions League comeback was Karim Benzema, whose second-half brace capped off the rout and saw him close the gap on Robert Lewandowski to just three goals.

Benzema is now on 88 goals in the competition, and after tonight's result will likely have at least three more games in 2022-23 to surpass Lewandowski's tally of 91, with the Barcelona striker no longer involved in the Champions League this season.

Here, Sports Mole looks at the latest standings in the Champions League 40-goal club following Tuesday's action.



1. Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus)

Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring against Villarreal in the Champions League on September 29, 2021© Reuters

Goals: 140
Appearances: 183
Ratio: 0.77



2. Lionel Messi (Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain)

Lionel Messi celebrates scoring for Paris Saint-Germain against Benfica on October 5, 2022© Reuters

Goals: 129
Appearances: 162
Ratio: 0.80



3. Robert Lewandowski (Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, Barcelona)

Robert Lewandowski celebrates scoring for Barcelona on October 12, 2022© Reuters

Goals: 91
Appearances: 111
Ratio: 0.82



4. Karim Benzema (Lyon, Real Madrid)

Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema celebrates scoring against Chelsea on April 5, 2022© Reuters

Goals: 88
Appearances: 147
Ratio: 0.60



5. Raul (Real Madrid, Schalke 04)

Raul in action for Real Madrid in 2009© Reuters

Goals: 71
Appearances: 142
Ratio: 0.50



6. Ruud van Nistelrooy (PSV Eindhoven, Manchester United, Real Madrid)

Ruud van Nistelrooy for Manchester United© Reuters

Goals: 56
Appearances: 73
Ratio: 0.77



7. Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich)

Thomas Muller in action for Bayern Munich on September 30, 2022© Reuters

Goals: 53
Appearances: 139
Ratio: 0.38



8. Thierry Henry (Monaco, Arsenal, Barcelona)

Thierry Henry celebrates scoring for Arsenal against Sparta Prague in the Champions League on October 18, 2005© Reuters

Goals: 50
Appearances: 112
Ratio: 0.45



9. Alfredo Di Stefano (Real Madrid)

Goals: 49
Appearances: 58
Ratio: 0.84



10. Andriy Shevchenko (Dynamo Kiev, AC Milan, Chelsea)

Andriy Shevchenko pictured for AC Milan in 2006© Reuters

Goals: 48
Appearances: 100
Ratio: 0.48



11. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Ajax, Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona, AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain)

AC Milan's Zlatan Ibrahimovic celebrates scoring their second goal on September 12, 2021© Reuters

Goals: 48
Appearances: 124
Ratio: 0.39



12. Eusebio (Benfica)

Eusebio pictured for Benfica during his playing career© Reuters

Goals: 46
Appearances: 65
Ratio: 0.71



13. Filippo Inzaghi (Juventus, AC Milan)

Filippo Inzaghi celebrates for AC Milan in 2010© Reuters

Goals: 46
Appearances: 81
Ratio: 0.57



15. Mohamed Salah (Basel, Roma, Liverpool)

Liverpool attacker Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring against Rangers on October 11, 2022© Reuters

Goals: 44
Appearances: 78
Ratio: 0.56



15. Didier Drogba (Marseille, Chelsea, Galatasaray)

Didier Drogba with the Champions League trophy in 2012.© Reuters

Goals: 44
Appearances: 92
Ratio: 0.48



16. Neymar (Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain)

Neymar celebrates scoring for Paris Saint-Germain on August 21, 2022© Reuters

Goals: 43
Appearances: 81
Ratio: 0.53



17. Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus)

Alessandro Del Piero celebrates scoring for Juventus in 1998© Reuters

Goals: 42
Appearances: 89
Ratio: 0.47



18. Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid, Manchester City)

Sergio Aguero in action for Manchester City on March 10, 2021© Reuters

Goals: 41
Appearances: 79
Ratio: 0.52



19. Kylian Mbappe (Monaco, Paris Saint-Germain)

Kylian Mbappe in action for Paris Saint-Germain on October 1, 2022© Reuters

Goals: 40
Appearances: 60
Ratio: 0.67


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5Arsenal105321711618
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