Haaland surpasses Henry and Van Nistelrooy, joins Drogba in Champions League scoring chart

Erling Haaland scored a brace in Manchester City’s victory away at FC Porto (2-0), bringing his Champions League total to 36 goals. The Norwegian thus surpasses Thierry Henry (Arsenal) and Ruud van Nistelrooy (Manchester United), who both scored 35 goals in the competition, and joins Didier Drogba and Sergio Agüero in second place among the top scorers for English clubs in the Champions League.

Haaland is only in his fifth season at Manchester City. His progression has been remarkable: 12 goals in his first European campaign with City, crowned by the 2023 triumph, then 8 goals in each of the following two seasons. At 24 years old, he is closing in on the all-time record held by Mohamed Salah, credited with 46 goals in the Champions League in Liverpool colours.

Salah remains the record holder across all nationalities for an English club. The Egyptian led Liverpool to three finals, including the 2019 triumph over Tottenham. Drogba occupies this shared second place with 36 goals spread over seven seasons with Chelsea, to which are added five goals scored with Marseille in 2003. The Ivorian lifted the trophy in 2012, before adding two more goals during his return to Stamford Bridge in 2014-2015.

Agüero also shares this total of 36 goals, but has never won the trophy. The Argentine lost in the 2021 final to Chelsea (0-1), coming on only in the final quarter of an hour. Henry and Van Nistelrooy, now surpassed, have also never been crowned Champions League winners with their respective English clubs.