Robert Lewandowski edges Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo goal record as Bayern Munich striker scores hat-trick in 100th Champions League game

Robert Lewandowski marked his 100th Champions League game with a hat-trick in Bayern Munich’s 5-2 victory over Benfica, which puts him in esteemed company.

The goal machine’s latest treble cements his place as one of the competition’s most prolific scorers, and he now boasts a better goal tally than both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo at the same stage of their European careers.

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Lewandowski’s hat-trick means he has now scored a stunning 81 goals in Europe’s elite competition.

It’s the highest goal tally of any active player in Champions League history after 100 games, having scored more than Messi and Ronaldo did when they reached a century of appearances at the top level of European football.

It’s also the quickest any player has reached 80 goals in the Champions League, again beating Messi and Ronaldo’s goal records.

Lewandowski is now third in the competition’s all-time scoring charts, with Ronaldo leading the way with 139 goals and Messi second with 123.

However, Ronaldo has played in 180 Champions League games, while Messi has featured 152 times, which shows just how impressive the Bayern frontman’s achivement is.

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Lewandowski is also the current top goalscorer in the Champions League this season, with eight goals in four games to help Bayern secure their place in the knockout phase already.

The 33-year-old has four European hat-tricks under his belt. Only two players in the history of the competition have more. You guessed it – Ronaldo and Messi, who have eight apiece.

The former Dortmund striker was crowned the 2020 World Player of the Year by FIFA, beating Messi and Ronaldo to the gong, and and aiming to win this prestigious award for the second consecutive year.

Lewandowski has also been nominated for the 2021 Ballon d’Or, having scored 59 goals and provided nine assist in 49 games in the calendar year so far.

“This is a special, special player,” former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand said. “Ronaldo and Messi have always been the benchmark, always, but Robert Lewandowski, it’s his time to potentially win the Ballon d’Or this year.”

Bayern head coach Julian Nagelsmann compared the three stars and said: “I think it’s very difficult to compare because they are different types of players.

“I think all three were very impressive players over the last few years.

“I believe that Lewy can achieve a lot, also at an older age, because of his physique, lifestyle and the way he lives as a footballer.

“He will continue to be the best forward in the world because he does everything to keep it that way.”