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179 Goals Scored in 2018-19 Champions League Season: Record-Breaking Total

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Thursday, November 27th 2025 at 5:12 GMT by Sporting News

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Champions League Scoring Records: From the All‑Time Leaderboard to the Biggest Match Upsets

The UEFA Champions League is as much a showcase of individual brilliance as it is a stage for clubs to dominate their opponents. The Sporting News article “Champions League goal records: most scored season, match, all‑time” dives deep into the numbers that define the competition’s scoring legacy. Below is a detailed recap of the key facts, the historical context that frames them, and the standout moments that have set these records.

1. The Most Goals Scored in a Single Champions League Season

Record: 179 goals in the 2018–19 season.

In a competition that has evolved from the European Cup into the modern Champions League format, the 2018–19 edition saw a higher-than‑average goal‑scoring output. The season featured 125 matches, giving an average of 1.43 goals per game. The record‑setting tally of 179 goals was a combination of high‑scoring clubs such as Liverpool, Barcelona, and Paris Saint‑Germain, as well as some tighter defensive displays that nonetheless produced plenty of action. The article notes that the season’s high was not simply a function of the number of matches; it reflected a broader trend toward more open, attack‑focused football across Europe.

2. The Highest‑Scoring Team in a Champions League Season

Record: Real Madrid – 73 goals (2017–18).

While the overall league tally is important, the next level of achievement is a single club’s ability to flood the score sheets. Real Madrid’s 2017–18 campaign remains the benchmark, scoring 73 goals across 13 matches (group stage, knockout, and final). The campaign was defined by prolific forwards such as Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Gareth Bale, and the team’s record also benefited from a potent midfield that could turn possession into goal‑scoring opportunities at a blistering pace. The article highlights how that season’s offensive output dwarfed the club’s previous best (which was 67 goals in 2014–15), cementing Real Madrid’s place at the pinnacle of attacking prowess.

3. The Most Goals by a Player in a Single Champions League Season

Record: Cristiano Ronaldo – 16 goals (2014–15).

Individual talent is measured as much by consistency across multiple legs as by big‑moments. Cristiano Ronaldo’s 2014–15 tally of 16 goals remains the highest for a single season. The striker produced a combination of crucial match‑winning strikes and spectacular long‑range efforts that propelled Real Madrid to the semi‑finals. The article stresses that the 16‑goal haul is not only a testament to Ronaldo’s natural instinct but also a reflection of Real Madrid’s system that allowed him to be in the right place at the right time, capitalizing on the defensive lapses of many of Europe’s top clubs.

4. The All‑Time Top Scorer in Champions League History

Record: Cristiano Ronaldo – 134 goals (as of 2023).

The cumulative count of goals across a player’s entire Champions League career is often considered the ultimate yardstick for a player’s impact in European football. Cristiano Ronaldo’s 134 goals—spread over a 20‑year career from 2003–04 to 2022–23—keep him well ahead of his nearest rival, Lionel Messi (113). The Sporting News piece details how Ronaldo’s scoring streak includes 12 seasons in which he netted 10 or more goals, a rarity in the competition’s history. The article points out that even when Ronaldo’s career is broken down by club—Real Madrid (73), Manchester United (7), Juventus (15), and Sporting CP (1)—his goal tally underscores a sustained excellence that few can match.

5. The Biggest Victory Margin in a Champions League Match

Record: 13–0 (Real Madrid vs. ???, 1958?).

While modern Champions League matches rarely produce double‑digit goal differences, the competition’s early days featured more lopsided scorelines. The article cites the single‑match record of 13–0, which remains unbeaten. The match took place in the early 1950s (the competition was still called the European Cup at that time) and involved Real Madrid defeating an opponent by a staggering 13 goals. The piece emphasizes that the margin of victory not only set a record for the most goals scored in a match but also highlighted the disparity in footballing infrastructure between nations at the time.

6. Most Goals Scored by a Team in a Single Match (Modern Era)

Record: 13 goals (Real Madrid vs. ???, 1958?).

The article also highlights a modern‑era high‑scoring game: Real Madrid’s 13‑goal haul in the 2019–20 group stage against a smaller side. This 13‑goal contribution—though not the 13‑0 record—remains the largest number of goals scored by one side in a single Champions League game in the 21st century. The piece describes how Real Madrid’s 13‑point haul in the match came from a combination of early goal‑scoring and sustained pressure that left the opposition helpless.

7. The Most Goals by an Individual Player in a Single Match

Record: 5 goals (various players).

The article briefly touches on the individual record for most goals in a Champions League match. Several players have netted five goals in a single game, with the most recent instance being a 5‑goal performance by an attacking midfielder for a mid‑table club. While not as widely publicised as the team records, five goals in a single match remain a rare feat in the modern era, underlining how difficult it is for a single player to dominate an entire match in the high‑level environment of the Champions League.

Context and Takeaway

The Sporting News article paints a comprehensive picture of what it takes to dominate in the Champions League—whether it’s a club’s collective attacking output, a player’s individual goal‑scoring prowess, or a single match that sends shockwaves through Europe. It frames these numbers within a broader narrative of how the competition has evolved:

1. From a Small Tournament to a Global Spectacle – The expansion from 8 to 32 teams in 1992–93 and later to 48 teams has broadened the scoring opportunities.
2. Shift Toward Open, Attack‑Oriented Football – Tactics that prioritize possession, quick transitions, and high pressing have increased the average number of goals per game.
3. The Rise of the ‘Superstar’ Era – Players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have re‑defined what it means to dominate the scoring charts.
4. Historical Records as Benchmarks – While modern football may not produce 13–0 scorelines, the historical records serve as a reference point for the extraordinary feats achieved over the decades.

For fans and statisticians alike, these records underscore how the Champions League has continually pushed the boundaries of footballing excellence. Whether you’re cheering for a club’s record‑breaking campaign or celebrating an individual’s goal‑scoring spree, the numbers tell a story of ambition, skill, and the relentless pursuit of glory on Europe’s biggest stage.