Bayern's Lewandowski joins 50-goal club

Robert Lewandowski has become just the seventh player to reach the landmark of 50 UEFA Champions League goals following his first strike for Bayern München against Benfica on Tuesday.

The Polish forward achieved his half-century during Bayern's group stage fixture with Benfica, drawing himself level with Thierry Henry – and at a superior scoring rate to the current Monaco coach. Lewandowski required just 77 games to bring up his 50th goal in the competition, from group stage to final, whereas Henry amassed his 50 goals in 112 matches for Monaco, Arsenal and Barcelona.

Opening his account for Dortmund against Olympiacos in October 2011, Lewandowski buried the first 17 of his UEFA Champions League goals for BVB before joining Bayern in 2014. He is now only five goals shy of Ruud van Nistelrooy, who lies fifth on the all-time table, with record scorer Cristiano Ronaldo a long way clear on 121 strikes.

All-time leading scorers in the UEFA Champions League (group stage to final)

121 Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus)
105 Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
71 Raúl González (Real Madrid, Schalke)
59 Karim Benzema (Lyon, Real Madrid)
56 Ruud van Nistelrooy (PSV Eindhoven, Manchester United, Real Madrid)
51 Robert Lewandowski (Borussia Dortmund, Bayern München)
50 Thierry Henry (Monaco, Arsenal, Barcelona)