Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski backed to break Lionel Messi's Champions League goals mark - 'It's not impossible'
Published 07/11/2024 at 07:54 GMT
Lionel Messi is the second-top scorer in the history of the UEFA Champions League - behind only Cristiano Ronaldo - but could Robert Lewandowski catch him? The Barcelona striker scored his 99th goal in the competition when his side beat Crvena Zvezda on Wednesday. It leaves him 30 behind Messi, but TNT Sports pundits Rory Smith and Karen Carney are not ruling out Lewandowski from making history.
'Not impossible' - Smith says Lewandowski can match Messi's Champions League goal tally
Video credit: TNT Sports
Robert Lewandowski is being backed to overtake Lionel Messi's scoring numbers in the UEFA Champions League.
The Barcelona striker scored his 99th goal in the competition during their 5-2 win at Crvena Zvezda.
With four matches still to go in the League Phase of this year's tournament, the Pole is widely expected to reach three figures this season.
Should he do so, he will become just the third player, behind Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, to net 100 times in the Champions League.
Messi has bagged 129 goals in the competition, while Ronaldo has 140.
But given Lewandowski's longevity, TNT Sports pundit Rory Smith sees no reason why the Argentina forward cannot be caught.
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"It's not impossible that he catches Messi," he said. "30 more goals. Two more years. 15 a season.
"He's quite old, but he famously eats his pudding before his main course. He'll be going!
"But also, he's going to have eight games per season to do it in, at least. So it's not impossible."
Lewandowski's first Champions League goal came way back in 2011, when he scored in a 3-1 defeat to Olympiacos for Borussia Dortmund.
He has amazingly netted in a further 65 games since then, of which only two more have been lost, whereas 58 have ended in victory.
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Highlights: Lewandowski and Raphinha both on target as Barcelona ease past Crvena Zvezda
Video credit: TNT Sports
The Polish international will get a chance to swell that figure when Barcelona host Brest later this month.
After that, the Spanish giants face his former club Dortmund on the road, travel to Benfica and then finish up at home to Atalanta.
Speaking on TNT Sports, former England international Karen Carney added that the youthful exuberance of current Barca side will play into Lewandowski's hands.
She said: "You've got the young people to do your running in the team, which is always helpful."
Joe Cole meanwhile paid tribute to the striker's achievements.
"That's incredible, Lewandowski, 99 goals," he said. "With a flake on top! Look at the company he keeps."
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