Barcelona star Robert Lewandowski has reacted to joining Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in rarefied air in the Champions League. The trio are the only men in the competition's history to score 100 goals.
Lewandowski has been brilliant in the competition, having scored for Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, and Barcelona. He crossed the threshold on Tuesday (November 26) when he bagged a brace in the Catalans' 3-0 win over Brest.
Speaking after the match, the Polish striker told Mundo Deportivo:
“Years ago, I didn’t think I would reach my 100th goal in the Champions League. It’s good to have your name next to Cristiano and Messi. I’m very happy, I didn’t think I would score this many goals in the Champions League."
Robert Lewandowski has bagged 101 goals and 26 assists in 125 games in the UEFA Champions League. His tally in the competition is only bettered by Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, who have scored 140 goals in 183 appearances and 129 goals in 163 appearances, respectively.
Barcelona boss Hansi Flick has hailed Robert Lewandowski after the striker joined Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi as the only players to bag 100 goals in the Champions League.
The Polish striker has been a vital part of the Catalan outfit since he arrived in 2022 from Bayern Munich for a reported €45 million fee. He is working with Hansi Flick for a second time. The manager has overseen 90 matches with the Polish striker, and Lewandowski has bagged 105 goals and 25 assists in those games.
Speaking about Lewandowski's performance after the game, Flick said (via The Business Standard):
"Lewandowski is great, I'm delighted with his goals. I think Lewandowski knows he has to score and he is in the position to do it, but the important thing is what the team generates. Obviously, he knows he has to score and he plays for it, but what this team does is just wonderful."
While Robert Lewandowski continues to play in Europe, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi now play in Saudi Arabia and the USA, respectively. The striker hopes to add to his haul and potentially surpass one or both of the legendary duo before he hangs up his boots.