Harry Kane reaches new milestone in 25 games quicker than Cristiano Ronaldo – and ties level with Lionel Messi

Harry Kane has become the third-fastest player to reach 50 Champions League goals.

The Bayern Munich striker scored twice in their 4-1 win over Atalanta on Wednesday night.

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In doing so, he reached a half-century in the competition on his 66th Champions League appearance.

Only two players have achieved the feat quicker in the history of the tournament.

Ruud van Nistelrooy previously held the record after doing so in 62 appearances.

However, his benchmark was surpassed by Erling Haaland back in September as he scored his 50th goal on only his 49th outing.

Candy Kane

As for Kane, he draws level with Lionel Messi as the third-fastest to do so.

The all-time leading scorer in Champions League history, Cristiano Ronaldo, needed 91 appearances to reach 50 goals, though.

Ronaldo went on to score 140 times in 183 appearances in the competition for Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus.

As for Kane, he reached the figure with a brace against Atalanta at the Allianz Arena.

It also makes him the first English player to score 50 Champions League goals.

The 32-year-old had already been the leading English scorer in the competition, with his nearest challenger Wayne Rooney managing 30.

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Bayern, who had already been 6-1 up from last week’s first leg, cruised to a 4-1 home victory.

Kane opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the first half before adding another after the break.

Lennart Karl and Luis Diaz added further gloss to the scoreline later in the second half.

Vincent Kompany‘s side will now face Real Madrid in the last eight next month.

As for Kane, his 50th goal comes almost a decade on from his Champions League debut.

The England captain made his bow in the competition for Tottenham Hotspur against Monaco in September 2016.

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His first goal followed in his next appearance two months later as he found the net in the reverse fixture.

Kane would go on to score 21 goals in 32 Champions League appearances for Spurs.

Since joining Bayern in 2023, he has added a further 29 strikes to that tally in 34 matches.

Having previously won the golden boot in his debut season with the German giants, he could once again end the campaign as the Champions League’s top scorer.

Kane is tied for second on ten goals with Anthony Gordon, who was knocked out with Newcastle United earlier in the night.

Current top scorer Kylian Mbappe is three goals ahead on 13 following the last-16 stage.