Lewandowski joins Ronaldo and Messi in exclusive UCL 100 goals club

Robert Lewandowski joined Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi as the only players in Champions League history to score 100 or more goals.

Lewandowski’s early penalty lifted Barcelona to a 3-0 win over previously unbeaten Brest to move into second place in the new single league format. The Polish striker scored his 101st goal in second-half stoppage time.

Ronaldo leads the all-time top scorer list with 140 goals, followed by Messi with 129. However, neither Ronaldo nor Messi play in the Champions League anymore after moving to the Saudi Pro League and MLS respectively.

“I’m very happy, that’s a nice number. Years ago I wouldn’t have thought that I could score more than 100 goals in the Champions League. “Together with Messi and Ronaldo… I think they’re good, right?” Lewandowski told Movistar.

“For me the most important thing is that we try to win every game. If I can score then that will be the perfect solution,” he added.

The 36-year-old Lewandowski needed 125 games to reach the century mark, two more than Messi (123) and 12 fewer than Ronaldo (137).

Barça coach Hansi Flick, who also worked with Lewandowski at Bayern Munich, praised the striker’s performance.

“I also knew him for two years in Munich, where he broke all the records that could be broken.

Barcelona also scored in the second half through Dani Olmo and returned to winning ways after two winless LaLiga games.

“I am very happy that we won today and got three points, but also that we dominated the game and the opponent, defended well and attacked well,” added Flick.

“That was good to see. Of course, in a long season there are some situations that we don’t expect, but in the end we came back and that was very important.”

“I won’t say everything was perfect, but it was a really good step after the (draw against Celta) Vigo. I’m a little bit hungry to score more goals, but in the end three points are perfect.”

The top eight teams in the Champions League standings will advance directly to the round of 16 in March. Teams placed ninth through 24th advance to the knockout playoff round in February, while the bottom 12 teams are eliminated.

Barça’s win against Brest saw them climb to second place and Flick will be keen to secure a place in the top eight as quickly as possible in the upcoming games against Borussia Dortmund, Benfica and Atalanta.

“When we start the new Champions League, the new format, our goal was to get into the top eight because then you have two weeks more (free time) in February,” he said.

“But we know that there are still some appointments coming up. We have to play against Dortmund in the next game. It will be tough, they are good in Dortmund, but I think we are ready for it and can show it in Dortmund.”

Sam Marsden of ESPN and The Associated Press contributed to this report.