Chelsea's love affair with the Champions League began with the arrival of Russian-Israeli billionaire Roman Abramovich in 2003.
His desire was clear: to have the best players, play beautiful football and win the Champions League.
It became an often gruelling obsession for the Blues, with countless managers paying with their heads for failed European campaigns.
Then, finally, salvation. Against all odds, with interim boss Roberto Di Matteo in charge and arguably a far weaker squad than in years gone by, Chelsea won the Champions League against Bayern Munich, in Munich in 2012.
While the club's domestic success has persisted in the years since, they have struggled to reach the same heights in club football's stellar competition.
Here are Chelsea's top 30 goalscorers on their Champions League journey so far...
30. Damien Duff
Appearances: 26
Goals: 3
He may be 30th on this list, but the Chelsea cult hero scored one of the club's most iconic Champions League goals.
The Irishman made it 3-0 after just 20 minutes of the last 16 second legagainst Barcelona in 2005 - a game the Blues would win 4-2 on the way to the semi-finals.
29. Gianfranco Zola
Appearances: 14
Goals: 3
Quite a lowly figure for a club legend, but Franco Zola didn't have that many opportunities to play in Europe's premier club competition.
Also got one in a big game with Barcelona, though.
28. Samuel Eto'o
Appearances: 9
Goals: 3
An unsurprisingly decent record for the veteran Cameroonian.
He nabbed a brace in a group stage game against Schalke in 2013/14, before adding and early strike to give Chelsea a win over Galatasaray in the last 16.
27. Michy Batshuayi
Batshuayi answers the call! ?
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) October 23, 2019
Great work by Pulisic and Chelsea have grabbed a fantastic result in Amsterdam! ? pic.twitter.com/ZtbTLJrBtr
Appearances: 8
Goals: 3
Despite seemingly being perennially down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge, Batshuayi has a good goals per game ratio.
Scored a crucial winner away to Ajax in last season's group stage, now back on loan at Crystal Palace. Football, eh.
26. Demba Ba
Appearances: 6
Goals: 3
What's Demba Ba up to these days?
As Manchester United fans are all-too aware, Ba is still banging Gazprom goals at Istanbul Basaksehir. He got a few at Chelsea, too.
25. Timo Werner
Appearances: 3
Goals: 3
Yep, the blockbuster summer signing is already among Chelsea's top goalscorers in the Champions League.
Every one of his three strikes so far has come from the penalty spot. He is German after all.
24. Gary Cahill
Appearances: 38
Goals: 4
A Champions League winner with Chelsea in his debut season and a stalwart at the back for several seasons alongside John Terry.
Like Terry, he's always been a goal threat, and that was no different in the Champions League. Wore 24 on his back too, interestingly.
23. Michael Ballack
One-touch football at its finest ?
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) March 6, 2020
Ballack for @ChelseaFC ? #OTD in 2007 #UCL pic.twitter.com/ILT5RuBJwA
Appearances: 33
Goals: 4
A legend of European football, Ballack became a firm fan favourite at Stamford Bridge.
Rifled a typically thunderous penalty into the roof of the Werder Bremen net on his Champions League debut as a Blue in 2006, but would be on the losing side in the infamous Moscow final of 2008.
22. David Luiz
Appearances: 29
Goals: 4
A man who when he is playing for Chelsea is a fan favourite, and when against is public enemy number one.
Nevertheless, won the Champions League with the club and nabbed a few goals over the years.
21. Eidur Gudjohnsen
? A classic round of 16 comeback victory...
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) March 8, 2019
? #OnThisDay in 2005, a six-goal thriller at Stamford Bridge!
⚽️ Gudjohnsen, Lampard, Duff, Terry; Ronaldinho (2)#UCL #FlashbackFriday pic.twitter.com/p4cSLVN8bC
Appearances: 25
Goals: 4
On paper, not a great return for a forward - but Eidur Gudjohnsen was much more than just goals.
A cult hero among the Chelsea faithful, the Icelander scored a key goal against Barcelona in 2005.
20. Cesc Fabregas
Appearances: 23
Goals: 4
Chelsea somehow managed to secure Cesc Fabregas when he was at his peak in 2014.
The Spaniard immediately became a key player, but unfortunately joined Chelsea at a stage where their European powers were waning.
19. Hernan Crespo
Appearances: 15
Goals: 4
Probably better known for his Champions League exploits elsewhere, the Argentine had an okay return in Europe for Chelsea.
Scored the equalising goal in the first leg of the Blues' ill-fated Champions League semi-final tie against Monaco in 2004. Ultimately underappreciated and underused during is time in west London.
18. Andriy Shevchenko
Appearances: 15
Goals: 4
Another big-money arrival from Serie A who never really got it going in England.
A wonderful striker on his day, but it will come as little surprise that Shevchenko only managed four Champions League goals for Chelsea.
17. Dennis Wise
Appearances: 13
Goals: 4
Definitely a surprise name so far up this list, Wise enjoyed a solid European career before Chelsea were truly challengers on the biggest stage.
All the hard man's goals came in the two group stages of the old format of the competition in 1999/00, before the Blues were eventually beaten by Barcelona in the quarters.
16. Tammy Abraham
What a start to the new season Tammy Abraham is having ?
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) October 3, 2019
∙ Second-highest PL scorer
∙ 8 goals in 10 matches
∙ Back in the England squad
The Lampard effect ?pic.twitter.com/xoOl7Pi2b4
Appearances: 11
Goals: 4
Another recent entry on this list, Abraham enjoyed a good debut campaign in Europe's elite club competition netting three times, including against eventual champions Bayern Munich.
He got off the mark in the 2020/21 edition with a neat finish against Rennes. More to come.
15. Juan Mata
Appearances: 20
Goals: 5
A firm fan favourite during his time at Stamford Bridge and a Champions League winner on that fateful night in Munich.
Mata was so crucial for his creativity, but he also chipped in with the goalscoring - including what would become a vital away goal against Napoli in the last 16 on the road to glory in 2012.
14. Joe Cole
Appearances: 50
Goals: 6
A helluva player on his day, and the most European of British talents.
Joe Cole was a member of the Chelsea squads throughout the noughties that had all the quality but could never quite make it past the final hurdle.
13. Michael Essien
? #OTD in 2005, Michael Essien joined Chelsea ✍️#UCL | #OnThisDay | @ChelseaFC pic.twitter.com/aXrDx788iI
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) August 19, 2019
Appearances: 49
Goals: 6
The Bison. Brilliant as a midfield enforcer for Chelsea before injuries eventually started taking their toll.
His most famous Champions League goal was ultimately in vain, as Andres Iniesta broke Blue hearts.
12. Branislav Ivanovic
Appearances: 58
Goals: 7
Having struggled to break into the first team picture after arriving in 2009, the Serbian would become a stalwart at the back for Chelsea.
A Champions League winner with a knack of scoring hugely important goals, you still wouldn't want to meet him down a dark alleyway at night.
11. Saloman Kalou
? Um bis de Salomon Kalou, vencedor da @ChampionsLeague pelo Chelsea, para festejar o seu 34º aniversário! ?
— UEFA.com em português (@UEFAcom_pt) August 5, 2019
Qual é actualmente o melhor jogador da Costa do Marfim??? ?#UCL @ChelseaFC_pt @salomonkalou pic.twitter.com/gsKWUVk2b3
Appearances: 49
Goals: 7
Never seemed to be that good at football, but still managed to forge a career for himself and win seven major trophies in six seasons at Stamford Bridge, including the Champions League.
Definitely an unsung hero.
10. Ramires
Appearances: 45
Goals: 7
Another unsung hero, although immortalised thanks to his role in the 2012 triumph.
His wonderful looping lob over the head of Barça's Victor Valdes in the dramatic semi-final second leg that year is among the greatest Champions League goals of all time.
9. Eden Hazard
Appearances: 38
Goals: 8
Hazard should surely sit higher up this list considering his calibre, but in truth he was never part of a Chelsea setup that shone on Europe's biggest stage.
The furthest he would get would be the semi-final in 2013/14, with future teammate Diego Costa knocking him out. Thankfully, he won plenty elsewhere.
8. Oscar
? 8 years since Oscar joined Chelsea ✍️
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) July 25, 2020
?? @oscar8 ?#UCL | #OTD | @ChelseaFC pic.twitter.com/V5dUJPxKZ2
Appearances: 30
Goals: 8
Perhaps a little surprising to see the mercurial Brazilian this high, but some of his best moments came on Champions League nights (see above).
The turn on Andrea Pirlo and whipped finish past Gianluigi Buffon are the enduring memory of his pretty average time at Stamford Bridge.
7. Tore Andre Flo
Appearances: 14
Goals: 8
Another surprise, considering he made fewer than half the appearances that Hazard made.
Nevertheless, Flo was very efficient in front of goal in the Champions League, scoring twice in the quarter-final first-leg victory over Barcelona in 2000.
He ended up being joint-third top goalscorer in the competition that year.
6. John Terry
Appearances: 109
Goals: 10
Captain, leader, legend and surprisingly regular goalscorer.
Despite the stalwart being a centre-back, Terry still managed ten Champions League goals, famously dressing in full kit to lift the trophy despite being suspended in 2012.
5. Willian
?? Willian wins it late for Chelsea!#UCL | @ChelseaFC | @willianborges88 pic.twitter.com/ESgDucNUpR
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) October 9, 2019
Appearances: 41
Goals: 10
Another Brazilian defector to Arsenal, Willian was a consistent performer for Chelsea in all competitions.
The fact he outscored Hazard in fewer games demonstrates he was perhaps not as appreciated as he should have been during his peak years.
4. Fernando Torres
Appearances: 29
Goals: 10
Yes a flop, yes much more was expected.
But Torres had some fine moments in the Champions League, scoring arguably the club's most iconic goal (from open play) in the Camp Nou.
He boast a Champions League winners medal among his haul. Enough said.
3. Nicolas Anelka
Appearances: 37
Goals: 12
Le Sulk enjoyed the best spell of his tumultuous career at Stamford Bridge, acting as the perfect foil for Didier Drogba and regularly making an impact off the bench.
Unfortunately, the worst moment of his career came in Blue too, as his decisive penalty was saved in the 2008 Champions League final.
2. Frank Lampard
Appearances: 102
Goals: 23
You knew Super Frank was coming right up there in this list.
A fantastic footballer, Lampard was ridiculously consistent and efficient for Chelsea throughout his career at Stamford Bridge.
A Champions League winner in 2012, he remains the club's all-time top scorer with 211, despite being a central midfielder.
1. Didier Drogba
? The moment Chelsea & Didier Drogba became champions of Europe ?#UCL | @ChelseaFC | @didierdrogba https://t.co/BksPc2SsKM pic.twitter.com/YsTuFggWY0
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) July 21, 2020
Appearances: 74
Goals: 36
There was only ever going to be one man to pip Lampard to the post.
The epitome of Chelsea's dogged struggle to eventually reach Champions League glory, Drogba dragged the Blues to victory almost singlehandedly in the final in 2012.
One of the club's greatest ever players, it will take some doing to beat this record.
Source: 90min
