Holders Paris Saint-Germain are one game away from retaining the Champions League after knocking out German champions Bayern Munich. Bayern can still complete the domestic double but again miss out on the big one.
Ousamane Dembele beat Bayern goalkeeper early on to set up the winImage: Angelika Warmuth/REUTERS
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The wait for a first Champions League title since 2020 goes on for Bayern Munich after holders Paris Saint-Germain knocked them out at the semifinal stage. A 1-1 draw in Munich on Wednesday completed a 6-5 aggregate win.
After a breathless 5-4 first leg defeat in Paris that has already been labeled one of competition’s greatest games, Bayern soon found themselves two down in the tie. Ousmane Dembele delivered the early blow, the former Borussia Dortmund forward lashing home in the third minute after some smart work from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
Holders PSG showed in the French capital that they are not a side to always sit tight on a position of strength and both sides continued at a rapid pace. PSG’s leftback Nuno Mendes was lucky to escape a second yellow card for handball, infuriating the German fans in the Allianz Arena and Bayern's usually unflappable coach, Vincent Kompany.
Handball controversies frustrate Bayern
Moments later, those same fans and that same coach were enraged by another handball call, as the ball struck Vitinha in the arm in the box but the referee took no action and opted against calling on the Video Assistant Referee (VAR). Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was forced to remonstrate with his own fans to stop throwing missiles on the pitch. The warning was heeded.
Bayern's Jamal Musiala came close three times shortly before the break but the German champions went in at halftime with plenty still to do.
But as the second half minutes ebbed away, Bayern’s frustrations became clearer with every aborted attack. Though they worked themselves in to some promising positions, Bayern lacked the conviction they showed last week and throughout a record-breaking Bundesliga season, while PSG remained a threat on the break. Harry Kane got a goal back in the final moments but time was almost up, and so was another European campaign for Bayern.
The top 10 Champions League goal scorers
From Mbappe and Lewandowski to Müller, the top 10 all-time Champions League goal scorers list is full of stars.
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Harry Kane - 50 goals*
After losing the 2019 Champions League final with Spurs, Harry Kane has gone from strength to strength with Bayern Munich. After 21 in 31 in Europe's top competition for his old club, he is nearly at a goal a game for the German champions. With 50 goals in the Champions League, Kane is now level with legends Thierry Henry and Mohamed Salah. *as of April 28, 2026
Image: Philippe Ruiz/IMAGO
Ruud van Nistelrooy – 56 goals
Dutch striker Rutgerus Johannes Martinus van Nistelrooij scored for three clubs in the Champions League: PSV Eindhoven (8 goals), Manchester United (35) and Real Madrid (13). Van Nistelrooy failed to win a Champions League title, but he was the top scorer in Europe's top competition in three different seasons.
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Thomas Müller – 57 goals
At the age of 19, Müller scored his first Champions League goals for Bayern Munich in a 7-1 win over Sporting Lisbon in March 2009. He won the Champions League twice with Bayern, in 2012-13 and 2019-20. In the summer of 2025 Müller surprised everybody – not by moving to MLS but by choosing the Vancouver Whitecaps. The now-36-year-old is hoping lead the Whitecaps to a first MLS Cup.
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Erling Haaland – 57 goals*
The Norwegian has become one of the most clinical goalscorers in the modern game. After scoring 8 goals in his first 6 UCL games for Red Bull Salzburg, he scored 15 in 13 for Borussia Dortmund. Since joining Manchester City, he scored 34 in 39 games, moving him up the top 10 list. His goals helped City win the Champions League in 2023. *as of April 28, 2026
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Kylian Mbappe – 70 goals*
After bursting on the scene as a young star at Monaco and then establishing himself at Paris Saint-Germain, French superstar Kylian Mbappe is already climbing the all-time Champions League scorer list. The 25-year-old bagged a remarkable 42 goals in 64 games for PSG on the biggest European stage, and has already scored a European hat trick for Real Madrid. *as of April 28, 2026
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Raul – 71 goals
Raul is truly a legend at Real Madrid. The long-time captain made more appearances for Real than any other player, with 550 games in La Liga and 132 in the Champions League. He also led Real to the Champions League title three times. Raul scored five of his 71 Champions League goals during his two-year stint with Schalke in the twilight of his career.
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Karim Benzema – 90 goals
The Frenchman now plays in Saudi Arabia, but made his scoring debut in the Champions League for Lyon at the tender age of 18. Benzema left Lyon in 2009 to become one of Real Madrid's ost prolific strikers, helping them lift the Champions League trophy four times. He has a total of 90 goals in Europe's most prestigious club competition, 78 of them scored in the white of Madrid.
Image: Pierre-Philippe Marcou/AFP
Robert Lewandowski –109 goals*
In third place in the all-time scorer's list is The Best FIFA Men's Player of 2020, Robert Lewandowski. The Poland striker secured that honor in part by becoming the top scorer in the Champions League in the 2019-20 with 15 goals. Over his Champions League career he has scored 17 goals for Borussia Dortmund, 69 times for Bayern and currently has managed 23 for Barcelona. *as of March 25, 2026
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Lionel Messi – 129 goals
Lionel Messi might be playing for Inter Miami now in the MLS, but few can forget how good he was for Barcelona. The diminutive Argentine scored 120 goals in his Champions League career with the Spanish club, finishing the competition's top scorer six times and winning three titles. His last tournament outing was for PSG, but his nine goals were never accompanied by a title.
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Cristiano Ronaldo – 140 goals
It's no coincidence that the Portuguese superstar has won the Champions League five times. Wherever he has played, whether it be Manchester United (21 goals), Real Madrid (105) or Juventus (14) – Cristiano Ronaldo has always found the back of the net. Although no longer playing in Europe, Ronaldo is the undisputed top scorer in Europe's top club competition.
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"We weren't 'killers' in attack today. That key moment in the game was simply missing. We were there, but things weren't sharp enough inside the PSG box. Right now, disappointment is the overriding emotion for us," said Neuer to broadcaster DAZN post match.
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PSG looking to retain Champions League, Bayern still have double chance
With the league wrapped up, Bayern can win a 13th domestic double with victory over Stuttgart in the German Cup final on May 23. But Kompany and Neuer know that even that is not enough for this particular club.
"We deservedly became German champions," said the goalkeeper: "We’re looking forward to the cup final in Berlin. Of course, we’re not thinking about that right now though, because the disappointment is naturally overwhelming."
PSG, on the other hand, will be looking to the weekend after that and a second Champions League final in a row. Should they win, they will be the first club to retain the trophy since Real Madrid won it three times in a row between 2016 and 2018.
The Qatari-owned French side will play English Premier League leaders Arsenal, who edged past Atletico Madrid in the other semifinal on Tuesday, in the final in Budapest on May 30.
