Americans are no longer strangers to the Champions League. This 2024/25 season alone sees a record-setting twelve participants. But gone are the days of Damarcus Beasley, as the narrative has shifted to goal scorers like Christian Pulisic and even midfielder Weston McKennie.
Let’s look at the top 5 American goalscorers in Champions League history.
1. Christian Pulisic — Chelsea, AC Milan (9 goals)
The top-scoring American in Champions League history is the man from Hershey, Pennsylvania. He ventured over to Germany at the age of 16 to star in Dortmund’s youth academy. Two years later, he became the youngest American to feature and net in a Champions League match. His first strike against Benfica was when he was 18 years old.
He also became the first American to win the Champions League, carrying the Stars and Stripes over his shoulder in Chelsea’s 2021 victory. Remember that he scored against Real Madrid in the semis during Covid quarantine.
Now 26, the American winger has nine goals and nine assists in 55 European appearances. He could also become the first American to score in three consecutive Champions League matches this 2024/25 season. We expect Pulisic’s strong form to continue.
Who’s the next American poised to follow in Pulisic’s footsteps?
2. Weston McKennie — Juventus (5 goals)
The kid from Texas. And no, we’re not talking about Clint Dempsey.
As much as Juventus fans have doubted him, Weston McKennie keeps returning ever stronger — he extended his contract through 2025/26 in August.
The midfielder has scored five goals for the Turin side in the Champions League, none more impressive than his remarkable scissor-kick against Barcelona in 2020.
3. Demarcus Beasley — PSV (4 goals)
Demarcus Beasley set the stage for future Americans to try their A-game in Europe. The pacy left winger starred for PSV, netting three times on their way to the semifinals during the remarkable 2004/05 Champions League run.
The American, the USMNT’s fourth-most-capped player of all time, was a trendsetter who inspired future stateside talent to head to Europe.
Other top American scorers in Champions League
| Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Fabian Johnson | Borussia Mönchengladbach | 2 |
| Jermaine Jones | Schalke 04 | 2 |
| Jordan Pefok | Young Boys | 2 |
| Maurice Edu | Rangers | 1 |
| Sacha Kljestan | Anderlecht | 1 |
| Jovan Kirovski | Borussia Dortmund | 1 |
| Ricardo Pepi | PSV Eindhoven | 1 |
| Tyler Adams | RB Leipzig | 1 |
| Sergiño Dest | Barcelona | 1 |
