With the exception of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, Phil Foden has joined an elite group of four.

After scoring his first goal of the year, Phil Foden has joined a very prestigious club.

The goal was Manchester City’s second of the evening as they defeated Slovan Bratislava 4-0. It was Pep Guardiola’s team’s second goal of the game.

Foden’s goal not only marked his seventh Champions League campaign goal overall, but it was also a skillfully executed left-footed shot that ended up in the bottom corner of the net.

The midfielder has been a very reliable presence in front of goal for Man City since he scored his first goal in the tournament in 2018–19.

Foden accomplished this, making him one of just four players to score in each of the previous seven Champions League seasons.

Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann, and Robert Lewandowski are the other players on this top list.

Two notable absentees from the list are Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Naturally, two of the most decorated players in Champions League history are Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, but they are not included on the list because they haven’t participated in the competition since 2022 and 2023, respectively.

With his struggles this season to regain full fitness and his best form after his heroics at the Euros, Foden will be hoping that this goal may jump-start his 2024–25 campaign.

Last season, the 24-year-old had a tremendous season with Man City, tallying 27 goals and dishing out 12 assists across all competitions.

During their run to the quarterfinals of the Champions League, City scored five goals in eight games before Real Madrid eliminated them.

Foden said of his goal-scoring effort against Bratislava: “We’re happy to win 4-0, but I had more chances to score. On another night, it could’ve been more. I haven’t played well this season, so it was satisfying to return and score.

“I’m feeling better now, and I’m working again. The season got off to a poor start, but I’m picking it up again now.”

As part of the league’s inaugural League Phase reorganization, City, who won the championship in 2023, will be driven to win it all again.

Foden’s goal made it 2-0 for City against Slovan Bratislava, coming just seven minutes after Ilkay Gundogan handed City the lead early.

On minute 58, Erling Haaland gave City their third goal of the game, solidifying Guardiola’s team’s lead.

James McAtee, an academy product, gave the Premier League winners a 4-0 victory, proving that City wasn’t finished yet.