John McGinn Villa’s European Scoring King
John McGinn is now Aston Villa’s all-time leading goalscorer in UEFA club competitions.
The Villa captain opened the scoring after just 11 minutes in Villa’s thrilling 3-2 victory over Club Brugge in their opening match of the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League campaign, taking his tally to 12 European goals, one clear of Ollie Watkins.
It was a fitting moment for a player who has so often been the driving force behind Unai Emery’s European adventures.
Whether producing a moment of inspiration in stoppage time, setting Villa on their way in tricky away ties, or delivering in the biggest knockout ties, McGinn has repeatedly been the heartbeat of Emery’s side. His relentless energy, leadership and knack for scoring at pivotal moments have defined Villa’s run through three different European competitions.
His goal in Bruges not only gave Villa the perfect start to another Champions League campaign, but it also secured his place alone at the top of the club’s European goalscoring charts above the likes of Gary Shaw and Peter Withe.
Aston Villa’s Leading European Goalscorers
| Rank | Player | Games | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | John McGinn | 35 | 12 |
| 2 | Ollie Watkins | 37 | 11 |
| 3 | Peter Withe | 19 | 9 |
| 4 | Gary Shaw | 14 | 8 |
| 5 | Morgan Rogers | 32 | 7 |
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Another Piece of Aston Villa History
Passing Withe and Shaw was a notable milestone in itself, but moving clear of Ollie Watkins to stand alone at the summit of Villa’s European scoring charts feels especially appropriate.
McGinn has been there for every step of Villa’s modern revival under Emery, from Conference League nights at Villa Park to Europa League glory and now back among Europe’s elite in the Champions League.
At 31, with another European campaign only just beginning, the captain now has every opportunity to push the record even further out of reach. Given his record of scoring on the biggest nights, 12 may not stand for long.
John McGinn’s 12 European Goals for Aston Villa
| No. | Date | Competition | Opponent | Goal | Result | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 Oct 2023 | UEFA Conference League | Zrinjski Mostar | 90+4′ | 1-0 | Dramatic stoppage-time winner clinched top spot in group |
| 2 | 26 Oct 2023 | UEFA Conference League | AZ Alkmaar | 56′ | 4-1 | Made it 4-0 on the night |
| 3 | 11 Apr 2024 | UEFA Conference League Quarter-final | Lille | 56′ | 2-1 | Villa’s second and a vital goal in getting through |
| 4 | 25 Sep 2025 | UEFA Europa League | Bologna | 13′ | 1-0 | Match-winning goal |
| 5 | 2 Oct 2025 | UEFA Europa League | Feyenoord | 79′ | 2-0 | Sealed an important away victory |
| 6 | 19 Mar 2026 | UEFA Europa League Round of 16 | Lille | 54′ | 2-0 | Opened the scoring in the second leg |
| 7 | 7 May 2026 | UEFA Europa League Semi-final | Nottingham Forest | 77′ | 4-0 | Made it 3-0 on the night and clinched the game |
| 8 | 7 May 2026 | UEFA Europa League Semi-final | Nottingham Forest | 80′ | 4-0 | Completed his semi-final brace and stamped Villa’s passport to Istanbul. |
| 9 | 22 Oct 2024 | UEFA Champions League | Bologna | 55′ | 2-0 | Deadlock-breaking second-half freekick that evaded everyone. |
| 10 | 10 Dec 2024 | UEFA Champions League | RB Leipzig | 3′ | 3-2 | Opened the scoring with a third-minute strike |
| 11 | 15 Apr 2025 | UEFA Champions League Quarter-final | Paris Saint-Germain | 55′ | 3-2 | Inspired Villa’s comeback on the night with the equaliser |
| 12 | 8 Sep 2026 | UEFA Champions League | Club Brugge | 11′ | 3-2 | Villa’s first goal of the 2026/27 season and McGinn breaks club record |
The Captain for the Big Occasion
McGinn’s record isn’t simply impressive because of the number of goals, but because of when they have arrived.
His first European goal rescued Villa with virtually the last kick against Zrinjski Mostar, making sure Villa won the group in Emery’s first continental campaign with the club.
He went on to score two further goals in the Conference League, another in the group away at AZ Alkmaar, before striking again against Lille in the quarter-finals to put Villa one foot in the semi-finals.
The Champions League has proven no different.
He doubled Villa’s lead with a memorable free-kick against Bologna, set the tone with a third-minute opener against RB Leipzig, inspired Villa’s unforgettable comeback against Paris Saint-Germain with a crucial second-half strike, and started another Champions League campaign by breaking the club’s all-time record against Club Brugge.
McGinn continued to deliver in the Europa League last season. His winner against Bologna secured all three points and kick-started what had been a slow start to the season. He then wrapped up victory away to Feyenoord, opened the scoring again against Lille in the round of 16, and produced a memorable brace in the 4-0 semi-final demolition of Nottingham Forest that sent Villa to the Europa League final.
It is a catalogue of goals that have consistently arrived in defining moments, adding to his status as one of two Villa captains to lift a European trophy.
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Good article, but it was conference league, champs league, then Europa league.
Thanks. Sorted. Yes, I swapped a couple of paragraphs around and forgot to change the name of the tournament.