Cristiano Ronaldo, a name synonymous with excellence in European football, is set to receive a prestigious honour from UEFA, solidifying his status as the UEFA Champions League’s all-time top scorer.
The special award will be presented by UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin during the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League draw ceremony on Thursday, 29 August, at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco.
According to a statement from the UEFA website on Tuesday, Ronaldo’s unparalleled achievements in the UEFA Champions League, including his 140 goals across 183 appearances, have redefined the competition’s history.
As the only player to have scored in three separate finals and a five-time winner, this honour acknowledges his enduring legacy and sets a monumental benchmark for future generations of footballers.
This was detailed in a release titled “Cristiano Ronaldo to be Honoured as UEFA Champions League All-Time Top Scorer.”
“Cristiano Ronaldo, the all-time leading goalscorer in the UEFA Champions League, will be honoured with a special award from UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin in recognition of his remarkable legacy in the world’s most prestigious competition.
“Ronaldo’s achievements in Europe’s premier club competition – accomplished over the course of more than 18 years – will be recognised during the inaugural 2024/25 UEFA Champions League 36-team league phase draw ceremony, which will take place on Thursday, 29 August, at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco,” it read.
The former Sporting Clube de Portugal, Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus forward has scored 140 Champions League goals in 183 appearances. He is 11 goals clear of Lionel Messi and 46 ahead of third-placed Robert Lewandowski at the top of the scoring charts.
“Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the brightest stars in the UEFA Champions League constellation. His extraordinary goal-scoring achievements in the competition seem destined to stand the test of time, posing a remarkable challenge for future generations to surpass.
“His sustained excellence at the highest level is a testament to his relentless pursuit of both team and individual honours. Over more than two decades, he has continuously evolved and refined his game while preserving a youthful passion for scoring and celebrating goals.
“His professionalism, work ethic, dedication, and ability to shine on the grandest stage are qualities that football players everywhere should aspire to emulate,” UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin stated.
Ronaldo has finished seven separate Champions League seasons as the leading scorer – more than any other player – spanning from his eight goals in Manchester United’s triumphant 2007/08 campaign to his 15-goal haul when Real Madrid claimed their third straight title in 2017/18, the statement further noted.
He also holds the record for most goals in a single Champions League season, having found the net 17 times in 2013/14, including in the extra-time win against Atlético Madrid in the final.
The Portugal forward has won the competition once with Manchester United and four times with Real Madrid – making him the first five-time winner in the competition’s history since 1992 – and is the only player to date to have scored in three separate UEFA Champions League finals (2008, 2014, 2017).
He also holds the record for the longest Champions League scoring streak, having struck in 11 successive matches from June 2017 to April 2018. Ronaldo has also scored an astounding eight Champions League hat-tricks.
PUNCH Online reports that the multiple Ballon d’Or winner and UEFA Men’s Player of the Year, Ronaldo also stands as the all-time leading scorer in all UEFA club competitions with 145 goals in 197 appearances, and holds the title of the most prolific goalscorer in men’s international football, having netted 130 goals in 212 matches.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Champions League Career in Numbers:
Appearances: 183
Goals: 140
Wins: 5 (2008, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018)
Top Scorer: 7 times (2007/08, 2012/13, 2013/14, 2014/15*, 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18)
Most Goals in a Single Season: 17 (2013/14)
Longest Scoring Streak: 11 games.
