The years roll on, and so do the accolades for Cristiano Ronaldo. UEFA announced that the Al Nassr forward shall be honoured with a special award celebrating his goalscoring prowess as the Champions League all-time leading scorer on the occasion of the league phase draw for the upcoming season.
Ronaldo, even after having left European football almost two seasons ago, continues to dominate the goalscoring list with a mind-boggling 140 goals in 183 appearances across his historied career in the competition.
The Portuguese legend, who has represented the likes of Sporting CP, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus over his career in Europe, stands on top, 11 goals clear of his arch-rival Lionel Messi, and 46 ahead of third-placed Polish stiker Robert Lewandowski.
”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,” read an official statement put out by UEFA.
“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”, the statement read.
The former Real Madrid man’s legacy in this competition extends to heights one couldn’t fathom, as after the turn of the first decade , Ronaldo single-handedly ruled the competition across his storied career in Europe.
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).
Ronaldo has finished seven separate Champions League seasons as 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.
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 multiple Ballon d’Or and UEFA Men’s Player of the Year recipient is also the all-time leading scorer in all UEFA club competitions (145 goals, 197 appearances) as well as the most prolific player ever in men’s international football having netted 130 goals for his beloved Portugal across 212 appearances.
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