UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin honored Cristiano Ronaldo on Thursday with a special award, recognizing his extraordinary legacy in the UEFA Champions League.
Ronaldo, the all-time leading goalscorer in the competition, was celebrated during the inaugural 2024/25 UEFA Champions League 36-team league phase draw at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco.
With 140 goals in 183 Champions League appearances, the former Sporting Clube de Portugal, Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus forward leads the scoring charts, 11 goals ahead of Lionel Messi and 46 clear of third-placed Robert Lewandowski.
“Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the brightest stars in the UEFA Champions League constellation,” said Čeferin. “His extraordinary goalscoring achievements seem destined to stand the test of time, posing a remarkable challenge for future generations. His sustained excellence at the highest level is a testament to his relentless pursuit of both team and individual honors. Over more than two decades, he has continuously evolved 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.”
Ronaldo has finished as the Champions League’s top scorer in seven different seasons, more than any other player, from his eight goals during Manchester United’s 2007/08 triumph to his 15-goal haul when Real Madrid claimed their third consecutive title in 2017/18. He also holds the record for most goals in a single Champions League season, with 17 strikes in the 2013/14 campaign, including one in the extra-time victory against Atlético de Madrid in the final.
The Portuguese forward has won the competition five times—once with Manchester United and four times with Real Madrid—making him the first five-time winner since the competition’s rebranding in 1992. Ronaldo is also the only player to have scored in three separate Champions League finals (2008, 2014, 2017).
In addition, Ronaldo holds the record for the longest Champions League scoring streak, with goals in 11 consecutive matches from June 2017 to April 2018, and has scored an astounding eight Champions League hat-tricks.
The multiple Ballon d’Or and UEFA Men’s Player of the Year winner is also the all-time leading scorer in all UEFA club competitions (145 goals in 197 appearances) and the most prolific player in men’s international football, with 130 goals in 212 appearances.
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
*Joint-top scorer with Lionel Messi and Neymar