The all-time leading scorer in UEFA Champions League history, Cristiano Ronaldo was on Thursday presented with a special award by UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin. The presentation was made at the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League draw on August 29 at Monaco’s Grimaldi Forum to salute Ronaldo’s unparalleled legacy in the world’s most prestigious club competition.
Ronaldo is the all-time leading scorer of the Champions League, having netted 140 times in 183 appearances for Manchester United and Real Madrid. The phenomenal record makes him sit a whopping 11 goals ahead of Lionel Messi and 46 clear of Robert Lewandowski. The former Sporting CP, Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus forward won a record five Champions League titles-once with Manchester United and on four occasions with Real Madrid-ending a drought that had lasted since the competition was rebranded in 1992.
No player has been as prolific in the Champions League as Ronaldo when it comes to individual honors: his tally of finishes as top scorer equates to an unprecedented seven different seasons, including the record 17-goal haul in the 2013/14 campaign. Elsewhere on the records list, he holds the longest scoring streak, having netted in 11 consecutive matches between June 2017 and April 2018, and is the only player to have scored in three different Champions League finals.
UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin hailed Ronaldo, “one of the brightest stars in the UEFA Champions League constellation,” for his professionalism, work ethic, and continuous playing passion.