Cristiano Ronaldo is set to be honored by UEFA for his remarkable achievement of scoring the most goals in Champions League history. With an impressive tally of 140 goals in 183 games, Ronaldo has left an indelible mark on European football while representing Sporting CP, Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus.
The prestigious award will be presented to Ronaldo during the league phase draw ceremony in Monaco, where he will be recognized for his exceptional contributions to the sport. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin praised Ronaldo as one of the brightest stars in the Champions League constellation, highlighting his extraordinary goal-scoring prowess that is likely to endure for generations to come.
Ronaldo's journey in the Champions League began in 2002 with Sporting, followed by notable stints at Manchester United and Real Madrid. Despite a four-year wait for his first goal in the competition, Ronaldo went on to achieve unparalleled success, lifting the Champions League trophy five times – once with United in 2008 and four times with Madrid in 2014, 2016, 2017, and 2018.
Notably, Ronaldo holds the record for the most final goals (4) in the Champions League era since 1992, surpassing the achievements of legendary Madrid players Alfredo Di Stéfano and Ferenc Puskás, who both scored seven goals in European Cup finals.
