Cristiano Ronaldo will receive a special UEFA award at this week’s Champions League draw ceremony in Monaco.
UEFA President Aleksander Cerefin will honour the 39-year-old Portuguese at the Grimaldi Forum on Thursday for the impact he had made on Europe’s premier club competition across the course of more than 18 years.
✨ UEFA Champions League all-time top scorer ✨
🏆 Record #UCL golden boot in seven different seasons
🏆 Record 17 goals in a single campaign
🏆 Record 140 goals in 183 games
@Cristiano will receive a special award from UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin this week in Monaco!— UEFA (@UEFA) August 27, 2024
The former Sporting Lisbon, Man United, Real Madrid and Juventus forward scored 140 goals in 183 appearances in the Champions League across his career playing in Europe.
He is 11 goals clear of rival Lionel Messi as the leading scorer in competition history with Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski a distant third a further 46 goals behind.
Cerefin explained: “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.”
History maker
Ronaldo has finished as the competition’s leading scorer on seven occasions – more than any other player.
It began with his eight goals in Man United’s 2008 triumph and ended 10 years later with 15 as Real Madrid claimed their third straight title.
The current Al-Nassr forward also holds the record for most goals in a single Champions League season with 17 in 2013/14, the last coming in extra-time of the win over Atletico Madrid in the final.
Cristiano Ronaldo final goals ⚽️#UCL pic.twitter.com/WgyvZjcg8N
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) August 27, 2024
Lifting the trophy once with Man United and four times with Real Madrid made Ronaldo the first man to win five Champions Leagues while he is the only player to have scored in three different finals, having done so in 2008, 2014 and 2017.
He has scored eight Champions League hat-tricks and also holds the longest Champions League scoring streak, having netted in 11 straight matches from June 2017 to April 2018.
Ronaldo is also the all-time leading scorer in all UEFA club competitions with 145 goals in 197 appearances as well as being the most prolific scorer in men’s international football with 130 goals in 212 appearances for Portugal.
