Renowned and award-winning striker, Cristiano Ronaldo has been honoured with a special award for his remarkable achievement as the all-time leading goalscorer in the UEFA Champions League, triggering applause and excitement.
Ronaldo received the special award at the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League draw ceremony, which was held in Monaco, France, on Thursday.
The award was presented to him by UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin in recognition of his remarkable legacy in the world’s most prestigious competition.
Ronaldo, the former Sporting Clube de Portugal, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus forward, scored 140 Champions League goals in 183 appearances.
He is 11 goals clear of Lionel Messi and 46 ahead of third-placed Robert Lewandowski at the top of the scoring charts.
Ronaldo has also finished seven separate Champions League seasons as a leading scorer, more than any other player, spanning from his eight goals in Manchester United’s triumphant in 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 de Madrid in the final.
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 have scored in three separate Champions League finals (2008, 2014, 2017).
