Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the most iconic figures in European football, is set to be honored by UEFA as the all-time top scorer of the UEFA Champions League. The prestigious award will be presented by UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin during the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League draw ceremony on Thursday, 29 August, at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco.
According to UEFA’s announcement, this special recognition celebrates Ronaldo’s extraordinary achievements in the Champions League, where he has scored a record 140 goals in 183 appearances. Ronaldo’s remarkable career in the competition includes being the only player to score in three separate finals and winning the title five times, setting a historic benchmark that future generations will aspire to reach.
The former Sporting Clube de Portugal, Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus forward has consistently dominated the Champions League scoring charts, finishing as the top scorer in seven different seasons. His record includes the most goals in a single season, with 17 strikes during the 2013/14 campaign, and the longest scoring streak in the competition, having found the net in 11 consecutive matches from June 2017 to April 2018.
“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,” UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin remarked, praising Ronaldo’s relentless pursuit of excellence and his ability to perform at the highest level over more than two decades.
This award further cements Ronaldo’s legacy not only as the Champions League’s top scorer but also as one of the greatest footballers of all time. In addition to his Champions League success, Ronaldo is also the all-time leading scorer in all UEFA club competitions with 145 goals in 197 appearances and holds the record for the most goals in men’s international football with 130 goals in 212 matches.
The special award presentation will be a highlight of the upcoming Champions League draw ceremony, celebrating Ronaldo’s enduring impact on the world’s most prestigious club competition.