Cristiano Ronaldo to be honoured as UEFA Champions League All-Time Top Scorer

A special award will be presented during the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League draw ceremony in Monaco.

Cristiano Ronaldo to Be Honored as UEFA Champions League All-Time Top Scorer

UEFA has announced that Cristiano Ronaldo, the all-time leading scorer in the UEFA Champions League, will be honored with a special award from UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin. This recognition highlights Ronaldo’s extraordinary legacy in the world’s most prestigious club competition.

Ronaldo’s remarkable achievements in the Champions League, spanning over 18 years, will be celebrated during the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League draw ceremony. This event, marking the start of the 36-team league phase, will take place on Thursday, August 29, at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco.

The Portuguese forward, who has represented Sporting Clube de Portugal, Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus, has scored an unmatched 140 Champions League goals in 183 appearances. He holds an 11-goal lead over Lionel Messi and is 46 goals ahead of third-placed Robert Lewandowski in the competition’s all-time scoring list.

“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.”

Aleksander Čeferin, UEFA President

Ronaldo has finished as the leading scorer in the UEFA Champions League in seven different seasons, more than any other player. His dominance began with eight goals during Manchester United’s victorious 2007/08 campaign and extended to his 15-goal tally when Real Madrid secured their third consecutive title in 2017/18. He also holds the record for the most goals in a single Champions League season, having scored 17 times in the 2013/14 campaign, including a crucial goal in the extra-time victory over Atlético Madrid in the final.

The Portuguese forward has won the Champions League once with Manchester United and four times with Real Madrid, making him the first player to win the competition five times since its rebranding in 1992. Additionally, Ronaldo is the only player in history to have scored in three different UEFA Champions League finals (2008, 2014, 2017).

He also holds the record for the longest scoring streak in Champions League history, having scored in 11 consecutive matches from June 2017 to April 2018. Additionally, Ronaldo has an impressive eight Champions League hat-tricks to his name.

The multiple Ballon d’Or winner and UEFA Men’s Player of the Year is also the all-time leading scorer across all UEFA club competitions, with 145 goals in 197 appearances. Moreover, he is the most prolific player in men’s international football, with 130 goals in 212 appearances.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s Champions League Career in Numbers:

• Appearances: 183
• Goals: 140
• Champions League Titles: 5 (2008, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018)
• Top Scorer Titles: 7 times (2007/08, 2012/13, 2013/14, 2014/15*, 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18)
• Most Goals in a Single Season: 17 (2013/14)
• Longest Scoring Streak: 11 games