Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese football icon, added another prestigious accolade to his already impressive collection on Thursday. He received a special award from UEFA in Monaco, recognizing his unparalleled legacy in the elite continental competition, the UEFA Champions League.
Ronaldo, who has donned the jerseys of Sporting Clube de Portugal, Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus, stands as the all-time leading scorer in the Champions League, boasting a staggering 11-goal lead over Lionel Messi and a 46-goal advantage over third-placed Robert Lewandowski.
Upon receiving the award, Ronaldo expressed his gratitude, stating, “For me, it’s a pleasure to be here. Thank you for this amazing award. As you know, Champions League is the highest in football. The records speak for themselves, but the league is at that level because of the players that play in the competition. I have nice memories coming to this gala, and football is managed by memories. So, thank you for this.”
The Portuguese forward has etched his name into Champions League history, claiming the title once with Manchester United and an astounding four times with Real Madrid, making him the first player to achieve five victories in the competition. He is also the only player to have found the back of the net in three separate UEFA Champions League finals (2008, 2014, 2017).
Ronaldo holds the record for the longest Champions League scoring streak, having netted in 11 consecutive matches from June 2017 to April 2018. His impact in the competition is further emphasized by his remarkable eight Champions League hat-tricks.
Reflecting on his career in the tournament, Ronaldo added, “The first one is always the special one, when I was in Manchester. Of course, Real Madrid was differently special, winning four times there. At that time, in Lisbon in 2018, I remember I felt like the most expensive player in the world, and there was pressure about winning the Champions League. But I think goals and trophies are like ketchup, once it starts coming, they keep coming.”
This latest award solidifies Ronaldo’s place among the greatest players in Champions League history, his name forever etched into the annals of the tournament’s most iconic moments.
