OFFICIAL: Ronaldo honored with special award as UEFA UCL All-Time Top Scorer

Cristiano Ronaldo has been honored with a special award as the UEFA Champions League All-Time Top Scorer.

UEFA Champions League all-time top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo is now on stage to receive an award for his astonishingly prolific achievements. "If we think about football, we think about Crisitano," says Čeferin.

"Football and our lives are managed by memories," says Ronaldo, calling the UEFA Champions League "special" and speaking about the motivation he would feel upon hearing the competition anthem.

"The Champions League and goals are like ketchup – when you open them, they are coming," Ronaldo says with a smile, receiving laughs and applause from the audience.

The Portuguese forward, who holds the record as the all-time top scorer in the competition, was one of the stars of the ceremony.

Cristiano Ronaldo was acknowledged for his unparalleled contribution to the Champions League, with UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin presenting him with the UEFA President’s award at the draw for the year’s Champions League first stage. Cristiano Ronaldo’s career in Europe’s most elite club competition is legendary, and this recognition further cements his status.

Cristiano Ronaldo receives President’s Award

“It’s a pleasure to be here. It means a lot to me. The records speak for themselves, but they don’t matter to me as much as the players who have competed in this tournament, like Buffon. When you hear that music play... it’s something else. I’ve won it many times, I’ve been the top scorer, and I have great memories every time I come to this gala in Monaco. Football, and we ourselves, are made of memories. We’ll see if I return to play in the Champions League... we’ll see (laughs),” the Portuguese star said.

When asked about the most special of the five Champions League titles he won, Ronaldo reflected, “It’s hard to choose just one. Maybe the first, with United, the first one is always special. But of course, I have to mention Madrid. In 2008, in Lisbon, in front of the Portuguese fans, it had been a long time since we won... there was a lot of pressure. We were a team of stars. We had to wait six years. The Champions League is like ketchup. Once you get the first win, the others just keep coming,” he joked.

Ronaldo’s record in the Champions League

The Portuguese forward won the Champions League once with Manchester United and four times with Real Madrid. He also holds the record for the longest goal-scoring streak in the competition, having scored in 11 consecutive matches from June 2017 to April 2018. Additionally, he netted eight hat-tricks in the tournament.

Ronaldo competed in the Champions League for 18 years. The former Sporting, Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus star scored 140 goals in 183 appearances. He leads Lionel Messi by 11 goals and has a 46-goal advantage over third-place Robert Lewandowski on the all-time scorers list.

Ronaldo finished seven Champions League seasons as the top scorer—more than any other player. He scored eight goals during Manchester United’s triumphant 2007/08 campaign and 15 goals when Real Madrid secured their third consecutive title in 2017/18. He also holds the record for most goals in a single season, with 17 scored in 2013/14.