Cristiano Ronaldo, the all-time leading goalscorer in the UEFA Champions League, was honoured on Thursday with a special award from UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin, recognizing his extraordinary legacy in the competition. With 140 goals in 183 appearances, Ronaldo's remarkable achievements set him apart as one of football's most iconic figures, standing 11 goals clear of Lionel Messi and 46 ahead of Robert Lewandowski in the all-time scoring charts.
Čeferin praised Ronaldo as one of the brightest stars in the Champions League's history, noting that his consistent excellence and relentless pursuit of both team and individual honours have made him a role model for football players worldwide. Over his more than two-decade career, Ronaldo has continuously evolved his game while maintaining a passion for scoring, culminating in seven seasons as the competition's top scorer, including his 17-goal record in the 2013/14 season.
Ronaldo's impact on the Champions League is further underscored by his five titles, one with Manchester United and four with Real Madrid, making him the first player to win the competition five times since 1992. He also holds records for scoring in three different Champions League finals and for the longest scoring streak in the tournament's history, netting in 11 consecutive matches between June 2017 and April 2018.
In addition to his Champions League feats, Ronaldo is the all-time leading scorer in all UEFA club competitions, with 145 goals in 197 appearances, and the most prolific player in men's international football, with 130 goals in 212 appearances. His career is marked by an incredible eight Champions League hat-tricks and numerous accolades, including multiple Ballon d'Or and UEFA Men's Player of the Year awards.
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