Ronaldo to provide a blast from a glorious past at new-look Champions League draw

August 27 – With UEFA set to unveil the match-ups for its new look Champions League this Thursday at the League Phase Draw, the confederation will also pay homage to its past and  Champions League all-time leading goalscorer, Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ronaldo will be honoured with a special award from UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin “in recognition of his remarkable legacy in the world’s most prestigious competition”.

Ronaldo scored 140 Champions League goals in 183 appearances for Sporting Clube de Portugal, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus.

That is 11 more than Lionel Messi and 46 ahead of third-placed Robert Lewandowski.

“Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the brightest stars in the UEFA Champions League constellation,” said Čeferin. “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,” the UEFA President added.

Ronaldo top scored in seven Champions League seasons– more than any other player – spanning from his eight goals in Manchester United’s triumphant 2007/08 campaign to his 15-goal haul when Real Madrid claimed their third straight title in 2017/18. In the 2013/14 Real Madrid win he scored a record 17 goals, including in the extra-time win against Atlético Madrid in the final.

He won the competition once with Manchester United and four times with Real Madrid – the first five-time winner in the competition’s history – and is the only player to date to have scored in three…

Source link : https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2024/08/27/ronaldo-provide-blast-glorious-past-new-look-champions-league-draw/

Author : Paul Nicholson

Publish date : 2024-08-27 22:21:36

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