Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo will receive a “special award” on Thursday, coinciding with the draw for the Champions League, a competition in which he is the all-time top scorer, the Nyon-based body announced on Tuesday.
With 140 goals in 183 matches played in the most prestigious club competition in European football, the 39-year-old striker has 11 more goals than his rival Lionel Messi and 46 more than the Polish Robert Lewandowski, the only one of the three still playing in the Champions League.
Ronaldo has won this tournament five times: once with Manchester United (2008) and four times with Real Madrid (2014, 2016, 2017, 2018).
Since January 2023, he has played for Saudi club Al-Nassr.
Ronaldo will receive the award from UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin “in recognition of his remarkable legacy in the world’s most prestigious competition,” UEFA said in a statement.
The Portuguese also holds other records in this competition: most times top scorer in the tournament (7), most goals in a single season (17), longest scoring streak (11 consecutive games).
“Her sustained excellence at the highest level is a testament to her relentless pursuit of individual and team titles. Over more than two decades, she has continually evolved and refined her game,” Ceferin said in the statement.
The draw for the first round of the Champions League will be held on Thursday in Monaco and will inaugurate the new format of the ‘Champions’, which goes from 32 to 36 teams and changes the first group phase to a “mini-championship” in which each club will play against eight different rivals.
Source: AFP
