Portugal captain, Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 140 goals in 183 Champions League appearances, setting a record that looks almost impossible for anyone else to match, even his longtime rival Lionel Messi.
Ronaldo made his Champions League debut in a qualifying round with Sporting in 2002. His first group stage game came under Sir Alex Ferguson at United in October 2003.
However, he would have to wait four years for his first goal in the competition, coming in April 2007 in a quarterfinal second-leg victory over Roma.
He went on to lift the Champions League trophy on five occasions: First with United in 2008, and then four times at Madrid in 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018.
He also has the most final goals (4) in the Champions League era (since 1992). Fellow Madrid legends Alfredo Di Stéfano and Ferenc Puskás both scored seven goals in Europe.
He is 11 goals clear of Lionel Messi and 46 ahead of third-placed Robert Lewandowski at the top of the scoring charts.
Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the brightest stars in the UEFA Champions League constellation. 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. He has sustained excellence at the highest level, 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,” UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin stated.
Ronaldo has finished seven separate Champions League seasons as the leading scorer – 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, the statement further noted.
He also holds the record for most goals in a single Champions League season, having found the net 17 times in 2013/14, including in the extra-time win against Athletico Madrid in the final match.
The Portugal forward has won the competition once with Manchester United and four times with Real Madrid – making him the first five-time winner in the competition’s history since 1992 – and is the only player to date to have scored in three separate UEFA Champions League finals (2008, 2014, 2017)
He also holds the record for the longest Champions League scoring streak, having struck in 11 successive matches from June 2017 to April 2018. Ronaldo has also scored an astounding eight Champions League hat-tricks.
Christiano Ronaldo’s Champions League Career in Numbers:
Appearances: 183
Goals: 140
Wins: 5 (2008, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018)
Top Scorer: 7 times (2007/08, 2012/13, 2013/14, 2014/15,2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18) Most Goals in a Single Season: 17 (2013/14)
Longest Scoring Streak: 11 games.
