Football Icons Van Dijk and Haaland Hail Cristiano Ronaldo’s Game-Changing Legacy in the UEFA Champions League, Celebrating His Unstoppable Influence.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s unparalleled success in the UEFA Champions League cements his status as the greatest in the tournament’s history. With five championship titles and a record-breaking goal tally, Ronaldo’s dominance and influence in the toughest club competition are unrivaled, securing his legendary legacy above all others in football.
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Cristiano Ronaldo’s impact on the UEFA Champions League is reflected in the admiration of stars like Virgil van Dijk, Erling Haaland, and other football greats
Undoubtedly, Cristiano Ronaldo stands as one of the UEFA Champions League’s greatest icons. The Portuguese legend holds the record for the most goals in the competition’s history with an astounding 140, including 67 scored in the high-stakes knockout stages. Having represented Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus, Ronaldo is one of the select few to have found the back of the net for multiple clubs in the Champions League.
Many top Champions League players regard Cristiano Ronaldo as their key association with the competition, acknowledging his immense impact on the game. Stars like Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne, Alisson Becker, Virgil van Dijk, and Riccardo Calafiori, among others, recently named Ronaldo in a social media post by the official UEFA Champions League page, highlighting him as one of their favorite players in the tournament.
“Who’s the first player that comes to mind when you think of the Champions League?”
- Halaand: “Cristiano Ronaldo”
- Van Dijk: “Cristiano Ronaldo”
- De Bruyne: “Cristiano Ronaldo”
- Wirtz: “Cristiano Ronaldo”
- Foden: “Cristiano Ronaldo”
- Alisson: “Cristiano Ronaldo”
- Calafiori: “Cristiano Ronaldo”
- Trent Alexander: Bastoni: “Cristiano Ronaldo”
- Gittens: “Cristiano Ronaldo”
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Ronaldo left Manchester United in November 2022 to join Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, marking the end of his participation in the UEFA Champions League. Before his departure, he firmly established himself as a dominant force in the tournament, amassing 140 goals—more than any other player, with Lionel Messi trailing behind at 129.
Ronaldo boasts five Champions League titles and three goals in finals—a record in its own right. He won one trophy with Manchester United and four with Real Madrid, where he achieved the remarkable feat of three consecutive Champions League victories in 2016, 2017, and 2018. From the 2007–08 to the 2017–18 season, Ronaldo was the tournament’s top scorer seven times, including an astonishing 17 goals in the 2013–14 campaign, spearheading Real Madrid’s triumphant run.
With an incredible 105 goals in just 101 Champions League appearances, Ronaldo remains Real Madrid’s all-time top scorer in the competition. Raúl ranks fourth with 66 goals in 130 games, while Karim Benzema sits third with 78 goals in 133 appearances.