Cristiano Ronaldo unquestionably reigns as the supreme figure in the Champions League, and we have compiled a list of seven extraordinary records that he currently holds in this tournament, which are highly unlikely to be surpassed.
Even those who harbor the strongest aversion towards Ronaldo must acknowledge that the allure of Champions League nights has diminished in his absence. In his prime, the Portuguese icon was an unstoppable force in Europe’s premier club competition.
Upon meticulous examination, we have identified seven of Ronaldo’s awe-inspiring records that are destined to remain unbroken for the foreseeable future.
Most UCL goals of all time
Ronaldo’s record of 140 Champions League goals remains secure with Lionel Messi and Karim Benzema no longer competing in Europe. To equal his remarkable achievement, a player would have to consistently score 10 UCL goals for 14 seasons in a row.
Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe may come close to this milestone by the end of their careers, but currently, they are still more than 90 goals shy of matching Ronaldo’s record.
Most UCL goals from the quarter-finals onwards
Ronaldo’s goal count in the Champions League becomes even more remarkable when you factor in the number of goals he has scored from the quarter-finals onwards.
To put it into perspective, the Portuguese forward has netted an astonishing 42 goals from this stage of the competition. In comparison, Messi has scored 20 goals.
Ronaldo consistently shines in the latter stages of the tournament, and we believe that this record will undoubtedly endure for years to come.
When it comes to crucial moments in the Champions League, very few players can match the brilliance of CR7.
Scoring in 11 consecutive games
Between June 2017 and April 2018, Ronaldo achieved a remarkable feat by scoring in 11 consecutive Champions League games, a record that remains unbroken to this day.
Most UCL appearances
Ronaldo’s remarkable longevity in the game is evident in the statistics, with a total of 183 appearances between 2003 and 2022, surpassing all other players.
Among the current active players in Europe, Thomas Muller comes closest to breaking this record, falling short by 34 appearances.
Most goals in a single season
The 2013-14 season marked a significant milestone for Ronaldo as he played a pivotal role in Real Madrid securing their first Champions League title since 2001–02.
During the campaign, he netted an impressive 17 goals, surpassing the previous record for most goals scored by a player in a single UCL season.
While Karim Benzema (2021–22) and Robert Lewandowski (2019–20) came close to equalling this feat, their most successful seasons only saw them score 15 goals each in the tournament.
Most UCL knockout goals
Mbappe and Haaland may surpass his all-time scoring record, but replicating his performance in the knockout stages will require significant effort.
Overall, Ronaldo has scored 67 Champions League goals in the knockout stages, a feat unmatched by any other player in the history of the competition.
Seven Golden Boot awards
Cristiano Ronaldo’s exceptional goal-scoring ability in Europe is highlighted by his seven UCL Golden Boot awards, the highest number achieved by any player in the history of the competition.
Messi follows closely with six Golden Boots to his name, but with his current lifestyle in Miami, Ronaldo’s record remains secure for now.
Haaland appears to be the most promising candidate to potentially equal this record in the future, although he still has a considerable distance to cover. At present, the forward from Man City has secured two UCL Golden Boots. It is worth noting that Mbappe has yet to claim any.