He is well and truly Mr. Champions League
Cristiano Ronaldo has broken yet another Champions League record after appearing for Manchester United in their game against Villarreal on Wednesday evening.
The Portuguese superstar has enjoyed unparalleled success in the European competition, winning it five times and scoring more goals than any other player.
Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid CF celebrating his fifth Champions League trophy during the UEFA Champions League final between Real Madrid and Liverpool on May 26, 2018 at NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium in Kyiv, Ukraine(Photo by VI Images via Getty Images)
Of course, the forward is no stranger to Champions League records as he has a string to his name already.
He is well and truly Mr. Champions League
MANCHESTER, UNITED KINGDOM – SEPTEMBER 29: Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United celebrates 2-1 during the UEFA Champions League match between Manchester United v Villarreal at the Old Trafford on September 29, 2021 in Manchester United Kingdom (Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images)
The former Real Madrid and Juventus star, a five-time Champions League winner, is the competition’s all-time top scorer with 135 goals.
He also has more knockout-round goals than any other player with a total of 67, while his 17 goals during 2013-14 is the most in a single Champions League campaign.
Ronaldo is the only player to score in three Champions League finals, the only player to score in all six games in a Champions League group stage and the only player to score in 11 straight Champions League games.
Long-time rival Lionel Messi lags behind Ronaldo and Casillas in third with 27 fewer appearances than the new record holder
Here is the appearances list as provided by Give Me Sport:
1. Cristiano Ronaldo | 178 appearances
2. Iker Casillas | 177 appearances
3. Xavi | 151 appearances
=3. Lionel Messi | 151 appearances
5. Raul | 142 appearances
6. Ryan Giggs | 141 appearances
7. Karim Benzema | 132 appearances
8. Andres Iniesta | 130 appearances
9. Sergio Ramos | 129 appearances
10. Clarence Seedorf | 125 appearances
=10. Thomas Muller | 125 appearances
Ronaldo’s record so far in the Champions League :
1. Most UEFA Champions League goals: 135
2. Most goals in a UEFA Champions League season: 17 (2013/14)
3. Most goals in UEFA Champions League knockout stages: 67
4. Most UEFA Champions League final wins: 5
5. Only player to score in three UEFA Champions League finals
6. Only player to score in all six games in a UEFA Champions League group
7. Only player to score in 11 straight UEFA Champions League games
8. Only player to score 10 goals against a single club in the UEFA Champions League: vs Juventus
And also, Cristiano Ronaldo (36y 236d) is the second oldest Man Utd player to score a goal in European competition at Old Trafford after Bryan Robson (36y 282d) vs Galatasaray in 1993. Clutch. pic.twitter.com/LkZf1UTFwd
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 29, 2021