Cristiano Ronaldo is arguably one of the best ever players, if not the best player to play in the UEFA Champions League. Winning the competition five times, he is also the highest goal scorer in the prestigious European tournament.
His remarkable performances continue to linger in everyone’s minds even years after. However, he is no longer based in Europe, currently playing for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia. Nevertheless, there is a strong possibility that we may witness the Portuguese forward make a return to the competition he once dominated.
Cristiano Ronaldo reportedly set for UCL return
Since Cristiano Ronaldo decided to make a historic move to Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr, both the league and club have gained widespread attention and fame. The country recently even won the rights to hold the 2034 World Cup, and has attracted more top talents from Europe. Due to Ronaldo, Al Nassr are now very famous in the world of soccer, even in Europe.
UEFA is planning to invite the club to the Champions League next season. It could be a historic and bizarre change if it does happen, as only clubs affiliated with UEFA, the organizers of the UCL, have played in the competition.
🚨🚨 UEFA intends to invite Al Nassr to the 2024/2025 edition of the UEFA Champions League, as it's considered one of the "3 most popular clubs" on Earth. [@alharbi_44] pic.twitter.com/Erut3sYK73
— Football Talk (@FootballTalkHQ) November 14, 2023
According to Saudi jounalist Alharbi, UEFA will invite Al Nassr due to it being one of the top three famous clubs in the world. He said, “The European Union intends to extend an invitation to Al Nassr to participate in the 2024 UEFA Champions League, being one of the three most famous clubs in football and because Al Nassr has great and great popularity on the European continent.”
Despite recent rumors, there is no credible source from within UEFA indicating that a wildcard entry will ever become a reality. In fact, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin had dismissed the possibility of such a thing happening back in August, according to GOAL.
Reviewing Cristiano Ronaldo’s UCL records
Cristiano Ronaldo is widely accepted as the best player in UCL history, being nicknamed ‘Mr. Champions League’ by fans. Cristiano has won the competition five times, securing four UCL titles with Real Madrid and one with Manchester United. He has played in every final and scored four goals in them. Ronaldo notably dominated the competition during the 2016-18 period, playing a significant role in Real Madrid’s three-peat Champions League victory.
Cristiano Ronaldo is also the top scorer in the competition, boasting a grand total of 140 goals. His nearest rival, Lionel Messi, has 129 goals but has also left the European stage. Beyond goals, Ronaldo holds the record for the most games played in the tournament with 183, representing Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus. Additionally, he has the most assists in the competition with 42.
Beyond statistics, Ronaldo has personified himself in the tournament through various iconic performances, scoring goals against every major team and in every significant occasion. His bicycle kick goal against Juventus in the 2018 semifinals is widely considered the best goal in UCL history and earned him applause even from opposition fans.
Whether he comes back to the Champions League or not, Cristiano Ronaldo will be fondly remembered for his contributions and achievements in it.
