Cristiano Ronaldo voted biggest name in the Champions League by 70 journalists with 810 points

An election organized by the ge portal with 70 specialized journalists elected Cristiano Ronaldo as the biggest name in the history of Champions League. The Portuguese striker, five-time European champion and the competition’s all-time top scorer, took first place with 810 points, surpassing Lionel Messi and Carlo Ancelotti on the podium. The vote took place before the end of the 70th edition of the tournament, which will have its final played this Saturday between PSG and Arsenal at Budapeste, at Hungria.

The research included the participation of 33 Brazilian journalists and 37 foreign journalists, coming from 14 different countries. Cada specialist indicated, in order of preference, the five biggest names in Champions League, considering both players and coaches. Votes for first place were worth 15 points, second place 12, third place 10, fourth place 8 and fifth place 7 points.

Cristiano Ronaldo: “Mr. Champions” elected by 70 journalists

Cristiano Ronaldo emerged as the big winner of the election, cementing his status as “Mr. Champions.” The Portuguese player was the only one to surpass the 800 point mark, significantly standing out from the other competitors. Sua’s trajectory in Liga’s Campeões is marked by expressive dominance, collecting five titles throughout his career. His first achievement was with Manchester United, in 2008, where he established himself as a young promise. Posteriormente, led one of Real Madrid’s most successful eras.

At the Spanish club, Cristiano Ronaldo was the main symbol of a third consecutive championship between 2016 and 2018, in addition to being a key player in the victory of “La Décima” in 2014. Sua’s decision-making ability in crucial moments and his memorable goals with the shirts of Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus were determining factors for the wide advantage in the vote. The striker is the top scorer in the history of the competition, with 141 goals scored, including one in the preliminary phase. Seus individual records on Champions League are impressive and difficult to match.

Ele holds the record for most goals in a single season, with 17 goals in 2013/14, followed by 16 in 2015/16 and 15 in 2017/18, surpassing the likes of Karim Benzema and Robert Lewandowski. The Portuguese was also top scorer in seven editions of the tournament, an unprecedented feat. He is the only player to score in three different Champions League finals, demonstrating his decisive influence in the most important moments. Ronaldo still leads the ranking of goals in the knockout stages, with 67, and has the highest number of assists, with 42. Além is also the athlete with the most matches played in the history of Liga, totaling 183 appearances. Sua consistency and longevity at the highest level were crucial to the almost unanimous acclaim by journalists.

Lionel Messi and Carlo Ancelotti consolidate Top 3 in history

In second place, Lionel Messi collected 674 points, reinforcing the historic rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo. The Argentine star also has a career full of glory at Champions League, with four titles won, all with the Barcelona shirt. Sua’s participation began at a young age, in the 2005/06 conquest, when Ronaldinho Gaúcho was the team’s main star. Nos In the following years, Messi became the absolute protagonist, leading Barcelona to new trophies in 2009, 2011 and 2015, with unforgettable performances.

Messi is Champions’s second top scorer, with 129 goals, and the leader in assists in the competition, with 40 passes to goal. Sua’s ability to unbalance matches and his vision of the game contributed to solidifying his position among the greatest. Ele also scored in two tournament finals, leaving his mark in decisive moments.

Completando o Top 3, Carlo Ancelotti scored 495 points, being recognized for his achievements both as a player and as a coach. Ninguém reached the podium as many times as champion of Liga of Campeões as the Italian. Como athlete of Milan, Ancelotti won the second consecutive European championship in 1989 and 1990. Sua transition to the coaching career was even more successful.

Ele raised the “Orelhuda” twice with Milan (2003 and 2007) and, in his two stints with Real Madrid, added three more titles to his collection. Ancelotti was responsible for ending Real Madrid’s uncomfortable 12-year fast, winning the much-desired “La Décima” in 2013/14. Posteriormente, returned to the merengue club to win two more titles in three years, in the 2021/22 and 2023/24 editions. Nenhum is another coach who has been to as many finals or won as many titles as him, consolidating his legacy of success and tactical adaptability.

Lendas pioneers and voting methodology

Alfredo Di Stéfano, with 396 points, secured fourth position, being one of the first great legends of Copa of Campeões of Europa, precursor of Champions League. The Argentine star was the main symbol of a historic generation of Real Madrid that dominated the beginning of the competition, winning five titles in a row. Di Stéfano scored 49 goals in 58 matches over nine editions of the tournament, finding the net in all five finals he played in. Legacy Seu is fundamental to the aura of invincibility that Real Madrid has built in competition.

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In fifth place, Johan Cruyff obtained 259 points, standing out for his influence both as a player and as a coach. The Dutch idol was the greatest exponent of Ajax, which achieved a rare third European championship between 1971 and 1973, with a memorable performance in the 1972 final, where he scored the two winning goals over Inter and Milão. Como coach, Cruyff led Barcelona to their first Champions League in 1992, establishing a football philosophy that continues in Camp Nou to this day.

The election, conducted by ge, considered the complete history of the competition, from Copa of Campeões of Europa to the current UEFA Champions League. The 70 journalists consulted, including experts from renowned media outlets and different nationalities, were free to name names among players and coaches. Esta approach has allowed multifaceted figures like Carlo Ancelotti and Johan Cruyff to be recognized for their contributions in both roles.

Brasileiros in the elite and other notable names from Champions League

Voting among 70 journalists revealed the presence of 35 different names, highlighting the diversity of talents that have marked the history of Champions League. Entre Brazilian players, six were mentioned, demonstrating the relevance of national football on the European scene:

• Ronaldinho Gaúcho (19 points)
• Romário (12 points)
• Ronaldo (10 points)
• Marcelo (8 points)
• Neymar (7 points)
• Rivaldo (7 points)

Esses athletes, each in their own way, contributed with goals, assists and memorable performances that immortalized them in the tournament. Ronaldinho Gaúcho, for example, was the star of the Barcelona champion in 2006, while Marcelo became an Real Madrid legend with multiple titles.

Além from Top 5, other important names were among the most voted, complementing the list of great characters from Champions League. Paolo Maldini, with 186 points, was in sixth place, recognized for his longevity and leadership in Milan, where he won five European titles. Zinedine Zidane, who scored 146 points, stood out both as a player, with the iconic goal in the 2002 final for Real Madrid, and as a coach, leading the same club to a third consecutive championship (2016-2018).

Paco Gento, with 126 points, represented another Real Madrid legend, being the player with the most Champions titles (six), all in the Copa era of Campeões. Pep Guardiola, with 107 points, was recognized for his achievements as coach of Barcelona and Manchester City, implementing a revolutionary style of play. Luka Modric (65 points), Franz Beckenbauer (53 points) and Clarence Seedorf (45 points), the latter the only one to win the competition for three different clubs, also received a considerable number of votes, attesting to their historic contributions. Karim Benzema (32 points), Andrés Iniesta (30 points) and Toni Kroos (25 points) completed the group of most mentioned, each with their indelible mark on the tournament.

The scope of votes and the impact on the current edition

The ge election demonstrated a strong consensus around Cristiano Ronaldo, with 34 of the 70 voters placing him in first place. Apenas seven journalists did not nominate him in Top 5, a clear indication of his influence and global recognition. The voting methodology allowed for an in-depth analysis, where each point awarded reflected the experts’ view of the lasting impact of each name. The presence of 35 different names among those voted reflects the rich history of Champions League and the difficulty in selecting just a few for a ranking.

Real Madrid was even cited as fifth place by one of the voters, demonstrating the club’s strong association with success in the competition. The election served as a historical balance before another final. The decision of Champions League 2025/26, between PSG and Arsenal, in Arena Puskás, in Budapeste, this Saturday, at 1 pm (from Brasília), will represent another chapter in the rich history of the tournament. ge will watch the final in Tempo Real, with the expectation that new names will be able to join this list of legends in the future.