Al Nassr’s captain, Cristiano Ronaldo, returned to the European football spotlight by attending the 2024/25 Champions League group stage draw. He was honored with an award for his contributions to the tournament and had the privilege of pressing the button to draw the opponents for the clubs.
Ronaldo, who has scored 140 goals in the Champions League, received the award alongside his former Juventus teammate, goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon. When UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin teased him about no longer playing in the world’s biggest club competition, Ronaldo joked, “Don’t forget I’m still playing in the AFC Champions League.”
Since leaving Manchester United, Ronaldo has not played in the Champions League, but he hinted at a possible return to Europe in the future, a contrast to his earlier statement about potentially ending his career in Saudi Arabia.
“It’s a great honor to be here, and I thank the president for this award. The Champions League is the world’s biggest club competition, and I’m proud to have played in it and set records. Who knows what the future holds?” Ronaldo shared.
In a conversation before the draw, Ronaldo mentioned that his two most memorable Champions League victories were in 2008 with Manchester United and 2014 with Real Madrid. He noted that the first victory with Real Madrid relieved a lot of personal pressure, making subsequent wins easier.