‘Huge honour’ - Cristiano Ronaldo wins special GOAT award from Portuguese league as the Best Player of All Time

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has been honoured by those in his homeland. CR7 has spent over 20 years competing at the very highest level. He has won league titles with Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus, becoming a goalscoring centurion for all of those clubs.

Countless records have been broken in Champions League competition, while stunning tallies of international caps and goals - which currently stand at 223 and 141 respectively - may never be beaten.

There is no sign of him slowing down at 40 years of age, with a new two-year contract being committed to at Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr. He has now claimed a major award in his native Portugal, which puts him at the very top of any all-time charts.

Ronaldo said in a video message to those at the Portuguese professional league awards ceremony: “I’d like to thank Liga Portugal for this award, being named the best player of all time. As you can imagine, it is a great honour to win something for my country.

“First of all, I’d like to thank all my team-mates who have helped me throughout my career to win this wonderful trophy, as well as all the coaches and everyone who has supported me on this journey of always pushing to improve. Thank you all so much.”

Ronaldo, who has spent much of his career in GOAT competition with eternal rival Lionel Messi, continues to chase down 1,000 total career goals. He needs just 57 more in order to hit that mark and remains a prolific presence for club and country - with Portugal being helped to a second UEFA Nations League crown over the summer as collective attention now turns to the 2026 World Cup.