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2 months ago
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Top scorer in the history of the Champions League, with 140 goals, Cristiano Ronaldo will be the guest of honour at the draw for the new edition of the C1, Thursday afternoon in Monaco.
Exiled in Saudi Arabia since January 2023 (in the wake of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar), Cristiano Ronaldo will get a taste of the Champions League again on Thursday. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner is invited by UEFA to receive an honorary trophy from the hands of president Aleksander Ceferin, during the draw for the brand new “league phase” of the most beautiful European competition, Thursday in Monaco, at the Grimaldi Forum, at 6 p.m.
“CR7” is honored as the all-time top scorer in the Champions League, having scored an extraordinary 140 goals in the star-studded competition, 11 more than Lionel Messi. A five-time Champions League winner (once with Manchester United, four times with Real Madrid), Ronaldo has finished top scorer in seven different seasons. He set the record at 17 goals in the 2013-14 campaign, including a final penalty in extra time against Atlético for the Decima Merengues.
Ronaldo will discover the new formula
There are 36 clubs that will be at the draw for this new Champions League. The eight-group phase therefore gives way to a championship, where the clubs will face eight different opponents (4 at home, 4 away). They will all appear in a general ranking of 36. The top eight on the evening of January 29 will qualify directly for the round of 16, the teams ranked from 9th to 24th place will face each other in the play-offs in February.
This draw can be followed from 5:45 p.m. on Thursday, live on Canal+, which has the matches of the three European cups. Hervé Mathoux, Gauthier Kuntzmann, Laure Boulleau and David Ginola will analyze the groups of the French clubs, PSG, AS Monaco, Stade Brestois and perhaps Losc, who play their return play-off on Wednesday evening. Margot Dumont, recruited at beIN Sports, will be in Monaco to collect the reactions of the leaders. And perhaps of a certain Cristiano Ronaldo!
Written by:
Manu Tournoux is a passionate and knowledgeable football enthusiast with a special focus on French football. Born and raised in France, Manu discovered his love for the beautiful game at a young age and developed a deep understanding of the ins and outs of "Le Championnat." His French roots and extensive experience in football journalism have made him an invaluable asset to the French Football Weekly team.
 
 As an author for the website, Manu's expertise includes not only in-depth analysis of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches but also insightful profiles of up-and-coming talents, detailed transfer news, and engaging coverage of the French national team. His captivating writing style and undeniable passion for the game have earned him a loyal following among our readers.
 
 When he's not crafting engaging articles for French Football Weekly, Manu enjoys attending live matches whenever he can, exploring football culture in various French cities, and engaging in spirited debates with fellow fans. Feel free to follow Manu on Twitter and interact with him as he shares his expert opinions, insights, and love for French football.
