Football
ESPN staff 8y

Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo: Goals part of Champions League history

Real Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo has called it a "privilege" to be the Champions League's all-time leading goal scorer.

Los Blancos coach Zinedine Zidane said on Tuesday that his injured star player has been passed fit to return to the field for Wednesday's Champions League semifinal return leg against Manchester City after Ronaldo missed the first-leg 0-0 draw at the Etihad Stadium.

The much-anticipated return to action has buoyed Real Madrid's chances for much-needed offense and also means that Ronaldo can pull further away from Barcelona rival Lionel Messi at the top of the all-time goalscoring charts.

With a total of 93 UEFA Champions League goals, Ronaldo is clear at the top after Barcelona lost to Atletico Madrid in quarterfinals and ended Messi's chances of adding to his current total of 83.

The 31-year-old Real Madrid forward told UEFA's official website that the statistics don't lie.

"I don't doubt that I will go down in footballing history," Ronaldo said. "Whether people like it or not, the numbers speak for themselves. I will be up there with the rest. Some like it more, some like it less, but I have no doubt that I'm already in the history of football.

"It's a privilege to know that I'm the leading goalscorer of all time in the Champions League. Obviously I feel very happy at having achieved that. It's a special competition and a competition that Real Madrid love.

"I've been lucky enough to win it twice and obviously I want to win it more -- hopefully again this year. Fans love the Champions League and obviously I also love it, because it's a special competition."

Ronaldo has missed Madrid's past three games with a muscle problem in his right thigh but underwent an intensive recovery programme in recent days. He took part in training with his teammates on Tuesday morning and will resume his part in the club's bid to seal a record 11th European Cup triumph on Wednesday.

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