The five-time Ballon d'Or winner has spoken.

Cristiano Ronaldo has expressed his gratitude to everyone who has been part of his journey, after the former Manchester United and Real Madrid striker was awarded the "Best of All Time" award.

Earlier this week, the third edition of the Liga Portugal Awards was held in Porto, a ceremony that recognized the achievements of several figures from the world of football.

The gala paid tribute to Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa, former president of FC Porto, while experienced defender Pepe received a Portuguese League Award for his contribution to Portuguese football.

Former Real Madrid teammate Cristiano Ronaldo was also honored by the organizers as the "best player of all time."

"There are truly endless adjectives to describe Cristiano Ronaldo," said a representative of the Portuguese League.

"The Portuguese captain's career, his statistics and trophies speak for themselves, a record-breaking career that spans more than two decades as a professional, and which promises to continue."

They added: "An indelible figure in the sport and an idol to millions, he defined an era and will leave an indelible mark on world football."

After being praised for the "golden pages he continues to write in his career," Ronaldo reacted with a personal message.

Speaking in a video posted on Instagram, he said:

"I want to thank the Portuguese League for the Best of All Time award. As you can imagine, it's a great honour for me to win something for my country.

"I want to thank all my teammates who helped me throughout my career to win this wonderful trophy."

Ronaldo added: "I also want to thank all the coaches and everyone who helped me on this journey to always be better. So thank you all very much and enjoy."

Liga Portugal further explained the decision to honor Ronaldo.

"Known for his work ethic, competitiveness and decisiveness at key moments, Cristiano Ronaldo's impact goes far beyond statistics," they said.

"Between individual records, collective trophies and media influence, he built a legacy that establishes him as... The Best of All Time." (Express)

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