Ceferin’s Lisbon broadside: keep the Champions League open and hands off a Super League
UEFA’s head honcho Aleksander Ceferin took centre stage in Lisbon on Wednesday night and didn’t waste the microphone. From Portugal’s conveyor belt of ballers to Cristiano Ronaldo’s relentless drive, and from the revamped Champions League to the never-say-die threat of a Super League, the Slovenian laid out his manifesto in no uncertain terms.
Portugal’s punch and Ronaldo’s relentless edge
Ceferin couldn’t hide his admiration for the hosts. He marvelled at how a nation of Portugal’s size continually churns out elite talent and turns up on the biggest stages. In his view, it’s about mentality: that fierce competitive streak that means there’s a Portuguese star sprinkled across practically every Champions League final and European campaign. He even tipped Portugal to be right in the mix for the next World Cup.
And then there’s Cristiano Ronaldo, who was in the building. Ceferin described the icon as a global standard-bearer for Portuguese football and one of the fiercest competitors the game has ever seen. In his estimation, Ronaldo sits comfortably among the top three players of all time — a nod to a career built on obsession, longevity and an outrageous goals habit.
New Champions League format: brave call, big payoff
On the club front, Ceferin argued that Europe’s elite competition needed a refresh — and got one. He admitted change is always a hard sell, but hailed UEFA’s courage to push through the new format over recent seasons after heavy consultation with the game’s stakeholders. Early returns? Strong. He believes the rejig has added intrigue and intensity without losing the jeopardy that makes midweek nights feel special.
Super League talk swatted away — again
If you came for Super League chatter, Ceferin shut the door with familiar certainty. He vowed that, on his watch, the Champions League will remain open — football for everyone, built on the dream that any club can qualify, shock the aristocracy, and climb the mountain. That, he insists, is why the sport sits on the throne.
He even drew a contrast with the NBA: brilliant entertainment, yes, but lacking the same jeopardy that grips Europe each spring. To hammer home the point, he referenced examples like Khvicha Kvaratskhelia — the kind of breakout star who thrives because Europe isn’t a closed shop — and Luka Modrić, whose Ballon d’Or triumph from a small nation underlines the meritocratic pathway an open system provides.
Pundit’s verdict
Ceferin’s sermon will play well across the continent. Fans live for underdogs and giant-killings, not gated communities. Keep the ladder down and the lights on — that’s the essence of European football. And with Portugal churning out winners and Ronaldo still refusing to fade quietly, Lisbon felt like the perfect stage for the UEFA boss to plant his flag.
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