Cristiano Ronaldo handed over a €100,000 cheque from UEFA to the International Committee of the Red Cross before the Real Madrid CF v Manchester United FC game.

On Wednesday evening, European football’s governing body presented a cheque for €100,000 to Ronaldo, in recognition of his achievement in being voted no fewer than seven times into the UEFA.com users’ Team of the Year. Ronaldo in turn donated the cheque to the ICRC’s physical rehabilitation programme in Afghanistan.

Ronaldo received the cheque from UEFA Executive Committee member Peter Gilliéron and handed it on to Caroline Welch-Ballentine, ICRC director of human resources, ahead of the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg between Madrid and Manchester United FC at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu.

“The people who go to the stadium and buy the tickets,” Ronaldo told UEFA.com, “they really love football, and therefore it’s with great pride and great joy that we receive the [Team of the Year] prize – with it having been voted for by the fans.

“For me, it’s an honour to participate in social acts to help those who need it most,” Ronaldo added. “It makes me extremely happy.”