Cristiano Ronaldo received Marca's 'Pichichi' award for most goals scored in the Spanish league last season

Cristiano Ronaldo remembered former Real Madrid great Alfredo Di Stefano on Monday when receiving his award for scoring the most the goals in the Spanish league last season.

'I want to take advantage of this opportunity to say that it's too bad Don Alfredo Di Stefano can't be here to give me the award,' Ronaldo said at the gala in the Spanish capital.

Real legend Di Stefano died in July after suffering a heart attack in Madrid at the age of 88.

Cristiano Ronaldo receives the Di Stefano and Pichichi Awards from Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo

Madrid club president Florentino Perez said on Saturday that Ronaldo was 'a dignified heir to Di Stefano,' to which Ronaldo said that he was humbled by the comparison.

'I watched many videos of him because I didn't see him play (in person), and he was phenomenal,' said Ronaldo. 'Being connected to him is a privilege and an honor. It's something that motivates me to work more. I knew him personally since I arrived at Madrid, and to me he was an exceptional person.'

Alfredo Di Stefano is one of Madrid's all-time great players, winning five straight European Champions Cups

The Argentine forward helped Madrid win five straight European Cup titles from 1956-60. He was voted European player of the year in 1957 and 1959 and named Madrid's honorary president in 2000.