Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has declared he will not bring the curtain down on his illustrious playing career until he reaches the unprecedented milestone of 1,000 career goals.
The 40-year-old football icon moved closer to the landmark on Saturday after scoring twice in Al-Nassr’s 3–0 victory over Al Akhdoud, taking his combined total for club and country to 956 goals. Ronaldo, who joined the Saudi Arabian side in 2022, is now just 44 goals away from a feat never achieved in professional football.
Speaking in Dubai on Sunday after being named Best Middle East Player at the Globe Soccer Awards, Ronaldo said his motivation remains strong despite his age.
“It’s hard to continue playing, but I am motivated. My passion is high and I want to continue,” Ronaldo said. “It doesn’t matter where I play, whether in the Middle East or Europe. I always enjoy playing football. My goal is clear: I want to win trophies and I want to reach that number — 1,000 goals. I will reach it for sure, if no injuries.”
Ronaldo signed a new two-year contract with Al-Nassr last July, extending his stay at the club beyond his 42nd birthday. This season alone, he has already scored 13 goals in 14 appearances, helping Al-Nassr open a four-point lead at the top of the Saudi Pro League table.
Despite his prolific scoring record — 112 goals in 125 matches for the club — Al-Nassr have lifted just one major trophy since his arrival, the Arab Club Champions Cup in 2023.
Ronaldo’s career statistics remain staggering. He is the all-time leading scorer for Portugal with 143 goals and for Real Madrid with 450. He is also the only player in history to score more than 100 goals for four different clubs: Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus and Al-Nassr.
Last month, in an interview with Piers Morgan, Ronaldo admitted retirement is approaching, though the thought still weighs heavily on him.
“I think I will be prepared. It will be tough, of course. I will probably cry,” he said.
On the international stage, Ronaldo has already confirmed that the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico will be his final tournament with Portugal. He famously captained his country to Euro 2016 glory in France, delivering Portugal’s first-ever major international men’s trophy.
As he chases football immortality, Ronaldo continues to defy age, driven by an unrelenting hunger to score, win, and leave the game with a record that may never be matched.
