Cristiano Ronaldo Aims for 1,000 Goals Before Retirement

Cristiano Ronaldo, the captain of the Portugal national team, joined Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr on a free transfer in 2022. He recently affirmed that he will not conclude his playing career until he achieves the milestone of 1,000 career goals.

The 40-year-old forward netted twice in Al-Nassr’s 3-0 victory against Al Akhdoud, bringing his total goals for club and country to 956. In July, Ronaldo signed a new two-year contract with Al-Nassr, extending his tenure beyond his 42nd birthday.

After being honored as the Best Middle East Player at the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai, Ronaldo stated, “It’s hard to continue playing, but I am motivated. My passion is high, and I want to continue. It doesn’t matter where I play, whether in the Middle East or Europe. I always enjoy playing football and I want to keep going.”

He emphasized, “You know what my goal is. I want to win trophies and I want to reach that number [1,000 goals] that you all know. I will reach the number for sure, if no injuries.”

In a recent interview with Piers Morgan, Ronaldo indicated that he plans to retire from football “soon,” admitting, “I think I will be prepared. It will be tough, of course. I will probably cry.”

This season, Ronaldo has made a significant impact, scoring 13 goals in 14 appearances for Al-Nassr, who currently lead the Saudi Pro League table by four points. Despite his impressive record of 112 goals in 125 appearances, Al-Nassr has secured only one trophy—the Arab Club Champions Cup in 2023—since his arrival.

Ronaldo holds the record for the most goals scored for both Portugal (143) and Real Madrid (450). He is also the only player to have achieved over 100 goals for four different clubs: Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, and Al-Nassr.

Looking ahead, Ronaldo revealed that he intends for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico to be his final international tournament. He captained Portugal to victory in Euro 2016, marking the nation’s first international men’s trophy.