Dubai: Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has said that he will not bring his playing career to an end until he reaches the landmark of 1,000 career goals.
The 40-year-old forward scored twice in Al-Nassr’s 3–0 win over Al Akhdoud, taking his overall tally for club and country to 956 goals. Ronaldo joined the Saudi Pro League side in 2022 and signed a new two-year contract last July, extending his stay at the club beyond his 42nd birthday.
Speaking after being named Best Middle East Player at the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai on Sunday, Ronaldo admitted that continuing to play at this stage of his career is challenging but said his motivation remains strong.
Ronaldo added that his passion for football is still high and stressed that he enjoys playing regardless of whether it is in the Middle East or Europe. Ronaldo added that his main objectives are to continue winning trophies and to reach the 1,000-goal mark, which he said he is confident of achieving as long as he avoids injuries.
However, in an interview with Piers Morgan last month, Ronaldo acknowledged that retirement is approaching, saying he plans to step away from football ‘soon.’ The striker added that he believes he will be emotionally prepared, although it will be difficult, admitting that he will probably cry when the moment arrives.
On the pitch, Ronaldo has enjoyed a strong start to the season, scoring 13 goals in 14 appearances for Al-Nassr. The club currently sits four points clear at the top of the Saudi Pro League table. Despite his impressive individual record of 112 goals in 125 appearances since joining the club, Al-Nassr have won just one piece of silverware, the Arab Club Champions Cup in 2023, during his time there.
Ronaldo holds the record as Portugal’s all-time leading scorer with 143 goals and is also Real Madrid’s top scorer with 450 goals. He is the only player in football history to score more than 100 goals for four different clubs, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, and Al-Nassr.
The striker also confirmed in November that the 2026 World Cup, to be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will be his final international tournament. Ronaldo captained Portugal to victory at Euro 2016 in France, securing the nation’s first-ever international men’s trophy.
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