Cristiano Ronaldo has declared he will not retire from football until he reaches the remarkable milestone of 1,000 career goals, underlining his enduring ambition as he continues to defy age and expectation.
The Portugal captain, now 40, reaffirmed his determination after scoring twice in Al-Nassr’s 3-0 win over Al Akhdoud in the Saudi Pro League on Saturday. Those goals took his combined tally for club and country to 956, leaving him just 44 short of a figure few once thought possible in the modern era.
Speaking in Dubai after being named Best Middle East Player at the Globe Soccer Awards, Ronaldo admitted the physical challenge of continuing at the highest level but insisted his motivation remains undimmed.
“It’s hard to continue playing, but I am motivated,” he said. “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.”
Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr on a free transfer in late 2022, a move that marked a new chapter in his glittering career after a second spell at Manchester United ended abruptly. In July, he signed a new two-year contract with the Saudi Arabian club, a deal that will keep him playing beyond his 42nd birthday.
While his longevity has drawn admiration, Ronaldo’s personal objectives remain clear. “You know what my goal is,” he said. “I want to win trophies and I want to reach that number that you all know. I will reach the number for sure, if no injuries.”
Those words appear to contrast slightly with comments Ronaldo made last month in an interview with Piers Morgan, when he suggested retirement could come “soon”. At the time, he acknowledged the emotional difficulty of stepping away from the game, saying he would “probably cry” when the moment arrived.
On the pitch, however, there are few signs of decline. Ronaldo has scored 13 goals in 14 appearances this season, playing a key role as Al-Nassr sit four points clear at the top of the Saudi Pro League table. His scoring rate has ensured he remains one of the competition’s standout figures and a central attraction in Saudi Arabia’s rapidly growing football project.
Despite his prolific form, team success has been more limited. Since Ronaldo’s arrival, Al-Nassr have lifted just one trophy, the Arab Club Champions Cup in 2023. That relative lack of silverware has not dulled his desire, with Ronaldo repeatedly emphasising that winning titles remains as important to him as personal records.
Over the course of his career, Ronaldo has amassed achievements that place him firmly among football’s all-time greats. He holds the record for most goals scored for Portugal, with 143 in 214 appearances, and is Real Madrid’s leading scorer with 450 goals. 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.
At international level, Ronaldo has already hinted that the end is in sight. He confirmed in November that the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico will be his final tournament with Portugal. That competition would mark more than two decades since his senior international debut in 2003.
Ronaldo’s crowning international achievement came in 2016, when he captained Portugal to victory at the European Championship in France, securing the nation’s first major men’s trophy. It was a moment that cemented his legacy beyond club football and fulfilled a long-held national dream.
As he edges closer to 1,000 goals, debate continues about where Ronaldo ranks among the game’s greatest players. For the man himself, the focus remains simple: stay fit, stay motivated and keep scoring.
If injuries can be avoided and his current rhythm maintained, the milestone he craves no longer feels distant. Retirement, it seems, will have to wait until history is complete.
