Cristiano Ronaldo, captain of Portugal, has expressed his ambition to score 1,000 career goals before he retires from professional football.
The forward for Al Nassr netted his 956th goal during a 3-0 victory against Al Okhdood on Saturday. Ronaldo currently holds the record for the most international goals, having scored 141 times in 223 appearances for Portugal.
At 40 years old, Ronaldo has two years remaining on his contract with Al Nassr and will be leading the Portuguese national team in the upcoming 2026 World Cup, emphasizing that he intends to continue playing beyond that.
“It’s a challenge to keep playing, but I am highly motivated. My passion remains strong, and I want to continue,” Ronaldo shared after being named the Best Middle East Player at the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai this past Sunday.
“My passion is great, and I want to keep playing. Where I play, whether in the Middle East or Europe, doesn’t matter; I love the game and want to carry on.”
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“You all know my goal. I want to win trophies and reach that milestone of 1,000 goals. I am certain that I will make it, provided I stay injury-free.”
Following his goal against Al Okhdood, Ronaldo achieved 40 goals in a calendar year for the third consecutive time and the 14th time overall in his career.
He has already scored 12 goals in 10 matches in the Saudi Pro League this season, matching a personal best from his time at Juventus, and is set to play next as Al Nassr faces Al Ettifaq on Tuesday.