Cristiano Ronaldo has made his endgame crystal clear: he’s not retiring until he hits 1,000 career goals.
The 40-year-old forward is currently sitting on 956 goals for club and country after scoring twice in Al-Nassr’s recent win over Al Akhdoud. That puts the milestone within striking distance, assuming his body holds up and he keeps knocking them in at his current pace.
Speaking after being named Best Middle East Player at the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai, the Portugal captain said he’s still driven by the same thing that’s powered his entire career: the next target.
In his post-game comments, Ronaldo 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.”
Continuing, he added:
“It’s hard to continue playing, but I am motivated. My passion is high and I want to continue… I want to reach that number [1,000 goals]… I will reach the number for sure, if no injuries.”
The 40-year-old also previously indicated the 2026 World Cup will likely be his final international tournament with Portugal. Until then, the chase is very much on.