Veteran forward Cristiano Ronaldo is setting his sights on achieving a historic milestone of 1,000 career goals as he prepares to represent the Portugal national team in the upcoming UEFA Nations League. The 41-year-old striker has openly expressed this ambitious target with a mix of excitement and determination, firmly stating that the time for his retirement from professional football is still far off.
During a pre-UEFA Nations League press conference, the 41-year-old captain affirmed that he still has much to contribute to the national squad, now under the stewardship of new head coach Jorge Jesus. Portugal’s initial fixture under Jesus’s leadership is slated to be against Wales. Jesus, the new coach, has reportedly taken over from Roberto Martinez, who previously guided Portugal through their World Cup 2026 campaign, where the team was controversially eliminated in the Round of 16 by champions Spain.
Before his current role leading the Portuguese national team, the 72-year-old coach, Jorge Jesus, previously managed Ronaldo at Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr. During their time together, Jesus played a key role in helping the then 41-year-old player secure a Saudi Pro League title. It was during this period that the former Real Madrid star consistently found the back of the net, contributing to his current astonishing tally of 979 career goals.
Of his impressive 979 goals, Ronaldo has registered 833 goals in club competitions throughout his illustrious career, spanning various top-tier teams. The remaining 146 goals have been scored while representing the Portuguese national team.
Slightly shy of the unprecedented target, the veteran goal-scorer now requires just 21 more goals to achieve the monumental feat of 1,000 career goals, a milestone that remains unmatched in the history of football.
As he continues his international career with Portugal, Ronaldo has outlined two significant objectives: reaching the 1,000-goal mark and helping Portugal secure another UEFA Nations League title. He expressed his thoughts, stating, ‘Achieving both these accomplishments is incredibly important. Securing 1,000 goals for myself and working with the national team to compete for the Nations League trophy are my priorities. This is a new journey with a new manager, Jorge Jesus, whom we all know well. I truly hope things will go exceptionally well for him and for us.’
For Ronaldo, the prospect of achieving his 1,000th goal while playing for Portugal represents a uniquely special moment in his illustrious career. The former Manchester United and Juventus player also took the opportunity to reiterate to reporters that his retirement from the sport is not imminent, as he is committed to participating in competitions to the best of his ability for as long as possible. Concurrently, Ronaldo voiced his disappointment with certain media outlets, accusing them of consistently undermining his long-standing career through the publication of numerous inaccuracies.
