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Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has said he will not hang up his boots until he reaches the milestone of 1,000 career goals.
The 40-year-old moved closer to the target after scoring twice in Al-Nassr’s 3–0 victory over Al Akhdoud on Saturday, taking his combined club and international tally to 956 goals.
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Ronaldo, who joined the Saudi Arabian side in 2022, signed a new two-year contract last July that will see him continue playing beyond his 42nd birthday.
Speaking after being named Best Middle East Player at the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai on Sunday, the veteran forward said his motivation remains strong despite the challenges of continuing at the top level.
“It’s not easy to keep going, but I’m motivated,” Ronaldo said. “My passion is still high and I want to continue. It doesn’t matter where I play — in the Middle East or Europe — I love football and want to keep playing.
“You all know my target. I want to win trophies and I want to reach that number [1,000 goals]. I believe I will get there, as long as I stay injury-free.”
Last month, in an interview with Piers Morgan, Ronaldo admitted he expects to retire “soon,” acknowledging it will be an emotional moment.
This season, Ronaldo has scored 13 goals in 14 appearances for Al-Nassr, who currently sit four points clear at the top of the Saudi Pro League. However, despite his impressive goal return of 112 goals in 125 matches, the club has won just one trophy since his arrival — the 2023 Arab Club Champions Cup.
Ronaldo remains Portugal’s all-time top scorer with 143 goals and Real Madrid’s leading scorer with 450 goals. He is also the only player to have netted more than 100 goals for four different clubs: Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, and Al-Nassr.
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He has also confirmed that the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico will be his final international tournament. Ronaldo famously captained Portugal to their first major men’s title at Euro 2016 in France.
