Ronaldo Sets Sights on 1,000 Career Goals as Motivation Burns On at 40

BY EMMANUEL OGBONNA

Cristiano Ronaldo has made it clear that his ambition remains undimmed, declaring he is determined to reach the unprecedented milestone of 1,000 career goals before he hangs up his boots. Speaking with confidence and conviction, the Portuguese superstar said there was no doubt in his mind that he would achieve the target, provided he stays free of serious injury.

The 40-year-old forward made the remarks late Sunday at the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai, where he was honored as the best player in the Middle East following another prolific year with Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr. Ronaldo’s belief was backed by recent performances, having scored twice in a Saudi Pro League match on Saturday to push his career tally to 956 goals.

Ronaldo’s scoring record spans more than two decades at the top level of the game and includes a men’s international record of 143 goals for Portugal. He remains the centerpiece of his national team and is expected to lead Portugal into next year’s World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. When the tournament begins, Ronaldo will be 41 years old, an age at which most players have long since retired.

Despite his years, Ronaldo insisted his hunger for success has not faded. Addressing the audience after collecting his award, he said he remains highly motivated to continue playing, winning trophies and scoring goals, regardless of where he competes. He emphasized that his love for football has not changed, whether his career takes him in the Middle East or elsewhere.

Ronaldo noted that personal ambition continues to drive him, saying his focus is firmly on winning more silverware and reaching milestones that few thought possible. His pursuit of 1,000 goals has become a defining late-career objective, one that has captured the imagination of fans worldwide as he continues to defy conventional expectations about age and longevity in elite sport.

Over the course of his career, Ronaldo has represented some of the world’s biggest clubs, including Sporting Lisbon, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus, collecting league titles, domestic cups and multiple Champions League trophies along the way. Individually, he has been named the world’s best player five times and has rewritten scoring records across leagues and competitions.

One notable honor that has eluded him is the World Cup. While Ronaldo led Portugal to victory at the European Championship in 2016, lifting the country’s first major international trophy, the global title remains missing from his extensive collection. Next year’s tournament could represent his final opportunity to chase that elusive prize on football’s biggest stage.

As Ronaldo continues to score at a remarkable rate, his declaration in Dubai reinforced a message he has delivered throughout his career: that ambition, discipline and belief remain central to his identity. With nearly 1,000 goals now within reach, the final chapters of his playing days are shaping up to be as compelling as any that came before.