Cristiano Ronaldo has set his sights on one final personal landmark before bringing the curtain down on his storied football career, a milestone that has eluded even his long-time rival Lionel Messi.
The 40-year-old Portugal captain, who continues to defy age at club and international level, said he remains fully motivated to keep playing and winning, insisting that injuries, not years, will determine when he eventually retires.
‘I know the number I want to reach’
Speaking after being named the Best Player in the Middle East at the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai, Ronaldo made it clear that his end-of-career ambition is firmly defined.
“I will reach that number for sure, if no injuries,” Ronaldo said, without initially spelling out the exact figure. “I am still very motivated to carry on. It doesn’t matter where I play- Middle East or Europe- I always enjoy football, winning trophies and scoring goals.”
Ronaldo’s comments come after he scored twice for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League over the weekend, taking his career tally to 956 goals across club and country.
The target and what lies ahead
The landmark Ronaldo is chasing is 1,000 career goals, a number no player in the modern era has officially reached. His tally includes a men’s international record 143 goals for Portugal, and he is expected to lead the national side at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
By the time the tournament begins, Ronaldo will be 41, yet he insists the hunger remains intact.
A five-time Ballon d’Or winner, Ronaldo has won league titles and continental trophies across England, Spain, Italy and now Saudi Arabia, along with the European Championship in 2016 with Portugal. The World Cup remains the only major honour missing from his collection.
How far behind is Lionel Messi?
Messi, an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, has 896 goals to his name. The Argentina legend is currently plying his trade for Inter Miami in the Major League Soccer (MLS). In addition to the number of goals, Messi also has 407 assists, a number which is much bigger than Ronaldo’s assists which stands at 260.