Cristiano Ronaldo says reaching 1,000 career goals remains an important personal target, but insists the milestone has not become an obsession as he continues his remarkable career at the age of 41.
Ronaldo currently has 979 official goals for club and country, leaving him 21 short of becoming the first professional footballer to reach the 1,000-goal mark.
Despite the significance attached to the figure, the Portugal captain says he does not want the pursuit to dictate his approach to the game.
“I want to reach it, and I will reach it… but is it an obsession? No. I never do things out of obsession, because when things become an obsession, they don’t go the way we want them to.”
Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal captain
The Al-Nassr forward has spent more than two decades with the national team and at the highest level in club football, beginning his senior career with Sporting CP before moving to Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus and eventually Al-Nassr.
His goal-scoring record has continued to develop deep into his career. He remains Real Madrid’s all-time leading scorer with 450 goals and has also established himself as the leading scorer in men’s international football.
Ronaldo has scored 146 goals in 233 appearances for Portugal, both world records at international level. He also has scored for Portugal in 23 consecutive calendar years since opening his international account in 2004.
The former Real Madrid star also captained Portugal to their first international trophy, winning the European Championship in 2016 before adding two UEFA Nations League titles in 2021 and 2025.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner also remains one of the most decorated players in football history. His Ballon d’Or victories came in 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017, with Lionel Messi the only player to have won the award more times (8).
Ronaldo Ready to Leave When Portugal No Longer Need Him
Ronaldo’s continued involvement with Portugal had appeared uncertain following the 2026 World Cup, with the veteran admitting that he had considered ending his international career.
However, he has now decided to continue and is preparing for another Nations League campaign under new head coach Jorge Jesus.
“I will be the first to go” if he feels he is no longer contributing to the national team, Ronaldo said, stressing that he will leave when he believes Portugal no longer require his services.
Jesus, who previously coached Ronaldo at Al-Nassr, has made it clear that the veteran’s selection will depend on what he can contribute on the pitch.
The coach has nevertheless confirmed that Ronaldo will start Portugal’s Nations League opener against Wales on Thursday at the José Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon.
The match will carry additional significance for Ronaldo because José Alvalade is the stadium where his senior career began with Sporting before his move to Manchester United in 2003.
Ronaldo has also acknowledged that reaching 1,000 goals in Portugal colours would provide a fitting conclusion to a remarkable international story. Yet his comments suggest that the number itself is not driving his decision to continue playing.
At 41, he remains focused on contributing to Portugal while maintaining his pursuit of another extraordinary statistical landmark. With 21 goals separating him from 1,000, Ronaldo knows the target is within reach, but insists that his motivation remains broader than simply adding another number to his record.
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