Cristiano Ronaldo has reiterated his ambition to score 1,000 career goals before retiring, insisting his motivation and passion for football remain undiminished.
The Portugal captain scored the 956th goal of his career in Al Nassrâs 3-0 victory over Al Okhdood on Saturday. He remains the all-time leading scorer in international football, with 141 goals in 223 appearances for Portugal.
At 40, Ronaldo has two years left on his contract with Al Nassr and is expected to lead Portugal into the 2026 FIFA World Cup, making clear he has no plans to stop anytime soon.
âItâs hard to continue playing, but I am motivated. My passion is high and I want to continue,â Ronaldo said after being named Best Middle East Player at the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai on Sunday.
âMy passion is high and I want to continue. It doesnât matter where I play, whether in the Middle East or Europe. I always enjoy playing football and I want to keep going.
âYou know what my goal is. I want to win trophies and I want to reach that number [1,000 goals] that you all know. I will reach the number for sure, if no injuries.â
With his latest strike, Ronaldo reached 40 goals in a calendar year for the third consecutive year and for the 14th time in his career.
He has scored 12 goals in 10 Saudi Pro League matches this season, equalling a personal record set during his time at Juventus, and is expected to feature when Al Nassr face Al Ettifaq on Tuesday.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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