Portuguese international, Cristiano Ronaldo has declared that he wants to score 1,000 goals before he retires after he was challenged to achieve the jaw-dropping feat by FC Porto’s president.
This is coming after the Al-Nassr superstar extended his record 125 international goal haul over the weekend, scoring twice to help Portugal claim a 3-2 victory in their Euro 2024 qualifying match against Slovakia, which was also his 200th appearance for the national side.
Africa Today News, New York reports that the 38-year-old surpassed Ali Daei’s 15-year international scoring record back in 2021 and subsequently became FIFA’s all-time leading goalscorer back in 2022, having now amassed a staggering 857 goals during his glittering career.
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But Ronaldo is hungry to break more records before he hangs up his boots, admitting he is hoping to rise to an audacious target set to him by Porto’s president, Jorge Nuno Pinto.
‘He [Pinto] set me the challenge of reaching 1,000 goals,’ Ronaldo said following Portugal’s win against Slovakia.
‘It will be quite difficult, but it is to see how I am mentally, my motivation. If, physically, my legs treat me as well as I treat them.’
Ronaldo has been in fine form so far this season, having returned 11 goals in 11 appearances across all competitions for Al-Nassr.
While the target of 1,000 goals is a big challenge, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner remained confident that he could score 900 goals at the very least.
‘Let’s see,’ Ronaldo added. ‘Until I reach 1000 I have to reach 900 first. I believe I will reach it. Now I always think about short-term goals.
‘The target for 900 goals? I’m confident, but for 1,000 goals it’s a lot of stone to break.’
Earlier this week, it was reported that Ronaldo has informed Al-Nassr that he wants to sign a contract extension with the club.
He arrived in Saudi Arabia in December 2022, penning a landmark £175million-a-year deal with the club, with his current deal set to expire in 2025.
Forbes also stated this week that he is currently the highest paid footballer in the world.