Ronaldo: 1,000 Goals Will Come, But I’m Not Obsessed
Cristiano Ronaldo says reaching 1,000 career goals is within his sights but insists the landmark has not become an obsession as he enters another chapter of his extraordinary career.
The 41-year-old Portugal captain has 979 official goals for club and country, leaving him 21 short of the historic milestone.
Despite the growing attention surrounding the target, Ronaldo says he is determined to reach it without allowing the pursuit to affect his mindset.
“I want to reach it, and I will reach it… but is it an obsession? No,” Ronaldo said.
“I never do things out of obsession, because when things become an obsession, they don’t go the way we want them to.”
Ronaldo has spent more than two decades representing Portugal and remains the leading scorer in men’s international football, with 146 goals. He is also the country’s most-capped player with 233 appearances and continues to feature prominently despite being well into his 40s.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has maintained an extraordinary scoring record throughout his career, becoming Real Madrid’s all-time leading scorer with 450 goals and collecting major honours in England, Spain, Italy and Saudi Arabia.
His international future has also remained a subject of interest. Ronaldo has made it clear that he is prepared to step aside when he believes Portugal no longer need his services, rather than prolonging his career simply for personal milestones.
For now, however, he remains part of Portugal’s plans. Head coach Jorge Jesus has confirmed that Ronaldo will start against Wales in Thursday’s UEFA Nations League encounter.
At this stage of his career, Ronaldo appears determined to keep competing, contributing and scoring while the opportunity remains, with the 1,000-goal mark serving as a target rather than an obsession.