Ronaldo aims for 1,000 goals and a Nations League win as final target

The 41-year-old superstar Cristiano Ronaldo said at a press conference before the Nations League opening match against Wales that he still has two final goals: to score his 1,000th goal and to win the Nations League with Portugal.

Ambitious Goal Targets

Ronaldo, who has been playing for the Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr since 2023, currently stands at 979 goals for all club and national teams. He emphasized that he will reach the 1,000-goal mark without it becoming an obsession.

Uncertain Future

When asked about a specific retirement date, he replied that he did not know and that it is quite possible that this year will be his last. He added that he only learned a few years ago to live in the here and now.

Motivation and Criticism

Ronaldo dismissed critics who demand his stay in the “Seleção,” and said that he does not let their opinion influence him. He emphasized that he wants to support the national team not only with goals but also off the pitch, and would even pack his suitcase himself if necessary.

Portugal takes the upper hand over Wales in the Nations League

In a second interview that took place on the eve of the Nations League debut, Ronaldo mentioned that he had considered retiring after the 2026 World Cup, but had decided to continue playing because he still believes in the possibility of leading Portugal to success.

The striker stated that he still needs 21 goals to reach the 1,000-goal mark and that both the personal goal and the desire to win the Nations League are equally important to him. Portugal has already won the competition in 2019 and 2025.

Ronaldo also cited the young generation around Fabio Silva, Renato Veiga, Nuno Mendes, João Neves and Francisco Conceição as the reason to keep going, and emphasized that the most important thing for him is to be on the pitch, score goals and lead the team to victory.

Nations League start: Portugal without a goal from Ronaldo, Haaland's brace

In conclusion, he said that it does not matter to him whether he plays or rests the next day, as long as he feels good. The press conference took place at 20:45, accompanied by a propaganda photo shoot that underscores the enthusiasm of the superstar.