Ronaldo Sets New Goal Record: Can He Reach 1000 Career Goals Before Retirement?
Cristiano Ronaldo is a man on a mission. The Portuguese superstar has announced his desire to score 1000 career goals before hanging up his boots, and it’s a target he’s not afraid to chase.
Speaking to Rio Ferdinand on his YouTube channel, Ronaldo revealed his ambitions are still sky-high, even at 39 years old. "I know I’m still looking good, I feel that I can still dribble, score goals, shoot, jump," he said. "The day that I start to feel that I can’t produce anything I will pack my bags and go away."
Currently sitting on 868 goals from 1200 appearances, Ronaldo is just 132 away from his new target. And judging by his form, he’s confident he can reach it. "Soon I will [score] 900, and after that I will beat 1,000," he said. "I want to reach it. 41 [retiring age]? I don’t know. This is why I told you I want to leave the present."
Ronaldo’s rivals will be nervous about this new target. His longtime adversary, Lionel Messi, has 838 goals to his name, and is likely to be pushing for more himself. But Ronaldo isn’t looking to make history in isolation – he’s got an eye on the all-time scoring record, currently held by Brazilian legend Pele with 762 goals.
There’s one major difference, however: Ronaldo has proof of all his goals, thanks to the advent of video technology. "There is one difference [with my goals record]. All the goals that I scored, they have video. So I can prove that [they happened]," he said.
So what’s the plan for Ronaldo’s retirement? He’s been linked with a return to Manchester United, but he’s coy about his plans. "I don’t know if I will retire soon, in two or three years, but probably I will retire here at Al-Nassr," he said. "I’m happy at this club. I feel good in this country too. I’m happy to play in Saudi Arabia and I want to continue."
Ronaldo is the all-time leading scorer in UEFA Champions League history, and will be honored for this achievement at the Champions League draw on Thursday. It’s a fitting tribute to a man who continues to push himself to new heights, even in his 40s.
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