Goal no. 1,000? Ronaldo says watch me make history!

Football legend Cristiano Ronaldo , 40, has expressed strong confidence about becoming the first player to score 1,000 career goals , saying he believes the landmark is well within reach if he remains injury free.

Currently on 956 goals , the Al Nassr star is just 44 strikes away from the unprecedented milestone. Speaking after being named the Best Middle East Player at the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai, the Portugal icon said his passion for the game continues to drive him, motivating him to play for at least one or two more years. For context, Lionel Messi has scored over 820 career goals across club and international matches to date.

“It is demanding to keep playing, but I still have the passion and motivation,” Ronaldo said, as quoted by Goal.com. “If there are no injuries, I am confident I will get there. It does not matter whether I play in the Middle East or Europe. I want to keep winning titles and reach the milestone everyone knows about.”

Realistically, Ronaldo could play around 40-45 matches per season for Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, domestic cups, and potential continental competitions, with an additional 5-10 international matches for Portugal each year. Based on his recent form, he scores roughly 0.7 to 0.8 goals per match, which means he averages 7 to 8 goals every 10 games . If he keeps up this form, he could score 35-40 goals in a single season or 42-48 goals over two seasons, making the 1,000-goal milestone achievable within this period if he stays fit. In other words, he would need about 50 matches at his current scoring rate to reach the mark, meaning it is very likely he could achieve it in a season and a half.

What adds an extra layer of anticipation is that, despite his incredible club and international goal-scoring record, Ronaldo has never won a World Cup . Football fans are already imagining the historic possibility of him achieving both, scoring his 1,000th goal and lifting the World Cup trophy with Portugal in the same year, which would be a feat unparalleled in football history.

Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez also backed Ronaldo to reach the four-figure goal mark before calling time on his career. Speaking to Spanish publication Marca, Martinez said Ronaldo’s strength lies in living in the present rather than chasing numbers.

“He focuses on being the best he can be today and enjoying each day,” Martinez said. “That is his secret. The number will depend on when he decides to retire. I do not think it is a fixed goal for him.”

Ronaldo’s confidence comes at a time when he continues to deliver on the pitch. Al Nassr registered their 10th consecutive league win after his brace powered the team to a 3–0 victory over Al Akhdoud. Joao Felix also scored as Al Nassr moved four points clear at the top of the table.

With his latest goals, Ronaldo further extended his record as the highest scoring player in men’s international football. His club career has seen him score prolifically for Sporting CP, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, and now Al Nassr.

As the season progresses, all eyes will remain on Ronaldo’s goal tally, with football fans worldwide watching to see whether the game’s most relentless scorer can turn belief into history, and perhaps even achieve the ultimate double by winning a World Cup and reaching 1,000 goals in the same year.