Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portugal captain, has expressed his desire to score his 1,000th career goal with the Portuguese national team rather than with his club, Al Nassr. He made this statement ahead of Portugal's UEFA Nations League opener against Wales. Ronaldo currently has 979 career goals, with 833 of them being scored at the club level and 146 for Portugal.
Ronaldo's pursuit of the 1,000-goal milestone is not his only objective, as he also aims to help Portugal win another UEFA Nations League title under their new head coach, Jorge Jesus. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner emphasized that he wants to achieve this goal without putting excessive pressure on himself. He stressed that he remains focused on enjoying football while continuing to contribute on the pitch.
Portugal will host Wales at the Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon in the opening round of the Nations League, marking Jesus' first match as the national team's head coach. Ronaldo had considered his international future following Portugal's exit from the 2026 World Cup. However, discussions with the Portuguese Football Federation and Jesus convinced him to continue his career with the team.
Ronaldo stated that he will remain available to play for Portugal as long as he feels capable of helping the team, particularly through his goals and performances on the pitch. He emphasized that scoring his 1,000th goal for Portugal would represent a significant moment in his long international career. The Portugal captain described it as "a beautiful story" and the culmination of his efforts.
Ronaldo's current goal tally stands at 979, leaving him 21 short of the landmark. He has a record 146 goals for Portugal and 833 club goals. The 41-year-old footballer is nearing one of the most remarkable individual milestones in football history. His preference to achieve this with Portugal highlights his commitment to the national team.
Jorge Jesus will take charge of Portugal for the first time in the Nations League opener against Wales. Ronaldo's decision to continue his international career was influenced by discussions with Jesus and the Portuguese Football Federation. This development has provided a boost to Portugal's chances in the upcoming Nations League matches.
Ronaldo's focus on achieving his goals while enjoying football indicates his determination to make the most of his remaining time in the sport. His statement about scoring his 1,000th goal with Portugal reflects his dedication to the national team and his desire to create a lasting legacy in the football world.
Key points
- Cristiano Ronaldo prefers to score his 1,000th career goal with Portugal.
- Ronaldo aims to help Portugal win another UEFA Nations League title under Jorge Jesus.
- He will continue to play for Portugal as long as he feels capable of contributing to the team.
