Cristiano Ronaldo at 40: Chasing 1,000 Goals or His Last Dance
Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates another milestone, proving his greatness at 40.
Cristiano Ronaldo turned 40 on Wednesday, but he shows no signs of slowing down. The Portuguese star scored twice in Al Nassr's 4-0 win over Al Wasl in the Asian Champions League on Monday, bringing his total goals to 923. This victory also marked his 700th club career win.
Ronaldo is often considered one of the greatest players in football history. He believes he has little competition for that title.
"I honestly haven't seen anyone better than me," he told El Chiringuito TV. "I believe I am the most complete player ever. I do everything in football."
His achievements and long career make him stand out. Ronaldo started his professional journey at Sporting CP in 2002 before moving to Manchester United a year later. Over his career, he has won 33 senior titles, including five Champions League trophies—four of them during his nine years at Real Madrid.
"I'm so competitive that I often forget my achievements because they push me to do more each year," Ronaldo said. "That’s the difference. Someone else in my place might have retired ten years ago. But I still have the passion. I'm different."
Ronaldo has won five Ballon d’Or awards and two FIFA Best awards. But he’s not ready to stop yet.
"I could retire now with no regrets," he admitted. "But it would be a pity because I still make a difference. I can continue for another year or two."
The question remains: will he reach 1,000 career goals?
"It would be amazing, but if it doesn’t happen, I’m already the highest goal scorer in history," he said. "Scoring goals is the best feeling in football and also the hardest thing to do."
Ronaldo led Portugal to victory at Euro 2016 and won the first UEFA Nations League title three years later. He is the top international goal scorer in men's football with 135 goals and holds the record for most international appearances (217).
He has played in six European Championships and holds the record for the most goals in the tournament (14). His influence goes beyond football.
Ronaldo has more than a billion followers on social media, including 648 million on Instagram, 170 million on Facebook, and 114.6 million on X (formerly Twitter).
"People see me as an example, not just in football but in life," he said.
According to Al Nassr coach Stefano Pioli, Ronaldo’s mentality is what keeps him at the top.
"What Cristiano has done, what he is doing, and what he will do will be remembered in history," Pioli said. "He treats his fitness and preparation like a 20-year-old who still wants to prove himself. He is a champion with an incredible mindset."
Last season, Ronaldo set a new record in the Saudi Pro League with 35 goals and was named Best Middle East Player of 2024 at the Globe Soccer Awards.
