“I want to reach that number and I will reach it for sure,” says 40-year-old
Cristiano Ronaldo insists his drive has not faded and says he remains fully committed to chasing 1,000 career goals after being honoured at the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai.
The 40-year-old was named Best Middle East Player for the second year in a row on Sunday, a recognition that followed another decisive contribution for Al-Nassr. Ronaldo scored twice in Saturday’s match against Al Akhdoud, taking his overall tally to 956 goals for club and country.
Despite his age, Ronaldo made clear that retirement is not yet on his mind. He insisted he intends to continue playing for at least another season, possibly two, as he closes in on a landmark few players in history can only dream of.
“It’s hard to continue playing, but I am motivated,” Ronaldo said. “My passion is high and I want to continue. It doesn’t matter where I play, whether in the Middle East or Europe. I always enjoy playing football and I want to keep going.”
Ronaldo has been prolific since moving to Saudi Arabia, helping to raise the profile of the league while continuing to deliver at a rate that defies expectations for players in their late thirties, let alone at 40.
The former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus forward said his personal targets remain unchanged, with trophies and goals still driving him day to day.
“You know what my goal is,” Ronaldo said. “I want to win trophies and I want to reach that number [1,000 goals] that you all know. I will reach the number for sure, if no injuries.”
