Cristiano Ronaldo becomes first player to score 900 career goals

Cristiano Ronaldo reveals he had no doubt he would hit 900 goals and looks forward to a ‘spectacular’ future.

Ronaldo’s 900th goal came in a fittingly dramatic fashion during Portugal’s 2-1 Nations League triumph over Croatia in Lisbon. The iconic forward found the back of the net in the 34th minute, converting a pinpoint cross from Nuno Mendes which not only helped secure victory for Portugal but also sent the packed Estádio da Luz into rapturous celebration.

The 39-year-old has now netted 131 international goals, 450 for Real Madrid, 145 for Manchester United, 101 for Juventus, and 68 for his current club Al Nassr as well as five for his first club Sporting Lisbon.

At just 17 years old, he announced himself to the world with a goal in a league match against Moreirense in 2002. That goal marked the beginning of an extraordinary journey that has taken him to the pinnacle of football across Europe and beyond. His 900th goal marks a culmination of nearly 22 years of excellence, during which he has established himself as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport.

Speaking after the match, Ronaldo opened up about the effort and perseverance it took to reach this historic moment.

“Only me and the people around me know how difficult it is to work daily to be physically and psychologically well and reach goal 900,” he said.

“It’s a unique milestone in my career and it was with a lot of emotion that I celebrated that goal. It represents a lot. It was the number I wanted to achieve for a long time and I knew I would achieve it because, as I continue to play, it would happen naturally. I already won two trophies for Portugal, something I wanted. Whatever comes next is spectacular. I dreamed of this and I have more dreams.”

While reaching 900 goals is a historic feat in itself, Ronaldo has his eyes set on an even loftier target—1,000 goals. The veteran striker has made it clear that he intends to play for as long as possible, stating that his dream is to reach the 1,000-goal milestone before he retires.

To reach 1,000 goals, Ronaldo would need to score 100 more times for club and country, a challenge he appears more than willing to take on. Given his continued involvement in international football with Portugal and his commitment to Al-Nassr, it is plausible that he could reach this milestone within the next two years. This would align with his reported ambition to play in the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.