Cristiano Ronaldo 1000 goals target is within reach as the Portugal legend hits 948, aiming to make football history by October 2026
Cristiano Ronaldo 1000 goals chase is entering its final phase, as the Portugal and Al Nassr striker continues to defy age and rewrite football’s record books.
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At 40 years old, Ronaldo has now amassed an astonishing 948 career goals following a recent brace against Hungary in the World Cup qualifiers.
That figure includes 805 goals at club level and 143 for Portugal, underscoring a legacy built on relentless consistency and elite finishing over two decades.
He has now also become the all-time top scorer in World Cup qualifying history, overtaking Guatemala’s Carlos Ruiz. Lionel Messi trails behind with 36 goals, putting Ronaldo in yet another league of his own.
Despite playing in the Saudi Pro League, often criticised for its lower level of competition, Ronaldo has proven remarkably prolific — netting 104 goals in 117 appearances for Al Nassr over four seasons.
In 2025 alone, he has already scored 32 goals for club and country, showing no signs of slowing down.
His incredible scoring rate since 2010 — averaging over 50 goals per calendar year — has kept him firmly in contention for the 1000-goal landmark, a feat no male footballer has ever officially achieved.
Statistically, Ronaldo’s best year remains 2013 when he scored 69 goals and claimed the Ballon d’Or.
Astonishingly, his tally has only dipped below 39 goals once in the last 15 years, reflecting a level of consistency unmatched in the modern era.
With Portugal poised to qualify for next summer’s World Cup and two years left on his contract with Al Nassr, projections suggest Ronaldo could hit the 1,000-goal mark by October 2026 if he maintains his current output.
While detractors point to his 34 missed penalties and level of opposition in recent years, there’s no denying that Ronaldo’s longevity, drive and output continue to place him in a class of his own.
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Should he succeed, it won’t just be a milestone. It will be a moment that reshapes the benchmark for greatness in world football.
David Okere is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering business, governance, public affairs, and human-interest stories with a commitment to accuracy, balance, and public interest reporting.
