Cristiano Ronaldo sets his sights on jaw-dropping 1,000 goal career target

Cristiano Ronaldo says he wants to score 1,000 goals before he retires after he was challenged to achieve the jaw dropping feat by FC Porto's president.

It came after the Al-Nassr superstar extended his record 125 international goal haul on Friday night, scoring twice to help Portugal claim a 3-2 victory in their Euro 2024 qualifying match against Slovakia, which was also his 200th appearance for the national side.

The 38-year-old surpassed Ali Daei's 15-year international scoring record back in 2021 and subsequently became FIFA's all-time leading goalscorer back in 2022, having now scored a staggering 857 goals throughout his career.

But Ronaldo is hungry to break more records before he hangs up his boots, admitting he is hoping to rise to an audacious challenge set by Porto's president, Jorge Nuno Pinto.

'He [Pinto] set me the challenge of reaching 1,000 goals,' Ronaldo said following Portugal's win against Slovakia.

'It will be quite difficult, but it is to see how I am mentally, my motivation. If, physically , my legs treat me as well as I treat them...'

Ronaldo has been in fine form so far this season, having returned 11 goals in 11 appearances across all competitions for Al-Nassr so far this season.

While the target of 1,000 goals is a big challenge, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner remained confident that he could score 900 goals at the very least.

'Let's see. Until I reach 1000 I have to reach 900 first. I believe I will reach it. Now I always think about short-term goals.

'The target for 900 goals? I'm confident, but for 1,000 goals it's a lot of stone to break.'

It comes after Ronaldo has reportedly told Al-Nassr that he wants to sign a contract extension with the club.

He arrived in Saudi Arabia in December 2022, signing a landmark £175million-a-year deal with the club, with his contract set to expire in 2025. Forbes also reported this week that he is currently the highest paid footballer in the world.

And after turning 38 in February, it seems he has no plans to retire just yet, with the forward targeting his sixth European championship next summer.

Speaking on playing for Portugal in Germany next summer he added, per Ojogo: 'I hope to be well by then, but there's still a lot of time left, I hope I don't have any injuries or other problems.

'I hope to play and be in the finals again, but until then there's a lot left, a lot of things at club and national team.'

Should he continue to play, the five-time Champions League winner could also target an appearance at the 2026 World Cup - by which time he would be 41.

Portugal currently sit top of Group J in the Euro 2024 qualifying standings and take on Bosnia and Herzegovina on Monday night.

With a place in next summer's tournament already booked, it is questionable whether Ronaldo will feature in that match and could be rested, with Al-Nassr back in action Damac next Saturday.

Ronaldo has also made headlines this week after reports claimed that he could be 'sentenced to 99 lashes for adultery' after he was seen hugging an Iranian painter on a trip to the country in September.