Cristiano Ronaldo, 39, has announced his goal to reach 1,000 career goals, having already scored a remarkable 899. Ronaldo shared this new ambition during a YouTube interview with his former teammate, Rio Ferdinand. His declaration highlights his ongoing determination to surpass expectations and continue delivering on the field despite his age.
"Soon I will do 900, and after that, I will reach 1,000 goals," Ronaldo revealed, demonstrating his unwavering confidence and competitive spirit.
Ferdinand humorously asked Ronaldo about his future in football, "How old are you gonna be then when you're still playing?" Ronaldo’s response indicated his enduring passion and drive to push boundaries in the sport.
Ronaldo took a light-hearted jab at legendary players like Pele by noting that all his goals have video proof, ensuring their legitimacy. Pele is often recognized by FIFA for scoring 1,281 goals, but many of these goals were scored in unofficial friendly matches, which have faced scrutiny.
"For me, it's the best mark that I can have in football, to reach first 900 goals. After, my challenge is 1,000 goals," Ronaldo said. He added with a smile, "With one difference, all the goals that I score, they have video. So I can prove that it’s [real]."
In response, Ferdinand laughed and said, "You’re talking about [Alfredo] Di Stefano, you’re talking about Pele, Eusebio."
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Ronaldo, showing his respect for other football legends, clarified, "Listen, I respect all of them. My goals, [are] all goals." He continued with a grin, "And if you want more goals, I can bring [footage] from training too. So no problem, all the goals on video! And I will prove to the people after [that I scored them]. [If] they prefer this player, I don’t care about that."
As Ronaldo nears the 900-goal milestone, his aim to achieve 1,000 career goals is a testament to his relentless pursuit of excellence. While it remains to be seen if he will reach this extraordinary milestone, Ronaldo's impact on football and his status as one of the sport's greatest figures remain unquestionable.
