Cristiano Ronaldo has enjoyed one of the most remarkable careers in football history, winning major trophies, breaking records and delivering unforgettable performances across Europe’s biggest clubs.
Following his announcement of retirement from international football after 23 years with Portugal, the 41-year-old forward is now focused on his career at Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr and his ambition of reaching 1,000 career goals.
According to the report, Ronaldo has scored 985 career goals, leaving him 15 short of the historic milestone.
His journey to global stardom began at Sporting CP before a move to Manchester United in 2003. His impressive performance in a pre-season friendly against United in Lisbon convinced manager Sir Alex Ferguson to sign him for £12m.
At Manchester United, Ronaldo won his first Premier League title in the 2006/07 season after scoring 17 league goals. The following campaign, he scored 42 goals in all competitions, helping the club win another league title and the UEFA Champions League. He also claimed his first Ballon d’Or in 2008.
One of his outstanding moments at United came in April 2009 when he scored a spectacular long-range goal against Porto in the Champions League quarter-finals. The strike earned him the inaugural FIFA Puskas Award before his £80m transfer to Real Madrid later that year.
At Real Madrid, Ronaldo continued his extraordinary run, scoring the winning goal against Barcelona in the 2011 Copa del Rey final. In October 2015, he became the club’s all-time leading scorer and eventually finished his Madrid career with 450 goals in 438 appearances.
He also won two La Liga titles and four Champions League trophies with the Spanish giants. Among his most memorable performances was an incredible bicycle kick against Juventus in the 2018 Champions League quarter-finals, which earned him a standing ovation from opposing supporters.
Internationally, Ronaldo’s greatest achievement came in 2016 when he captained Portugal to its first European Championship title, defeating France 1-0 in the final. Although an injury forced him off in the first half, he continued encouraging his teammates from the touchline as Portugal secured victory through Eder’s extra-time goal.
Ronaldo also won the UEFA Nations League in 2019 and 2025, while becoming the highest goalscorer in men’s international football with 146 goals in 234 appearances.
In September 2024, he became the first player to score 900 official senior career goals during Portugal’s victory over Croatia.
Having played for Sporting CP, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus and Al-Nassr, Ronaldo leaves behind a legacy built on individual brilliance, major trophies and remarkable consistency. Although his international journey has ended, his pursuit of the 1,000-goal milestone remains another historic challenge in his career.
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