Cristiano Ronaldo is still aiming to score 1000 goals in his career but said it will depend on how “his legs respond in the next few years”.
Ronaldo currently stands on 908 after continuing to hit the target on a regular basis for Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr. It makes him the leading scorer in history and he says he can always fall back on that should he not pass the four-figure mark.
Speaking after being awarded the Platinum Quinas by the Portuguese Football Federation, the 39-year-old said: “I now face my life as living in the moment. I can’t think long term anymore.
“I said publicly that I wanted to reach 1,000 goals, but it seems that now everything is easy. Just last month, I reached 900. It’s about living in the moment, seeing how my legs will respond in the next few years.
“If I reach 1,000 goals, that’s fine, but if I don’t, I’m already the player with the most goals in history.”
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Ronaldo handed prestigious award
Ronaldo was handed the national award by PFF president Fernando Gomes, who said of the former Sporting CP, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus star: “The most prestigious trophy is the Platinum Quinas, and if there is an ambassador for Portugal who deserves it, it is undoubtedly Cristiano Ronaldo.
“He has served the Portuguese national team for over 20 years. If there is someone who has demonstrated love for representing the Portuguese team, it is Cristiano Ronaldo. An outstanding ambassador who feels the jersey and feels Portugal.”
Ronaldo backed up Gomes’ words by outlining his love for his country and also expressing his frustration at other players who don’t want to play for Portugal.
He said: “Thank you to the Federation for this award, for the long journey I have had with the national team. I am very proud, very satisfied, and it all comes from hard work.
“It is interesting because when I joined the national team at 18, I had a dream: to earn my first cap. Then I moved on to 25, to 50, which is a milestone that every player considers significant. Then I thought, ‘why not aim for 100?’ A round number, three digits. Then I started thinking, why not 150, 200, and to me, that is a great feeling.”
Representing your children, your mother, your father, your best friends
He added: “I take this opportunity to say, especially here, to my teammates on the national team: after playing in so many clubs and winning so many trophies, Champions Leagues, Ballons d’Or, FIFAs, etc., I believe there is nothing better than representing the national team.
“Playing and representing the entire country — all its culture, your children, your mother, your father, your best friends — that is why I often feel disappointed with some players who do not want to represent the national team.
“Time flies, and there is nothing better than playing. I hear many people say that Portugal is a small country. Portugal is a great country. We need to think that way; we must believe that, regardless of the country’s size, we have everything: an extraordinary country, the infrastructures we have, the stadiums, the magnificent coaches we have. The potential of these players, the stars we have, we just need to refine a few edges and believe that one day we will be great.
“I believe that Portugal will be great not only in football but also in other sports.”
Ronaldo will feature as Portugal play two Nations League games over the international break. Roberto Martinez’s men host Poland on Friday before a trip to Croatia three days later.
