a A few months before his sixth World Cup appearance, Cristiano Ronaldo surprised everyone by revealing that his biggest ambition was not to lift the World Cup. The Portuguese striker revealed that his current motivation is a personal challenge that goes beyond the tournament.
For many, winning that tournament would cap an historic career. However, CR7 himself does not think so, and in a recent statement the Portuguese also frankly stated that his legacy does not depend on a single championship.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Joao Felix confront pitch intruders after defeat
If you ask me, “Cristiano, is it your dream to win the World Cup?”, no, it’s not. Winning the World Cup won’t change my name in soccer history. I’m not going to lie. Do you think it’s fair to define a player’s accomplishments as winning six or seven games? No, it’s not.
For Ronaldo, his goals are towards something more permanent and measurable over time.
Cristiano Ronaldo and his 1,000 goal goal
While other players of his age would either retire or think about their final season, Cristiano Ronaldo seems far from retiring. The Portuguese star maintains his ambition to become the first footballer to score 1,000 goals in all competitions, a figure that would further strengthen his status as the greatest player of all time.
The forward is currently 42 goals away from reaching that goal, a distance he could reach if he maintains the pace he has shown in Saudi football. The most optimistic projections suggest he could make it by September 2026, unless injuries get in the way.
“I always want to win more trophies and reach the numbers you know. Barring any injuries, I’m sure I’ll get there,” he said at the Globe Soccer Awards gala.
Cristiano and GOAT debate
Ronaldo also spoke clearly about the eternal debate about the best player of all time. He doesn’t need a World Cup to prove his career.
People say that if Cristiano wins the World Cup, he will become the greatest player of all time. I do not agree, I have already won three titles with Portugal
He recalled that Portugal had no international titles before his arrival, and stressed that while winning a World Cup with the national team would be a worldwide surprise, it was not the deciding factor for his achievement.
For now, CR7 has Al Nasr and the opportunity to win his first league title in the Saudi Pro League in mind. His team currently sits in second place with 32 points, one point behind leaders Al Hilal. The tournament has only just begun and there is a long way to go, but with Cristiano Ronaldo never giving up, Al Nasr are heading in the right direction.
