If the goal machine had ambitions: When will Cristiano Ronaldo hit 1,000 goals?

Cristiano Ronaldo is on his way to another historic milestone in his career. After surpassing 950 goals, the Portuguese superstar is now just 50 goals away from reaching the magic number of 1,000 career goals.

The latest goal came in Riyadh's 2-0 victory over Al-Hazim, proving that despite being 40 years old, Ronaldo's goal-scoring instincts are still sharp. With the new two-year contract signed with him, which binds him until the end of the 2026-2027 season, he has the opportunity to reach this record frequently.

As long as there are no long-term injuries, time will become the only obstacle between Ronaldo and this historical achievement. According to analysis by ESPN Global Sports Research, if his productivity remains stable, he will score his 1,000th goal in late November or early December 2026.

For world football, it is not a question of whether Ronaldo can reach 1,000 goals, but when. Since his first goal for Sporting CP on October 7, 2002, he has become a symbol of consistency and unparalleled sharpness.

From Sporting CP to Riyadh victory: The eternal goalscoring machine

Ronaldo is now the all-time leading goalscorer in the men's international game, 23 years after scoring his first goal against Morelense. He leads Messi with 143 goals with 39, including his two goals against Hungary in the most recent World Cup qualifier.

Many people believe that Ronaldo will not only reach 1,000 goals, but also break the record of 150 international goals in the 2026 World Cup. With a never-ending mentality and motivation, this goal looks realistic.

Interestingly, his old rival Lionel Messi also has a chance to reach 1,000 goals. The Inter Miami star currently has 889 goals for Barcelona, ​​Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Miami and the Argentina national team. However, Ronaldo leads the way with 60 goals and is more likely to reach four figures first.

The question now is not who is better, but who will last longer. Ronaldo seems to have no intention of slowing down, while Messi just signed a three-year contract in MLS until the end of 2028.

Hard-to-match consistency

Since making his debut in the Champions League qualifying round against Inter Milan in August 2002, Ronaldo has scored 950 goals in 1,293 games, averaging 0.73 goals per game. This number makes him one of the most consistent forwards in football history.

Interestingly, despite his increasing age, his productivity is increasing. In his last 100 goals, Ronaldo has scored 0.92 goals per 90 minutes, and in his last 50 goals, this rate has even risen to 0.93. For a player who is over 40 years old, this is a remarkable number.

Many people believe that his transfer to the Saudi Professional League will be easier than when he was at Real Madrid, Manchester United or Juventus.

However, in fact, Ronaldo still scores more goals in the league than big-name players like Karim Benzema, Darwin Nunez, Ivan Toney or Kingsley Coman.

Its productivity is maintained thanks to extreme discipline, awareness of space, and a tireless willingness to push the envelope. It's not just a legend, it's a phenomenon that refuses to give in to age.

Challenges from Messi, Haaland and Mbappe

If anyone can approach or break Ronaldo's record in the future, it will be three names: Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe. However, their paths differ.

Messi, with 889 goals, remains the closest competitor. But in order to catch up with Ronaldo, who is already 60 goals ahead, La Pulga must maintain his sharpness until the age of 40.

At the same time, Harland and Mbappe's scoring efficiency is even higher than Ronaldo. Haaland has scored 0.84 goals per game so far and has scored 324 goals in total, while Mbappe has 396 goals and a goal efficiency of 0.74. However, to overtake Ronaldo, they must maintain this performance over the next two decades, which is unprecedented.

Young players like Lamine Yamal are also considered to be future successors. However, with 33 goals in 137 games (a rate of 0.24 goals per game), the Spanish prodigy's journey has only just begun.

Towards the 1,000th goal: The calendar is ready

According to ESPN's calculations, Ronaldo can score 1,000 goals in the next 13 months. This was the same period in which he scored his last 50 goals, a sign that even in the twilight years of his career he was still performing extremely well.

With a tight schedule with Al Nasr in the Saudi Professional League and a possible participation in the 2026 World Cup with Portugal, Ronaldo has enough games to score more than 50 goals.

If everything goes as predicted, this historic date will arrive at the end of November to early December 2026. This moment may become one of the most significant events in modern football history.