“The best in history is me, full stop.” With those words, Cristiano Ronaldo has drawn a line in the sand, dismissing the need for arbitrary milestones to validate a legacy that has spanned over two decades at the absolute pinnacle of professional football.
Currently sitting at 980 career goals after a clinical strike for Al-Nassr in their 3-0 victory over Diriyah Club on October 9, the Portuguese icon finds himself just 20 goals away from the elusive 1,000-goal mark. Yet, for Ronaldo, that number is a statistical vanity project rather than a requirement for his status as the greatest to ever grace the pitch.
Ronaldo insists his goals prove he is the greatest
In a candid interview with CNN Portugal, the 41-year-old forward expressed frustration regarding the current discourse surrounding his performance levels. Despite his staggering record—980 goals in 1,337 professional appearances—Ronaldo feels the appreciation for his output is waning.
“People are not valuing the form I am in, my goals,” Ronaldo stated. When pressed on the looming 1,000-goal milestone, he was dismissive of the pressure. “Things have to happen naturally. If I scored 920 goals, 925, 930… the best in history is me, full stop. The numbers speak for themselves. If I get there, it is amazing, an objective, but I don’t think long-term.”
This perspective offers a glimpse into the mindset of a player who has spent his career obsessed with the future, now finding a sense of finality in the present. While he has previously hinted at retirement at the conclusion of the current Saudi Pro League season in June, he remains as enigmatic as ever about his ultimate expiration date. “I don’t know what is going to happen tomorrow,” he admitted. “Maybe I wake up demotivated and don’t want to play anymore, I just don’t know.”
Portugal wants Ronaldo back despite disciplinary proceedings
While life at Al-Nassr remains tranquil—highlighted by a passionate fanbase at Al Awwal Park holding banners declaring “Greatness is earned”—Ronaldo’s situation on the international stage is far more turbulent.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner is currently embroiled in disciplinary proceedings following a highly public fallout with Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus. The rift, which led to Ronaldo’s abrupt exit from the national team camp during the October international break, prompted a harsh reaction from the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF). The federation initiated an “urgent” disciplinary investigation and imposed a provisional suspension, casting doubt on the captain’s immediate future with the Seleção das Quinas.
However, the power brokers within Portuguese football appear eager to move past the conflict. Federation president Pedro Proença has signaled that all parties, including coach Jorge Jesus and the playing squad, are aligned in their desire to see the talismanic leader back in the fold for November’s UEFA Nations League fixtures.
“The federation, the coach, and all of Ronaldo’s teammates are of one mind: we want Ronaldo back,” Proença told media. He further underscored the hierarchy of the situation, adding, “I expect Ronaldo to return during the international break next November, and he is also eager to return; he is the best player of all time.”
Ronaldo, who remains the all-time leading scorer in men’s international football with 146 goals, has made it clear that he has no intention of walking away from the national team just yet. He has publicly expressed a desire for a proper farewell, hoping to end his international career on his own terms rather than through a disciplinary tribunal.
A legacy in the balance
The timing of this friction is particularly sensitive. Portugal has already secured their place in the Nations League quarter-finals, having dominated their group with a perfect 12 points from four matches. Whether Ronaldo is on the pitch to lead them against Denmark on November 14 or Wales on November 17 remains entirely dependent on the findings of the FPF’s disciplinary council.
Until then, the focus remains on the Saudi Pro League. His 23rd-minute opener against Diriyah Club was a reminder of the predatory instinct that has defined his career since he broke onto the scene in 2003. As fans chanted his name in the seventh minute—a tribute to his iconic shirt number—it was clear that for the supporters in Riyadh, the debate over his status as the “greatest” was never in question.
Whether he hits 1,000 goals or hangs up his boots on 980, Cristiano Ronaldo has firmly rejected the notion that he needs further evidence to secure his place in the pantheon of legends. He views his career not as a work in progress, but as a finished masterpiece, with his record standing as the final, indisputable verdict. For the rest of the footballing world, the next few months will be a masterclass in watching one of the game’s greatest figures navigate the final chapter of a peerless career.
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