Cristiano Ronaldo is closing in on the historic milestone of 1,000 career goals while also pursuing his final international ambitions. As of April 2026, he has scored 971 career goals, putting him just 29 away from this significant achievement.
Ronaldo reached his 900th goal in September 2024. He has been prolific throughout his career, netting 451 goals during his time at Real Madrid and adding 125 goals with Al Nassr. His closest rival, Lionel Messi, has scored 905 career goals as of April 2026.
Key statistics:
- Cristiano Ronaldo’s current total: 971 career goals
- Lionel Messi’s current total: 905 career goals
- Goals scored by Ronaldo at Real Madrid: 451
- Goals scored by Ronaldo with Al Nassr: 125
- Goals scored by Messi at Barcelona: 672
- Goals scored by Messi with Inter Miami: 85
Despite his success, Ronaldo has never won a FIFA World Cup. He has participated in five editions of the tournament and continues to aim for international glory with Portugal.
Ronaldo expressed his motivation recently, stating, “It was a milestone I wanted to reach for a long time.” He added that achieving this goal means a lot to him.
The competition between Ronaldo and Messi remains intense. The race for the 1,000th goal is heating up as both players continue to score for their respective clubs.
Ronaldo has three final career dreams he must fulfill before retirement. His ambitions include winning a World Cup and leaving a lasting legacy in football.