Cristiano Ronaldo remains as determined as ever despite being 40, with Rio Ferdinand revealing insights into the Portuguese superstar’s ambitions at Al-Nassr, according to Sportskeeda. Speaking after Al-Nassr’s 2-0 win over Al-Ittihad, Ferdinand shared that Ronaldo is deeply focused on winning the Saudi Pro League and is chasing the milestone of 1,000 career goals.
Ronaldo, who scored in the victory alongside Sadio Mane, told Ferdinand that his approach is to take matches “game by game,” but Ferdinand revealed the depth of the striker’s drive. “If he finishes his career here in Saudi and he doesn’t win the league, it will kill him,” Ferdinand said via Al Nassr Zone on X. “He wants to win the league, he wants to be successful. Yes, he wants to score a thousand goals.”
Since joining Al-Nassr in 2023, Ronaldo has yet to claim a major title in Saudi Arabia, but his goal-scoring remains prolific. Currently, he has 946 goals and 258 assists in 1,289 appearances, leaving him just 54 goals shy of the historic 1,000-goal mark. Ferdinand’s insight highlights how personal milestones and team success are both driving forces for the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.
Former Manchester United coach Rene Meulensteen has even suggested that rival goalkeepers might be tempted to allow Ronaldo’s 1,000th goal, knowing the historic significance it carries. Regardless of how it happens, Ronaldo’s focus on both scoring and lifting the league trophy underscores his enduring competitiveness and ambition.
Despite being in the twilight of his career, Ronaldo continues to deliver at the highest level, with five goals and an assist in six games this season. His commitment to winning and making history shows that, for him, age is no barrier to ambition, and every match remains an opportunity to achieve greatness.
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