Cristiano Ronaldo is inching closer to reaching the 1,000 goals milestone as he has achieved an astonishing scoring rate of over 50 goals per year since 2010, with 948 goals already to his name.
The Portuguese star is expected to become the first footballer in history to score 1,000 goals in October, based on his current scoring rate. Sky Sports’ “Between the Lines” predicted.
CR7 already set another scoring record after becoming the top scorer in World Cup qualifying history with his doubles in Portugal’s 2-2 draw against Hungary on Tuesday evening.
The Portuguese star leads the World Cup qualifiers with 41 goals, surpassing former Guatemala striker Carlos Ruiz’s 39 and Argentina’s Lionel Messi’s 36.
Ronaldo, who turned 40 in February, has scored a total of 948 goals in his career after scoring a record 143 goals in 225 games for Portugal, in addition to 805 in 1,068 games at club level. He continued to score goals at both international and club level.
With Al-Nassr, the football star scored 104 goals in 117 matches in four seasons, with already 32 goals for club and country by 2025.
This consistency in goal scoring makes Ronaldo prominent as he has averaged over 50 goals per calendar year since 2010.
Ronaldo’s highest scoring year was 2013, when he scored 69 goals and won the Ballon d’Or.
Amazingly, his tally has fallen below 39 goals only once in a calendar year over the past fifteen years, increasing the likelihood of more records.
As Portugal approaches World Cup qualification and Ronaldo continues his spell at Al-Nassr, predictions suggest he could make history by scoring his 1,000th career goal by October 2026 if he maintains his current scoring pace.
Ronaldo also tops Forbes’ latest list with a whopping $280 million in earnings this year, maintaining his stranglehold on football’s financial pinnacle after the 40-year-old signed a two-year contract extension with Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr.
The Portuguese forward, who became the first footballer to reach billionaire status and topped the list of the world’s highest-paid athletes for three years in a row in May, is closing in on scoring 1,000 goals in his career.
Ronaldo’s 948 goals – a complete overview
Ronaldo’s opener against Hungary marked his 181st strike with his left foot, followed by his 608th with his right foot, according to Air sports.
The performance highlighted his versatility in attack – a threat that hangs in the air with equal potency, with 157 headers accounting for around 17% of his total goals.
His scoring record shows a remarkable balance between home, away and neutral grounds. Of his 948 goals, 178 came from the penalty spot, while 135 were from outside the penalty area, including 64 direct free kicks.
In terms of competition, La Liga remains his most prolific arena, with 311 goals scored during his nine seasons at Real Madrid.
