After a relatively unremarkable showing at Euro 2024, there are some who might say that Cristiano Ronaldo is slowly being overshadowed by a new generation.
But there is one thing that the 39-year-old can still do better than anyone else in the world, according to former teammate Roy Keane.
Keane praised Ronaldo’s incredible career and his enduring ability with the Portuguese forward achieving a magnificent milestone in his country’s Nations League clash against Croatia earlier this week.
The Al Nassr star scored the second goal as Portugal held on for a 2-1 victory in Lisbon.
But this goal was far more significant than so many of the others that Ronaldo has scored during his career.
It was the 900th goal of his career – and the 131st that he has scored for Portugal.
It also marked a stark contrast from the dry spell he went through at Euro 2024, where he failed to get on the scoresheet.
Since he burst on the scene, Ronaldo had also scored at every major tournament he had appeared at – until his blank in Germany.
And speaking on ITV Sport after the Nations League match, Keane was asked whether that lack of impact at the Euros was a concern.
“That was a bit of an issue,” he admitted.
“But (he’s reached) 900 goals,” he reminded viewers, pointing to the scale of the achievement.
“If you put the ball in those areas he’s still the best in the world,” added Keane, referring to Ronaldo’s incredible ability in front of the net.
But far from resting on his laurels, Ronaldo has revealed that he is already targeting that next huge milestone.
“I want to reach 1,000 goals,” he admitted to Rio Ferdinand on his new YouTube channel.
“If I don’t have any injuries, this for me is the most important [thing]. I want that.”
But it seems unlikely that any of those goals will come at the next major tournament, the 2026 World Cup.
Ronaldo also opened up about how another global competition was not necessarily on his to-do list.
“Portugal winning the Euros is equivalent to winning a World Cup,” he added. “I’ve already won two trophies for Portugal that I really wanted.
“I’m not motivated by that. I’m motivated by enjoying football and the records come naturally.”
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