Cristiano Ronaldo goal tracker: Road to 1,000 career goals

Cristiano Ronaldo is chasing what no soccer player -- despite Pelé and Romário claiming otherwise when adding in friendly matches -- has ever officially achieved in competitive games: The ultimate milestone of 1,000 career goals. It's the summit of statistical greatness, a record that would redefine the limits of individual excellence in the sport.

Throughout his career, the Portugal superstar has broken most of the records and won most of the trophies he could have won, but being able to officially score 1,000 goals will put him in a pantheon of his own among athletes.

Ronaldo is already the leading men's international scorer with 143 goals from 225 games, while the rest of his domestic career total over his two-decade career have come in the club game for Sporting CP, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus and now at Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr.

So, as he nears an extraordinary landmark, ESPN will track every goal on his journey toward 1,000 -- one strike at a time -- until he reaches the magic number.

Ronaldo's goal tally:

• Games played: 1,331
• Goals: 979
• Ratio: 0.74 per game

Goal No. 979 | Sep. 9: Al Nassr 2-1 Abha

After not scoring in previous game -- a 2-1 loss to Al Ittihad -- Ronaldo was back on the scoresheet this time in their win against Abha. He scored the first goal of the match as he's 21 goals away from hitting 1,000.

Goal No. 978 | Aug. 28: Al Nassr 2-1 Al Taawoun

22 goals to go as Ronaldo scored the hosts' second goal of the match with a simple finish as Al Nassr remain unbeaten with four wins from four matches.

Goal No. 977 | Aug. 21: Al Riyadh 0-4 Al Nassr

In his first match in over a month, Ronaldo returned from World Cup by coming off the bench and scoring after 20 minutes to help Al Nassr win 4-0 against Al Riyadh.

Goal No. 976 | July 2: Portugal 2-1 Croatia

Ronaldo scored Portugal's opening goal from the penalty spot in a dramatic 2-1 win over Croatia in the round of 32, scoring his first-ever goal in a World Cup knockout match.

Goals No. 974 & 975 | June 23: Portugal 5-0 Uzbekistan

Ronaldo arrived at the 2026 FIFA World Cup chasing history and one last shot at the trophy that has always eluded him. After a frustrating scoreless draw against Congo DR sparked doubts about his form, the Portugal captain delivered the perfect response against Uzbekistan.

His first goal made him the first player ever to score in six World Cups, and his second took him to 10 career goals in the competition, moving him past the legendary Eusébio as Portugal's historical top scorer in the tournament. In other words, he's back.

Goals No. 972 & 973 | May 21: Al Nassr 4-1 Damac FC

And they've finally done it! Al Nassr have finally won the Saudi Pro League with a 4-1 win over Damac FC, with Ronaldo scoring twice. The first off a free kick from a tight angle and the second from close range which was Al Nassr's fourth and final goal of the night. It's been a long time coming, but after three years, Ronaldo finally wins his first league title in Saudi Arabia.

Goal No. 971 | May 7: Al Shabab 2-4 Al Nassr

While it was his compatriot João Félix that stole the headlines with a hat trick in an convincing win against Al Shabab, Ronaldo was still on target as Al Nassr are edging closer to the the Saudi Pro League title.

Goal No. 970 | April 29: Al Nassr 2-0 Al Ahli

30 goals left! That's the amount that Ronaldo will need to score to reach 1,000 career goals as he scored the opener for Al Nassr in a huge 2-0 win against Al Ahli that also puts him close to winning his first league title in Saudi Arabia.

Goal No. 969 | April 19: Al Wasl 0-4 Al Nassr

The Portugal legend found the back of the net yet again as Al Nassr won 4-0 away to UAE side Al Wasl, with Ronaldo scoring the opener. He is now 31 goals away from the magic number of 1,000 and he helped his team qualify for the AFC Champions League Two semifinals.

Goal No. 968 | April 11: Al Nassr 2-0 Al Okhdood

The Ronaldo train rolled on on Saturday, with the Portugal legend finding the back of the net as Al Nassr claimed a 2-0 victory over Al Okhdood to boost their lead at the top of the Saudi Pro League standings.

The win extended Al Nassr's league winning streak to a club-record 14 games. It leaves them with a five-point advantage over second-placed Al Hilal with six games remaining.

Goals No. 967 & 966 | April 3: Al Nassr 5-2 Al Najma

Ronaldo is back! And back he was as he scored a brace in his first match for the club in over a month. In his 100th Saudi Pro League match, Ronaldo got the first of his two goals in a thrilling encounter off a penalty before scoring his team's fourth goal with a simple finish from the box.

Goal No. 965 | Feb. 25: Al Najma 0-5 Al Nassr

It's now 11 wins in a row for Al Nassr in their convincing and Ronaldo is now 35 goals away from 1,000 as he scored the opening goal from the penalty spot. 

Goals No. 964 & 963 | Feb 21: Al Nassr 4-0 Al Hazem

Ronaldo had missed two league matches and an AFC Cup game earlier this month after reportedly going on strike in protest at his club's lack of January transfer business, but he gave the home side an early lead after 13 minutes.

Kingsley Coman found Ronaldo in a crowded penalty area, where he took a touch with his right before clipping a left-foot effort back into the far corner. The goal was given following a VAR check for offside, which was Ronaldo's 500th since turning 30.

Ronaldo had another goal just before the break ruled out for offside, then finally got his second of the match with 10 minutes to go, latching on to a short pass from Coman into the left side of the penalty area before drilling in an angled drive.

Goal No. 962 | Feb. 14: Al Fateh 0-2 Al Nassr

Ronaldo missed Al Nassr's last two Saudi Pro League games due to a short-lived dispute over the club's transfer policy. However, he didn't take long to let the club know what they missed, taking just 18 minutes to open the scoring by diverting Sadio Mane's low cross into the far corner of the goal.

Goal No. 961 | Jan. 30: Al Kholood 0-3 Al Nassr

Four wins in a row for Al Nassr and it's another goal for Ronaldo -- his 17th of the season -- as he scored the opener in their 3-0 win over Al Kholood after combining well with João Félix with a tidy finish inside the box.

Goal No. 960 | Jan. 21: Damac FC 1-2 Al Nassr

40 goals to go! Ronaldo got his 960th career goal giving Al Nassr their second consecutive win of the season, with the Portuguese scoring the winning goal by drilling a shot into the bottom corner.

Goal No. 959 | Jan. 12: Al Hilal 3-1 Al Nassr

Ronaldo was on the scoresheet and opening the match up in this huge clash against Al Hilal. However, second place Al Nassr was unable to cut the cap as the league leaders scored three times in the second half to get all three points.

Goal No. 958 | Jan. 8: Al Nassr 1-2 Al Qadsiah

It's a new year but it's the same old Ronaldo as he scored his first goal of 2026, making it 24 straight calendar years with at least one goal, as he scored a penalty but was unable to help Al Nassr beat Al Qadsiah.

Goal No. 957 | Dec. 30: Al Ettifaq 2-2 Al Nassr

Ronaldo surely didn't want to end the year without a goal, and he was able to do it -- with the help of a deflection off compatriot João Félix -- as Al Nassr ended 2025 by snatching a point.

Goal No. 956 | Dec. 27: Al Nassr 3-0 Al Okhdood

Another strike that was all about timing and positioning, Ronaldo guided home a low cross from the right at close range to double his side's lead and help seal a 10th consecutive win for Al Nassr.

Goal No. 955 | Dec. 27: Al Nassr 3-0 Al Okhdood

You'd think a defender would know better than to let Ronaldo have a free run into the six-yard box at a corner, but that's what he got to tap home a flick-on at the far post and open the scoring. 

Goal No. 954 | Nov. 23: Al Nassr 4-1 Al Khaleej

As pretty as any of the 953 goals that came before it. The 40-year-old got on his bike to connect with a floated cross from the right flank and deliver an exquisite right-footed bicycle kick into the top corner.

It also just happened to be the last action of the game.

Goal No. 953 | Nov. 8: Neom SC 1-3 Al Nassr

A penalty in the 65th minute... but it was dispatched with calmness as CR7 did a little stutter-step, waited for the goalkeeper to dive to his right and then slotted it home down his left side.

That's now a cool 100 goal involvements in the Saudi League in 85 matches.

Goals No. 952 & 951 | Nov. 1: Al Nassr 2-1 Al Fayha

Another game, another two goals for the Portugal legend.

Ronaldo was in fine form on Saturday as Al Nassr came back from a goal down to defeat Al Fayha at the King Fahd International Stadium.

After slipping behind early, the 40-year-old latched on to a through-ball from Kingsley Coman to restore parity for the hosts in the 37th minute. Ronaldo then kept his cool to slot home the winner from the penalty spot to ensure Al Nassr kept a flawless seven-in-seven record to start the Saudi Pro League season.

Goal No. 950 | Oct. 24: Al Hazem 0-2 Al Nassr

The 40-year-old was on the scoresheet as he, and compatriot João Félix, helped Al Nassr beat Al Hazem to continue their perfect start in the Saudi Pro League with six wins from their first six matches of the season.

Following a great ball from teammate Wesley, Ronaldo was able to score with ease inside the box with a great strike and now needs just 50 goals to reach a four-digit total.