The countdown, the breakdown, and the history behind it
Cristiano Ronaldo needs 24 more goals to reach 1,000 official senior career goals. As of July 2026 he has scored 976 — and no footballer in history has ever reached 1,000. If he gets there, he will be the first.
Ronaldo's total splits into 830 club goals and 146 goals for Portugal, the most in the history of men's international football. His club tally spans five teams across four countries:
For most players, 24 goals is a full season's work. For Ronaldo it is closer to half a year. Even in his 40s he has posted 25-40+ goals per campaign for Al Nassr and Portugal, so the final 24 represent roughly six to nine months of his normal output — combined 2026/27 club and international fixtures, plus the AFC Champions League and Saudi Pro League goals he reliably adds. Barring long-term injury, this is a question of when, not if.
No player has ever reached 1,000 official senior goals. You will sometimes see bigger numbers quoted — Pelé (often cited at 1,283) and Romário (who claimed "1,000") — but those totals include unofficial friendlies, tour matches, and in some cases youth or futsal games. Counting only competitive senior matches for club and country, Ronaldo's 976 is the highest tally football has ever recorded, ahead of Lionel Messi. That is what makes 1,000 uncharted territory: it has genuinely never been done under a like-for-like, official definition.
At his current rate, Ronaldo is projected to score his 1,000th career goal during the 2026/27 season. The exact date depends on his minutes and Al Nassr's cup runs, but the trajectory has been remarkably steady. See the detailed projection and timeline →
Explore more: Goals by club · Career milestones · All Ronaldo goal FAQs