Cristiano Ronaldo Declares Himself ‘Greatest Player In History’, Says Goals Deserve More Credit

Cristiano Ronaldo has made his stance on football’s long-running greatest of all time (GOAT) debate clear, declaring himself the greatest player in history and arguing that his goalscoring achievements have not received the recognition they deserve.

In excerpts from an interview with CNN published by The Athletic, the 41-year-old Portuguese superstar said, “People do not give the level I produce and my goals the credit they deserve.”

Ronaldo’s career statistics offer substantial backing for his argument. He has scored 980 goals in 1,337 professional appearances for clubs and Portugal, putting him within reach of the unprecedented milestone of 1,000 career goals.

Ronaldo on 1,000-Goal Milestone

Asked whether he was targeting the landmark of 1,000 career goals, Ronaldo insisted that the achievement would be significant but maintained that his standing in football history was already beyond debate.

“Things have to happen naturally. If I score 920 goals, or 925, or 930, the best player in history is me, and that’s the end of it,” he said.

“The numbers speak for themselves. If I reach that figure, meaning a thousand goals, it would be something amazing and a target I am working towards, but I don’t think about the long term,” Ronaldo added.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s Career Goals By Club

Ronaldo’s record spans several of the biggest clubs in European football, alongside his international career with Portugal.

According to the figures cited in the report, his goalscoring record includes:

• Real Madrid: 450 goals in 438 appearances
• Portugal: 146 goals
• Manchester United: 145 goals
• Al Nassr: 133 goals in 156 appearances
• Juventus: 101 goals in 134 appearances

His 450 goals for Real Madrid came during a prolific spell in Spain, while he continued scoring at a remarkable rate after moving to Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr.

Ronaldo Suspended By Portuguese Football Federation

Ronaldo is currently serving a suspension imposed by the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) following an incident involving Portugal’s national team late last month.

The forward reportedly walked out of the national team’s training camp after accusing Portugal manager Jorge Jesus of breaking promises regarding his playing time on two occasions.

Ronaldo subsequently apologised to his fans and teammates for his actions and accepted the federation’s punishment. He is expected to return during the November 2026 international break.

‘I Don’t Know What Will Happen Tomorrow’: Ronaldo On Retirement

Despite continuing to chase records, Ronaldo acknowledged that his future in football remains uncertain and that his motivation could eventually change.

“I don’t know what will happen tomorrow. Maybe I’ll wake up one day and lose my motivation, and no longer want to play. I really don’t know what might happen,” he said.

The Portuguese star had previously suggested that the ongoing season could be his last at Al Nassr. However, he has not announced a definitive retirement date, either from club football or the Portugal national team.

For now, Ronaldo remains focused on adding to his extraordinary goalscoring tally, with the prospect of reaching 1,000 career goals providing another historic target in the closing stages of his career.