Saudi stay? 1,000 goals? 2026 World Cup? - What does future hold for Cristiano Ronaldo after winning Nations League with Portugal?
Published 09/06/2025 at 14:51 GMT+1
Cristiano Ronaldo netted the 938th goal of his career to help Portugal win the UEFA Nations League with victory over Spain. The 40-year-old remains a regular starter for Roberto Martinez's Portugal and is edging closer towards 1,000 career goals. But what does the future hold for Ronaldo over the next year at club level, and will he play at the 2026 World Cup?
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Records are always there to be broken, even still for Cristiano Ronaldo.
After scoring in the UEFA Nations League semi-finals against Germany, he became the only 40-year-old to net in the competition’s short history.
He was on target again in the final against Spain to take his overall tally to a record 138 international goals in 221 games.
He finished the Nations League campaign as the second-highest scorer with eight goals in nine games, behind only Sweden's Viktor Gyokeres.
With the 2026 World Cup just a year away, Ronaldo shows no signs of slowing and still appears to be part of Roberto Martinez’s Portugal plans.
So what records are still out there for Ronaldo to chase? Will he play in the 2026 World Cup? And what does the future hold at club level for him?
The big one: First to 1,000 goals
Can Ronaldo become the first player in history to score 1,000 goals?
Brazil legends Pele and Romario both have claims to have already reached the landmark, but their totals are debated as they include goals from unofficial matches.
Ronaldo currently stands on 938 senior career goals for club and country.
His great rival Lionel Messi has scored 865 goals in his career.
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For Ronaldo to reach 1,000 he needs to net 62 more goals, which at his recent rate might take another 18 months.
Last season he netted 35 goals in all competitions for Al Nassr, while in the same period he scored eight times for Portugal.
A similar output over the next 12 months would put him close to the 1,000-goal landmark ahead of the 2026 World Cup, which starts on June 11.
Where will Ronaldo score his goals?
Ronaldo has given no indication that he plans to retire - and it looks like he will continue to play for Al-Nassr, who he joined in December 2022 from Manchester United.
His current contract at the club expires at the end of June and there was speculation he could leave to join a team playing at the Club World Cup.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino even said there were "discussions" over the prospect.
However, speaking after helping Portugal win the Nations League, Ronaldo said "practically nothing is going to change" over his future.
When prompted to say if that means he will stay with Al-Nassr, Ronaldo replied: "Yes".
Ronaldo had appeared to hint at a move away with a cryptic social media message after the conclusion of the Saudi Pro League season.
"This chapter is over. The story? Still being written. Grateful to all," he wrote.
But he followed up soon afterwards by saying about the Club World Cup: "You can’t go to everything. I’ve pretty much made up my mind not to go to the Club World Cup."
A record sixth World Cup?
When Ronaldo left the pitch in tears following Portugal’s quarter-final defeat to Morocco at the 2022 World Cup - having been dropped for the second straight game - it looked like that might have been the end for him at international level.
Similarly, at Euro 2024, when Ronaldo faced criticism after starting all five games for Portugal and failing to score a goal.
But a year out from the 2026 World Cup, it now looks more than likely that Ronaldo will appear at a record sixth World Cup.
And he could be joined in doing so by Messi, who at the age of 37 is still playing for Argentina.
Roberto Martinez, who was appointed as Portugal head coach in January 2023, has been a keen supporter of Ronaldo, and has earned his backing in return.
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Speaking about Martinez before the Nations League final, Ronaldo said: "If a coach reaches the final, it is because he has done an excellent job. Questioning someone who has a spectacular record for Portugal makes me confused, but I understand.
"If a coach gets to the final and he is questioned, imagine the others. There has been a bit of a lack of respect in this regard. Talking about other coaches is a lack of sense, but the coach has done an extraordinary job."
Ronaldo is yet to win the World Cup, the only major trophy missing from his collection.
Although he will be 41 next summer, Portugal’s Nuno Mendes, who was named man of the match against Spain, said Ronaldo remains a "role model".
"He helps us a lot. He has a winning mentality. He is a role model. We are happy to have him."
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