Cristiano Ronaldo Is Just 19 Goals Away From ‘1,000’ Milestone While Portugal Chief Teases November Return

Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 981st senior career goal in Al Nassr’s 3-1 win over Neftchi Fergana YantsImages, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons Cristiano Ronaldo moved within 19 goals of reaching 1,000 career goals after scoring in Al Nassr’s 3-1 victory over Neftchi Fergana on Monday, 12 October 2026, as speculation intensified over his possible return to Portugal’s national team in November.

The 41-year-old scored his 981st career goal during the AFC Champions League Elite encounter in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) president Pedro Proença expressed optimism about Ronaldo’s return despite an unresolved disciplinary dispute involving Portugal manager Jorge Jesus.

Ronaldo continued his remarkable scoring record by finding the net in the 42nd minute against Neftchi Fergana, helping Al Nassr secure their first victory of the competition’s league phase.

The Portuguese forward converted after Sadio Mané delivered a cross that Ayman Yahya controlled and redirected into his path. His goal doubled Al Nassr’s advantage following Ângelo Gabriel’s opener in the 33rd minute.

The strike marked Ronaldo’s 981st senior career goal, leaving him just 19 away from the unprecedented milestone he has repeatedly expressed ambitions of reaching. It also continued his scoring momentum after he registered his 980th goal during Al Nassr’s previous victory over Al Diriyah.

Ronaldo has scored 450 goals for Real Madrid, 145 for Manchester United, 101 for Juventus and five for Sporting CP, alongside 146 international goals for Portugal. His latest contribution takes his Al Nassr tally to 134 goals, further strengthening his pursuit of four figures.

While Ronaldo continues scoring in Saudi Arabia, his international future remains uncertain following a disagreement with Portugal manager Jorge Jesus.

The dispute reportedly began over Ronaldo’s selection and expected playing time before escalating into his departure from Portugal’s training camp ahead of their UEFA Nations League encounter against Denmark.

Ronaldo subsequently accused Jesus of breaking promises concerning his playing time, while the manager disputed his account of their agreement. The FPF reportedly imposed a provisional suspension pending disciplinary proceedings, leaving his immediate international availability uncertain.

However, Proença publicly expressed optimism about Ronaldo returning during November’s international break. Speaking to journalists on 10 October, the federation president indicated that the organisation, coaching staff and players wanted their captain back.

He also suggested Ronaldo could return next month, although any disciplinary decision remains the responsibility of the federation’s independent disciplinary body.

Portugal are scheduled to face Denmark on 14 November and Wales on 17 November, potentially offering Ronaldo two additional opportunities to increase his international tally. However, his availability depends on the outcome of disciplinary proceedings and the coaching staff’s selection decisions.

Ronaldo has acknowledged that leaving the national team camp was wrong and expressed willingness to accept disciplinary consequences while remaining available for future selection. Reaching 1,000 goals before 2027 would nevertheless require an extraordinary scoring run, with fewer than three months remaining in the calendar year.

For now, his immediate focus remains maintaining his scoring form in Saudi Arabia while awaiting clarity over his international future. With 981 goals already recorded, every appearance brings Ronaldo another opportunity to move closer to the historic milestone.

His potential Portugal comeback could also accelerate that pursuit through additional international scoring opportunities.