Cristiano Ronaldo at 40: What Records and Achievements Are Still Within Reach?
From Setting New Scoring Records to Completing His Trophy Collection, Ronaldo Still Has Goals to Chase at 40.
While many footballers retire well before reaching this milestone, the Portuguese icon celebrates his 40th birthday on Wednesday (5 February) still playing professionally for Saudi club Al Nassr and leading Portugal as captain.
Ronaldo’s longevity is comparable to NBA legend LeBron James, who turned 40 in December 2024 and remains among the league’s elite.
Other football greats who extended their careers into their 40s include Ronaldo’s former Juventus teammate Gianluigi Buffon, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and fellow Portuguese star Pepe.
With an incredible 33 major trophies and countless individual accolades, what’s next for CR7 as he embarks on this new chapter?
Cristiano Ronaldo chases 1,000 goals
If there’s one milestone Ronaldo is determined to reach before retiring, it’s scoring his 1,000th career goal.
He surpassed the 900-goal mark while playing for Portugal in September 2024, becoming the first player in history to achieve such a feat in professional football.
No player has officially reached 1,000 competitive goals—though the late Pelé claimed to have done so, his tally remains unverified. Now, Ronaldo is eager to carve his name even deeper into football history.
On his YouTube channel in August 2024, he clarified his ambition: “I want to reach 1,000 goals; if I don’t have injuries, this is the most important thing for me. I want that.”
Ronaldo’s Final Quest: Will He Finally Win the World Cup?
Ronaldo has already led Portugal to historic triumphs, captaining his nation to victory in the European Championship and the Nations League—their first two major international trophies. But one prize still eludes him: the FIFA World Cup.
By the time the 2026 tournament kicks off in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, Ronaldo will be 41. Whether he remains part of Portugal’s squad is uncertain, but his longevity speaks for itself—he played every match of Euro 2024 and has featured in every World Cup and Euros game Portugal has contested over the last eight tournaments.
Having reached the semi-finals in his World Cup debut in 2006, many believed Qatar 2022 would be his final shot at glory. But could there still be time for one last dance on football’s grandest stage?
Could Cristiano Ronaldo Add an Olympic Medal to His Legacy?
Having already experienced the Olympics, Ronaldo represented Portugal at Athens 2004 as a 19-year-old, scoring against Morocco but failing to prevent an early group-stage exit.
Could the Portuguese legend be enticed to join his nation at LA28 as one of their overage selections?
Olympic men’s football teams primarily consist of players under 23, with three overage spots available, and national youth team performances determining qualification.
Portugal missed out on Paris 2024, but if they secure a place in Los Angeles, could Ronaldo be tempted to chase his first Olympic medal and offer invaluable experience to the squad?
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Conclusion
Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates his 40th birthday, his journey in football remains far from over. Having already achieved extraordinary feats, including breaking records and securing numerous major titles, Ronaldo’s hunger for success continues. Whether it’s reaching the elusive 1,000-goal mark, capturing a World Cup, or pursuing an Olympic medal, the legendary Portuguese forward still has ambitious goals to conquer. His determination, exceptional skill, and leadership make it clear that there are more milestones to come, and fans around the world will be watching eagerly to see what new heights he reaches in the next phase of his illustrious career.