Cristiano Ronaldo sets staggering personal target after heroics for Portugal in Slovakia win
Cristiano Ronaldo was outstanding as Portugal beat Slovakia in their Euro 2024 qualifying match
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Cristiano Ronaldo has set himself a target of 1,000 career goals after scoring twice for Portugal on Friday night.
The 38-year-old bagged a brace as his side won 3-2 to seal their qualification for next summer's European Championships in Germany.
Ronaldo is still going strong for club and country, despite entering the twilight years of his career.
After the game with Portugal, Porto president Jorge Nuno Pinto made a bet challenging the forward to reach 1,000 career goals.
Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring twice for Portugal against Slovakia
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And Ronaldo has now accepted that challenge, with the striker scoring 857 goals so far.
"It will be quite difficult, but it’s about my mindset and my motivation," he said, with the former Manchester United star believed to be willing to stay with Al-Nassr for a few more years.
"If, physically, my legs treat me as well as I treat them... We'll see, these are small steps.
"To get to 1,000, you first have to get to 900.
"I think I will get there."
Many wrote Ronaldo off 12 months ago.
He struggled during his second season back at United, having re-signed for the club in the summer of 2021.
Ronaldo wasn't a player Erik ten Hag felt was capable of leading the line each and every week.
And he left United by mutual consent after a bombshell interview where he criticised the club and their controversial owners, the Glazer family.
Ronaldo also toiled for Portugal at the World Cup in Qatar, scoring just once as his side were eliminated in the quarter-finals of the competition.
The veteran also lost his place in the Portugal starting XI, with Paris Saint-Germain's Goncalo Ramos preferred instead.
But Ronaldo, ever since moving to Al-Nassr, has rediscovered his best form and is now undroppable once again for both club and country.
Portugal boss Roberto Martinez was full of praise for his No 7 following his heroics against Slovakia, insisting he leads by example.
"Cristiano Ronaldo is having a great time, playing a lot of minutes and scoring a lot of goals for his club," stated Martinez.
"He has a lot of experience with the national team and he's a reference point for young players."
He added: "We won the match with a very good first half.
"The important thing was the result. In seven games we've shown a perfect attitude. I'm very satisfied, but it's only a stage."
Meanwhile, prior to the match, there were claims that Ronaldo was facing 99 lashes in Iran for hugging a female fan.
However, the Iranian embassy in Madrid have since clarified the situation and insisted that isn't the case.
Portugal have won all seven of their Euro 2024 qualifying matches so far, picking up 21 points.
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Portugal boss Roberto Martinez was full of praise for Cristiano Ronaldo following his brace against Slovakia
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They have scored 27 goals during that time and the goals conceded against Slovakia were the first they've shipped in the group stages.
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