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| Featured Image Credit: beIN Sports/Getty |
Cristiano Ronaldo delivered one of his most iconic statements after reaching the incredible milestone of scoring his 900th career goal. Wherever Ronaldo plays, records seem to follow, cementing his legacy as one of football’s greatest players.
While competing in the 2024/25 Nations League with Portugal, Ronaldo achieved another historic feat by becoming the first player to net 900 career goals, solidifying his position as the all-time leading scorer.
His reaction to this incredible moment was one of the highlights of his career. Ronaldo's milestone goal came during the 34th minute of Portugal’s 2-0 victory over Croatia in the Nations League's Group A.
Reflecting on the accomplishment, the 39-year-old expressed his emotions: "This goal is special for me—it’s a round number. Only I truly know how tough it is to work every day to reach this point. Hitting 900 goals is a unique achievement in my career."
He added humorously, "I don’t chase records; they seem to chase me!"
In addition to holding the title of the top goal-scorer in football history, Ronaldo also has the most international caps with 213 appearances and the most goals in Champions League history, with 140 to his name.
"Being able to perform at this level at nearly 40 takes incredible focus and hard work," Ronaldo shared. "Whenever I break records, big or small, I feel emotional because I understand how much effort goes into it—not just from me, but from my teammates as well. None of this would be possible without them."
Following Portugal’s win over Croatia, Ronaldo was visibly moved by his 900th goal. He also took time to reflect on the importance of this achievement, especially in the wake of Portugal's earlier elimination from Euro 2024 at the hands of France in a penalty shootout.
"After what happened in the Euros, we needed to bounce back, and we did just that," Ronaldo said. "I felt freer in this game. The coach gave me that opportunity, and we approached this match differently than we did in the Euros."
He continued, "I feel more involved and engaged in the game now, which allows me to enjoy it more. It’s not that I didn’t enjoy the Euros, but playing with more freedom suits me better."