Ronaldo: Winning the Euros with Portugal is equivalent to winning the World Cup

Veteran Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo affirmed that reaching 900 goals in his football career means a lot to him, while also stating that winning the European Championship with Portugal is equivalent to winning the World Cup.

Ronaldo (39) scored his 900th career goal, whether for the Portuguese national team or the clubs he represented, during Portugal’s 2-1 victory over Croatia on Thursday in the first round of group A in the UEFA Nations League, becoming the first player to reach this number in official matches.

Ronaldo said after the match: “It means a lot. It’s an achievement I’ve wanted to reach for a long time. I knew I would get there because, with my continued playing, it would naturally happen.”

Ronaldo found the net in the 34th minute at the Estádio da Luz in Lisbon, leading Portugal to claim all three points. The Al-Nassr player from Saudi Arabia put his hands on his head and knelt on his knees in celebration of the goal.

He explained: “It was emotional because it’s an achievement. It might seem like just another accomplishment, but only I and those around me know how hard I work every day, to stay physically and mentally fit, and to score 900 goals. It’s a unique achievement in my career.”

This was Ronaldo’s 131st international goal with Portugal, reinforcing his position as the all-time leading scorer for national teams.

Ronaldo had a disappointing performance in the last European Championship (Euro 2024) in Germany, failing to score in any of Portugal’s five matches in the continental competition before they were eliminated by France in a penalty shootout in the quarter-finals.

Although Ronaldo may attempt to continue playing into his 40s and join the team in the 2026 World Cup, he said that’s not a priority for him right now.

Ronaldo also revealed in remarks to Fox News: “Winning the European Championship in 2016 with Portugal is equivalent to winning the World Cup. I’ve already won two trophies with the national team (the Euros and the Nations League), which I really wanted. I’m not driven by that anymore, but by enjoying football, and the records come naturally.”

It’s worth noting that Ronaldo’s long-time rival, Argentine star Lionel Messi, led his country to victory in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.