Ronaldo Will Reach 1,000 Goals Before Messi, Says Former Teammate

Ronaldo Will Reach 1,000 Goals Before Messi, Says Former Teammate

Former Real Madrid defender Nacho Fernández has backed Cristiano Ronaldo to become the first player to reach the remarkable milestone of 1,000 career goals ahead of Lionel Messi, insisting the Portuguese superstar’s mentality will drive him to achieve the feat. Nacho, who played alongside Ronaldo at Real Madrid, said the five time Ballon d’Or winner’s unmatched determination and consistency make him the favourite to complete the historic target. “Ronaldo will not stop until he reaches 1,000 goals,” Nacho reportedly said, highlighting the forward’s relentless desire to continue competing at the highest level despite his advancing age. Ronaldo has continued to chase the landmark figure after building one of football’s most prolific scoring records with goals for Sporting CP, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, Al Nassr and Portuga. The Portuguese captain is closing in on the milestone, with reports indicating that he needs a relatively small number of additional goals to reach the 1,000-goal mark. Messi, Ronaldo’s long-time rival in the debate over football’s greatest player, has also passed the 900-goal mark in his career and remains within reach of the same historic target. However, Nacho believes Ronaldo’s exceptional discipline, fitness regime and competitive mentality give him the advantage in the race. The former Real Madrid player said he had witnessed first-hand Ronaldo’s ability to maintain his hunger and performance levels over many years. The race to become the first player to score 1,000 official career goals has become another chapter in the legendary rivalry between Ronaldo and Messi, two players who have dominated world football for more than a decade. While Ronaldo appears closer to the milestone at present, Messi’s continued productivity means the race remains one of the most closely followed individual records in football history.