Cristiano Ronaldo hints at return to Europe: Footballer, 40, provides new update on his future as he insists he WILL reach 1,000 career goals after picking up another award

Cristiano Ronaldo has hinted at a possible return to Europe as he reiterated his ambition to reach 1,000 goals.

Ronaldo, 40, brought his career tally to 956 with a brace in Al-Nassr’s 3-0 victory over Al Akhdoud on Saturday afternoon.

The Portuguese superstar has previously suggested he will carry on playing for one or two more years and admitted earlier this year that the 2026 World Cup would be his last.

Speaking at an awards ceremony in Dubai on Sunday, former Real Madrid and Manchester United forward Ronaldo said he wanted to ‘keep going’ as he offered a new insight into his future.

‘My passion is high and I want to continue. It doesn’t matter where I play, whether in the Middle East or Europe,’ said Ronaldo.

‘I always enjoy playing football and I want to keep going.’

Cristiano Ronaldo attended the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai with fiancée Georgina Rodriguez

Ronaldo is targeting 1,000 goals and hinted he could return to Europe to achieve his goal

Ronaldo’s double for Al-Nassr on Saturday also brought the number of goals he has scored this year to 40.

He he has now scored more than 40 times in 14 different calendar years across his career.

Ronaldo’s most successful campaign in terms of hitting the back of the net was in 2013 when he scored 63 times in all competitions for club and country.

The Portugal star is still in remarkable condition and recently shared a shirtless photo showcasing his incredible physique.

In an interview with Piers Morgan last month, he said he believes he is one or two years away from retirement.

He swears by Pilates, regular swims and five trips to the gym a week.

These include 25-30 minutes of cardio, high-intensity sprinting and targeted weights to increase muscle strength.

In total, he works out for three to four hours a day.

Ronaldo, 40, said he was still enjoying playing and vowed to ‘keep going’ as long as he is injury-free

Rather than sticking to the traditional three-meal structure of breakfast-lunch-dinner, Ronaldo prefers to refuel with six smaller ‘mini-meals’ throughout the day: Breakfast, brunch, lunch, snack, supper, dinner.

Ronaldo attended the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai along with fiancee Georgina Rodriguez. The couple, who have been together for nine years, announced their engagement in August.

He proposed to the Argentine-Spanish model, 31, with a ring worth £2.2million. 

Ronaldo picked up the Best Middle East Player award at the ceremony, attended by stars including Novak Djokovic, Ousmane Dembele and Lamine Yamal.

It was the second year in a row the Al-Nassr forward had scooped the prize. 

At the 2024 edition, Ronaldo claimed the Top Goalscorer of all time award as well as the Best Middle East Player.

Diogo Jota’s parents were given a special award at the ceremony following the death of their son at the age of 28 in July.

An emotional Isabel and Joaquin Silva received the recognition in a heartwarming tribute to the Liverpool star at the event.