Portuguese football icon Cristiano Ronaldo has won the Middle East Player of the Year award for the third consecutive time at the Globe Soccer Awards held in Dubai, reaffirming his ambition to reach the historic milestone of 1,000 career goals.
The 40-year-old Al-Nassr forward edged out notable contenders such as Karim Benzema, Salem Al-Dawsari and Riyad Mahrez to secure the prestigious honor. Ronaldo enjoyed another prolific year, scoring 40 goals across all competitions in 2025, underlining his enduring quality and consistency.
With his contract at Al-Nassr running until mid-2027, Ronaldo delivered an emotional acceptance speech, emphasizing his continued passion for the game.
“It’s very hard to keep playing at this level, but my passion is still very high and I’m ready to play more,” Ronaldo said. “Whether in the Middle East or Europe, I love playing football, scoring goals and winning trophies.”
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner then shared his ultimate objective. “You all know my goal. I want to win more trophies and I want to score 1,000 goals,” he said. “If I stay injury-free, I will definitely reach 1,000 goals, Inshallah.”
Ronaldo’s remarks sparked widespread reactions across social media, with fans celebrating his achievement, ambition and longevity, while also commenting humorously on his use of the Arabic phrase ‘Inshallah’.
Currently, Ronaldo has scored 956 goals across club and international football. To reach the landmark figure of 1,000, he needs just 44 more goals - a target many believe remains well within reach for the legendary forward.
