Ronaldo eyes 1,000-goal 'icing on the cake' as Portugal begin new era

Cristiano Ronaldo, the 41-year-old captain of Portugal, addressed the Portugal Football Summit on Wednesday, claiming he is still fully committed to his country despite criticism. The veteran footballer, who has scored 979 goals in his career, including 833 for clubs and 146 for Portugal, admitted he is 21 goals short of the 1,000-goal milestone he has set for himself.

Ronaldo stated that reaching this milestone, and guiding Portugal to victory in the UEFA Nations League, would be the "icing on the cake" for his illustrious career. The Portuguese Football Association recently appointed Jorge Jesus as the new national team coach, replacing Roberto Martinez following a disappointing World Cup exit.

Ronaldo expressed confidence in his ability to continue contributing to the team's success, emphasizing that his primary focus is on scoring goals and helping his team win matches. While acknowledging that he has considered his international future after the World Cup disappointment, Ronaldo ultimately decided to continue playing and supporting the national team.

He also dismissed media criticism, stating that it will not affect him, regardless of the methods used to target him.