Vinay Kumar
Portugal national football team head coach Roberto Martinez has brushed aside claims that Cristiano Ronaldo is chasing the landmark of 1,000 career goals, insisting that the veteran forward remains driven by team success rather than individual milestones.Ronaldo, who has already netted over 950 goals across his career and continues to spearhead both Portugal and Al Nassr, is currently recovering from a muscle injury that has ruled him out for a few weeks. As a precaution, the 41-year-old was not included in Portugal’s squad for the ongoing international friendlies.Even with the injury setback, Ronaldo has been in strong form this season, consistently finding the net for his club and maintaining an excellent scoring rate. His performances have strengthened expectations of his involvement in the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026, where he is set to play a crucial role.Dismissing the idea that Ronaldo is preoccupied with records, Martinez pointed to his selfless displays in recent competitions.“I don’t agree with that. If Cristiano had played the European Championship focused on scoring a goal to break another record, the assist against Turkey for Bruno Fernandes wouldn’t have happened,” he said as quoted by Goal.com.The coach underlined that the mindset within the Portugal camp, particularly among senior players, revolves around collective responsibility and performance.“It’s not true that our players have records or personal goals in mind. The only thing I saw at the European Championship was a different kind of responsibility in the more experienced players, a maximum responsibility to have a top performance in the tournament,” he added.When questioned about any personal targets set by Ronaldo, Martinez reiterated that such narratives do not reflect reality.“No, because I don’t see Cris playing with the anxiety or intention of reaching 1,000 goals. Whether he has 950 or 1,050 goals, he has the same legacy. It won’t change anything. That’s outside talk,” he said.Martinez also highlighted Ronaldo’s intelligence in the final third, stressing that his decision-making and ability to create chances for teammates remain key assets.“We’re talking about a striker who has 25 goals in 30 games. But I value behaviour inside the box much more. And Cristiano doesn’t have the obsession that people talk about from the outside regarding his 1,000th goal. Because his behavior isn’t like that. I can’t say for the club, but here with the national team it’s not like that,” he concluded.Meanwhile, Portugal have been drawn in Group K alongside Uzbekistan and Colombia for the 2026 World Cup, with their campaign set to begin on June 17. Ronaldo is expected to lead the side as they chase their maiden World Cup title.
