Roberto Martinez provides honest response when asked if Cristiano Ronaldo will hit the 1000 goal milestone in his career

Portugal coach Roberto Martinez has backed Cristiano Ronaldo to reach his target of 1000 career goals. He said that the Al-Nassr superstar is in good form and does not think forward will stop at the milestone.

Speaking to MARCA, Martinez said that Ronaldo does not focus on reaching milestones. He claimed that the Portuguese superstar wants to do his best every day, in training and on the pitch, and said (via O Jogo):

"He is in a very good moment of his career. And he achieved this because he lives day by day. When he talks about his goals, he strays far from the long term: reaching 1000, playing a certain number of games... Your secret is to be the best today and enjoy the day to day. So, the number will be a consequence of the day he decides to stop. I don't think it's a goal."

When asked about Ronaldo's form under Martinez, the coach refused to take credit, saying it was down to the forward and how he sees things on the pitch. He said:

"The percentage he talks about has a lot to do with his change of position. We are talking about a player who started out as a very skilled winger and is now another reference player inside the area. We see this: Cristiano conditions the opponent. When he is on the field, another space opens up because there are two players who will be attentive to his marking."

Cristiano Ronaldo currently has 955 goals to his name and has been in fine form for club and country. He has scored 25 goals for the national team under Roberto Martinez, who took over in March 2023.

Cristiano Ronaldo's attitude keeps his as Portugal's best, says Roberto Martinez

Portugal manager Roberto Martinez has claimed that Cristiano Ronaldo's attitude is the key reason why he remains a key player for the national team. He added that the forward demands more from his teammates on the pitch and told MARCA:

"The attitude. There are three pillars that we constantly analyze: talent, experience and the attitude he can bring to the national team. This maximum demand that he has with himself to be present and help is what allows the captain of the national team to always be on the list of the summoned. That desire to be the best is transmitted on the pitch. It's contagious. 25 goals in 30 games playing as a '9' shows that what he does on the pitch generates a lot for the national team."

Cristiano Ronaldo was suspended for the final FIFA World Cup qualifier, but his red card ban has been suspended, making him available for the tournament openers in the summer.

Edited by Sripad