The head coach of Portugal’s national football team, Roberto Martinez, has rejected this claim. Cristiano Ronaldo is chasing the 1,000 career goal milestone, insisting the veteran forward is driven by team success rather than individual milestones.RonaldoThe forward, who has already scored more than 950 goals throughout his career and continues to lead both Portugal and Al-Nasr, is currently recovering from a muscle injury that has sidelined him for a few weeks. As a precaution, the 41-year-old has not been included in Portugal’s squad for the ongoing international friendlies.Despite the injury setback, Ronaldo has been in strong form this season, constantly finding the net for his club and maintaining an excellent scoring rate. His performance has strengthened expectations of his inclusion in the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026, where he is set to play a pivotal role.Dismissing the idea that Ronaldo is obsessed with records, Martinez pointed to his selfless displays in recent competitions.“I don’t agree. If Cristiano had played the European Championship focusing on scoring goals to break another record, Bruno Fernandes wouldn’t have had an assist against Turkey,” he was quoted as saying by Goal.com.The coach emphasized that the mentality in the Portugal camp, especially among the 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 Championships was a different kind of responsibility among the more experienced players, more responsibility to perform well in the tournament,” he added.Asked about any personal goals Ronaldo has set, Martinez reiterated that such narratives do not reflect reality.“No, because I don’t see Chris playing with the anxiety or the intention to reach 1,000 goals. Whether he has 950 or 1,050 goals, he has the same legacy. It won’t change anything. It’s an outsider,” he said.Martinez also highlighted Ronaldo’s intelligence in the final third, stressing that his decision-making and ability to create opportunities for teammates are key assets.“We are talking about a striker who has 25 goals in 30 matches. But I value the attitude inside the box more. And Cristiano doesn’t have the obsession that people talk about on the outside about his 1,000 goals. Because he doesn’t have that attitude. I can’t say for the club, but that’s not the case here with the national team.”Meanwhile, Portugal have been placed in Group K alongside Uzbekistan and Colombia for the 2026 World Cup, with the campaign starting on June 17.
