Cristiano Ronaldo is setting his sights on the 1,000-goal milestone as Portugal prepares to kick off its UEFA Nations League campaign against Wales. The match will take place on Thursday, September 24, at the Estadio Jose Alvalade in Lisbon, with kickoff scheduled for 7:45pm local time (18:45 GMT).
Speaking at the Portugal Football Summit, the 41-year-old captain expressed his commitment to both personal and team success. Having already netted 979 career goals—833 for his clubs and 146 for his country—Ronaldo is just 21 goals away from his target. He emphasized that winning the Nations League remains a primary ambition alongside his scoring pursuits, noting that reaching the four-figure mark in a Portugal jersey would be the “icing on the cake” for his international career.
This encounter marks the beginning of a new chapter for the squad under manager Jorge Jesus, who took over from Roberto Martinez following a difficult round-of-16 exit against Spain in the recent World Cup. Ronaldo revealed that conversations with the Portuguese Football Federation and Jesus convinced him to continue his international journey, stating he remains confident in his ability to contribute effectively on the pitch.
Addressing questions regarding his retirement, Ronaldo opted to focus on the present rather than speculating about a definitive end date. He dismissed persistent criticism, asserting that he continues to dodge negativity while remaining focused on enjoying his time with the national team. He stressed that he would be the first to step aside should he feel his contribution or physical ability no longer aligns with the team’s needs.
Match Details
- Fixture: Portugal vs Wales
- Venue: Estadio Jose Alvalade, Lisbon
- Date and Time: Thursday, September 24, 7:45pm (18:45 GMT)
Historical Head-to-Head
- May 15, 1949: Portugal 3–2 Wales (Friendly)
- May 12, 1951: Wales 2–1 Portugal (Friendly)
- June 2, 2000: Portugal 3–0 Wales (Friendly)
- July 6, 2016: Portugal 2–0 Wales (Euro 2016 Semifinal)
Team News and Tournament Context
Portugal heads into the match with a full-strength squad and is expected to field the same starting XI that played in the 1-0 World Cup quarterfinal loss to Spain. The projected lineup features Costa in goal, a backline of Cancelo, Dias, Veiga, and Mendes, with Vitinha and J. Neves in midfield, supported by an attack consisting of Neto, Fernandes, Felix, and Ronaldo.
Conversely, Wales faces squad limitations with Harry Wilson, Nathan Broadhead, and Karl Darlow withdrawing due to injury, replaced by David Cornell, Joe Taylor, and Charlie Savage. Other notable absences for Wales include Joe Rodon, Dylan Lawlor, Rubin Colwill, and Isaak Davies.
The UEFA Nations League continues with four round-robin groups featuring the top 16 nations. The top two teams from each group will advance to two-legged quarterfinals in March, followed by a “Final Four” tournament hosted by one of the semifinalists between June 9 and 13. This format also plays a role in determining qualifying pathways for the 2028 European Championship. The report also notes that who: Portugal vs Wales What: UEFA Nations League Where: Estadio Jose Alvalade in Lisbon, Portugal When: Thursday, September 24, at 7:45pm (18:45 GMT) How to follow: Sport will have live build-up from 15:45 GMT ahead of our text commentary stream coverage. The report also notes that claimed to be nervous, then did what he has done for more than two decades: taking centre stage, swatting away critics and insisting the final whistle is not yet in sight, cristiano Ronaldo walked into a packed room. The report also notes that “It’s a new era with manager Jorge Jesus, whom we all know well; I just hope things go well for him.”. The report also notes that “Scoring my 1,000th goal for the national team would be the culmination of something – a beautiful story,” he said. “It wouldn’t be the end of it, but it would be a beautiful story.”. The report also notes that however, that he was not consumed by the chase, ronaldo insisted. The report also notes that “I’ve already admitted that I want to get there, and I will get there,” he said. “An obsession. The report also notes that enjoying every day.”, no … The rest is about enjoying it.
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