The 1000 Goal Chase: Can Ronaldo or Messi Achieve the Impossible?

In partnership with

Foot Africa

·20 de setembro de 2025

The 1000 Goal Chase: Can Ronaldo or Messi Achieve the Impossible?

Portuguese legend just few goals away from mythical milestone, Messi lags far behind in chase

The 1000 Goal Chase: Can Ronaldo or Messi Achieve the Impossible?

Vídeos OneFootball

In the modern era of football reaching 1000 career goals is achievement widely considered impossible.

Cristiano Ronaldo's taken another step toward football immortality. Following his brace against Al Riyadh SC on 20 September 2025 the Al Nassr star's reached 945 official goals keeping alive the dream of becoming the 1st modern player to score 1000 career goal.

Who's Really Leading the Race?

Ronaldo's the undisputed frontrunner. With 945 official strike, he needs just 55 more to hit the magic four digit mark. Lionel Messi, meanwhile remains distant on 885 goal with Inter Miami making the gap increasingly difficult to bridge.

How Do We Count the Goals?

Career tallies can be calculated in two ways:

Official competitive goals: trusted by bodies like RSSSF & IFFHS including league, cup, continental and international matches.
All matches: a looser standard that inflates totals by including friendlies, which's why legends like Pele & Romario are often listed above 1000.

Cristiano Ronaldo is reaching 1⃣0⃣0⃣0⃣ goals isn't he❓🐐
– sábado, 20 de setembro de 2025

The Rest of the Pack

Robert Lewandowski sits at 715 goal, Harry Kane at 479, Neymar at 445 while Mbappe 393 and Haaland 315 are prolific but still hundreds away.

The Big Picture

At 40, Ronaldo remains football’s only realistic hope of reaching the mythical 1000 goal landmark. Messi's too far back and the next generation while talented may not match his longevity.

Do you think we will see player reach 1000 goal in the modern era?