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<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>All-time great is still going strong at 39</li><li>Intends to reach 1,000 goals before retiring</li><li>Expected to go on and make more history</li></ul><table><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va2ivxLJJhzdzbJdwo0n"><strong>Follow GOAL on WhatsApp!</strong></a> 🟢📱</td></tr></tbody></table>

Cristiano Ronaldo backed to 'play deep into his forties' and smash 1,000 goal milestone as Al-Nassr star's former Man Utd team-mate hails 'outstanding' achievement of beating Brazil legend Pele

<p>That is the opinion of Mikael Silvestre, who once worked alongside the Portuguese superstar at Manchester United. A precociously-gifted teenager was taking his first steps towards greatness back then, but is now <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/gobsmacked-cristiano-ronaldo-retirement-date-revealed-former-man-utd-team-mate-rio-ferdinand/blt0cf499ce1a27f434" target="_blank">approaching the end of a quite remarkable playing career</a>.</p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>Ronaldo, with five Ballons d’Or to his name, has spent two decades <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/records-follow-me-cristiano-ronaldo-reacts-more-history-al-nassr-superstar-50-goals-season/blt6adf896e2fd67e6e" target="_blank">breaking records and rewriting the history books</a> – with there no sign of him slowing down at 39 years of age. Stunning individual standards are being maintained at Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr, which suggests that he <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/cristiano-ronaldo-wont-finish-any-time-soon-bid-post-unbreakable-record-following-man-utd-legend-david-beckham-investment-wrexham-wait/blt4bfb2283c86a2621" target="_blank">still has plenty of football left in him</a>.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>Silvestre expects that to be the case, with the Frenchman telling <a href="https://www.boylesports.com/sports/football " target="_blank"><em>Boyle Sports</em></a> of why CR7 can <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/great-champion-cristiano-ronaldo-retains-child-like-enthusiasm-39-al-nassr-boss-explains-longevity-portuguese-goat/bltee8ba4bd0e8651a6" target="_blank">achieve anything that he puts his mind to</a>: “Cristiano Ronaldo will reach 1,000 goals and it will be an incredible achievement. For someone to start their career as a winger and then score more goals than Pele is outstanding, I do believe he will score his 1,000th goal because when he puts his mind to something he achieves it.</p><p>“He plays every minute in the Saudi league and scores both from penalties and from open play, he is one of the top performers and I don’t see any downgrade in his performances. He is at a level which I think he can remain at for a long time, I think he will play deep into his 40s and break the 1,000 goal barrier and it will be an amazing achievement.”</p>

WHAT SILVESTRE SAID

<p>Ronaldo has surged beyond the 900-goal mark and is <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/1000-goals-realistic-cristiano-ronaldo-ex-premier-league-rival-al-nassr-superstar-going-get-there-portuguese-goat-40th-birthday/blt914f1c38c7a35d1d" target="_blank">well on his way to reaching four figures</a>. He remains as important for Portugal as he is to the Al-Nassr cause, with a historic haul of 217 international caps being added to as he <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/cristiano-ronaldo-more-dreams-al-nassr-portugal-star-900th-career-goal-aged-39/bltb7aa635ded895fc4" target="_blank">plays towards the next World Cup finals in 2026</a>.</p>

WHAT NEXT?

Cristiano Ronaldo backed to 'play deep into his forties' and smash 1,000 goal milestone as Al-Nassr star's former Man Utd team-mate hails 'outstanding' achievement of beating Brazil legend Pele | Goal.com South Africa

Cristiano Ronaldo is being backed to “play deep into his forties” while also smashing through the 1,000-goal target that he continues to chase down.

Cristiano Ronaldo backed to &apos;play deep into his forties&apos; and smash 1,000 goal milestone as Al-Nassr star&apos;s former Man Utd team-mate hails &apos;outstanding&apos; achievement of beating Brazil legend Pele