In the world of football, reaching the milestone of one thousand goals is a dream shared by many great players, especially the strikers. The legendary Pele was the first to achieve this feat back in 1969, earning him the title of the King of Football. Today, when we think about who could potentially reach this remarkable milestone in modern football, two names immediately come to mind: Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
These two superstars have dominated the sport for over a decade, constantly pushing each other to new heights. Their rivalry has fueled their individual performances and propelled them towards breaking countless records. As they continue to amass titles, awards, and goals, one question remains unanswered: Who will be the first to reach a thousand goals?
Let’s dive into the numbers and statistics to analyze how close Ronaldo and Messi are to this extraordinary milestone.
As of November 29th, 2024, Cristiano Ronaldo has scored a total of 915 goals in 1,256 matches throughout his career with Sporting Lisbon, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, Al-Nassr (Saudi Arabia), and the Portuguese national team. This impressive tally gives him an average of 0.72 goals per game.
To achieve the magical number of one thousand goals, Ronaldo still needs to score another 85 goals. If he maintains his current scoring rate, it would take approximately 119 more games for him to reach this historic milestone.
On the other hand, Lionel Messi has netted 850 goals in his career across Barcelona, PSG (Paris Saint-Germain), the Argentine national team, and Inter Miami CF. In a total of 1,083 appearances on the pitch, Messi boasts an average of 0.78 goals per game. Therefore, he is only 150 goals away from joining Pele in the exclusive club of thousand-goal scorers. If Messi continues at his current pace, it would take him around 193 more games to reach this remarkable achievement.
It is important to note that both Ronaldo and Messi are approaching the twilight of their illustrious careers. The question lingers: Will either of them, or perhaps both, manage to surpass the one thousand goal mark?
Looking back at history, we recall the moment when Pele scored his one thousandth career goal. On November 19th, 1969, at the age of 29, Pele converted a penalty kick against Vasco da Gama in a match at the Maracanã Stadium. This milestone was achieved during a game for the Taça Roberto Gomes Pedrosa, also known as the ‘Robertão’. Throughout his career with Santos (Brazil), New York Cosmos (United States), and the Brazilian national team, Pele amassed an incredible total of 1,281 goals.
As we eagerly await Ronaldo and Messi’s pursuit of this historic milestone, we can’t help but marvel at their extraordinary talents and their impact on the world of football. These two players have shaped an era and left an indelible mark on the sport.
The race to a thousand goals continues, and fans around the world eagerly anticipate witnessing these two legends etching their names into the record books once again. Only time will tell who will cross that threshold first and etch their name alongside Pele as one of football’s greatest goal scorers.