Now 39, time is not on Ronaldo’s side but the veteran is determined to keep playing until he has reached the figure of 1,000 career goals.

Speaking to his former Manchester United team-mate Rio Ferdinand in an interview on his YouTube channel, external, Ronaldo said he was confident he could hit the milestone within the next couple of years.

“I want to reach 1,000 goals,” he said.

“If I don’t have any injuries, this for me is the most important [thing]. I want that.

“All the goals I have scored, they have video.”

Ronaldo could play into his 40s and there has been plenty of speculation about whether he will be still be playing for Portugal at the 2026 World Cup.

But he said that was not a priority, adding: “Portugal winning the Euros is equivalent to winning a World Cup. I’ve already won two trophies for Portugal that I really wanted.

“I’m not motivated by that. I’m motivated by enjoying football and the records come naturally.”