Infantino tells Ronaldo he is 23 goals from 1,000-career mark

Cristiano Ronaldo is 23 goals away from reaching 1,000 career goals, FIFA president Gianni Infantino told the Portugal captain during a brief meeting in Paris. Ronaldo acknowledged the distance to the landmark when Infantino raised the subject.

The exchange took place at the closing ceremony of the 2026 Esports World Cup. Infantino approached Ronaldo at the event, checked on how he was doing and then referred to the remaining 23 goals in the veteran forward’s pursuit of the milestone.

Ronaldo confirmed that the figure was correct. Infantino then offered words of encouragement before the Portugal captain thanked him. The short interaction placed Ronaldo’s long-term scoring target at the centre of their conversation.

The 1,000-goal mark remains the stated objective for Ronaldo, with 23 more goals required to reach it. Infantino’s involvement gave the pursuit recognition from the head of world football during an event outside the usual match setting.

Ronaldo attended the Paris ceremony as Portugal’s captain and one of football’s most experienced forwards. Infantino’s comments focused specifically on the number still separating him from the target rather than on a match result or a competition campaign.

The conversation also showed the scale of the milestone Ronaldo is chasing. Instead of discussing team form or an upcoming fixture, the FIFA president used the occasion to acknowledge the forward’s progress towards a career total of 1,000 goals. Ronaldo’s response indicated that the target remains active, with 23 goals still to come.