CRISTIANO GOING RON AND RON AND RON EE

THE turned 40 last month, has not won the Ballon d'Or in eight years and three years ago decided to hitch his trailer to a retirement plan in the Saudi Pro League.

- KEITH WEBSTER

But if you think Cristiano Ronaldo is ready to throw in the towel, think again.

The Portugal captain has more achievements in mind, the sort of targets that have driven his career at Sporting Lisbon, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus and Al-Nassr over the past 23 years.

Targets like 1,000 career goals and leading out his team at the 2026 World Cup, a tournament where he would hope to become the first player to appear at six World Cups.

Think 1,000 goals sounds farfetched? Combining his club strikes (793) with those for his country (136), he is just 71 short.