Cristiano Ronaldo, inching closer to the unprecedented milestone of 1,000 career goals, is making headlines again, this time off the pitch. The Al-Nassr and Portugal legend has reportedly requested his Saudi club to lure former Dutch maestro Wesley Sneijder out of retirement, hoping the ex-Real Madrid teammate will assist his landmark strike. With Ronaldo currently at 943 goals and showing no signs of slowing down, the idea is bold, bizarre, and vintage Ronaldo.
Ronaldo’s personal crusade to 1,000 goals
Cristiano Ronaldo’s ambition has never been modest. Now at 40 and on a renewed two-year contract with Al-Nassr, the Portuguese forward has publicly set his sights on a figure no one in modern football has reached—1,000 career goals. His latest effort, a penalty in Portugal’s gritty 3-2 comeback win over Hungary in the World Cup qualifiers at Budapest’s Puskás Aréna, took him to a staggering 943 goals across club and international football. The strike also saw him equal Carlos Ruiz’s record of 39 goals in World Cup qualifiers, edging past Lionel Messi’s 36 in the same category. Ronaldo is now three goals in two World Cup qualifiers into the 2025-26 season and has netted four in his last three appearances for both club and country. His appetite for goals remains undiminished, even as he approaches his 41st birthday. He’s already cemented his place in history with 141 goals in 223 appearances for Portugal, but the fire to keep rewriting the record books burns just as brightly.
The Sneijder proposal – From banter to possibility
In an unexpected twist, former Netherlands international Wesley Sneijder has revealed that Ronaldo wants him back on the pitch—specifically, in an Al-Nassr shirt. The surprising revelation came during Sneijder’s appearance on Dutch show Rondo, where he shared that a casual joke had somehow snowballed into a serious inquiry. Sneijder said he had recently been in conversation with Simão Coutinho, Al-Nassr’s new technical director and a close friend of Ronaldo. During the conversation, Sneijder jokingly suggested a playing contract. What followed was unexpected: Coutinho apparently conveyed the idea to Ronaldo, who immediately latched onto it.“Ronaldo was keen,” Sneijder told Rondo via Voetbalzone. “He told Coutinho he should sign me so I could assist his 1,000th goal.”Though the idea began in jest, Sneijder’s comments suggest Ronaldo is entirely serious. With Ronaldo’s growing influence at Al-Nassr, the prospect of the two former Real Madrid teammates linking up one final time, this time in the Saudi Pro League, is now out in the public domain.
A shared history at Real Madrid
The connection between Ronaldo and Sneijder traces back to their overlapping stints at Real Madrid. Sneijder joined the Spanish giants from Ajax in 2007 for €27 million, while Ronaldo arrived from Manchester United in the summer of 2009. The overlap was brief—just part of the 2009 preseason, but they shared a dressing room before Sneijder’s move to Inter Milan. Despite the limited time as teammates, mutual respect has clearly endured. Sneijder’s time at Madrid included standout moments, like scoring the winner in his debut Madrid Derby against Atlético, and a brace against Villarreal. He ended his first season with nine La Liga goals and helped the club retain the title. Wearing the iconic number 23 shirt, recently vacated by David Beckham, Sneijder was at the heart of Madrid’s midfield creativity. It’s that legacy Ronaldo seemingly wants to revive at Al-Nassr, if only for a final assist.
The legacy of Wesley Sneijder
Though long retired, Wesley Sneijder’s footballing legacy remains deeply respected. The Dutch midfielder ended his playing career at 35, but not before assembling one of the most decorated résumés in European football. A product of the AFC Ajax Academy, Sneijder won four trophies with Ajax and was named Johan Cruyff Trophy winner in 2004. His subsequent move to Madrid was followed by a highly successful spell at Inter Milan, where he won:
- Serie A
-
UEFA Champions League - FIFA Club World Cup
- Two Coppa Italia titles
He later joined Galatasaray for €7.5 million, where he won the Süper Lig, Turkish Super Cup, and continued to deliver influential performances, including a 1-0 win over Fenerbahçe in the Turkish Super Cup. Internationally, Sneijder earned 133 caps, making him the most-capped Dutch player of all time. His honours include:
- UEFA Midfielder of the Year (2010)
- 2010
FIFA World Cup Silver Ball - 2010 Bronze Boot
- Inclusion in the Team of the Tournament for Euro 2008 and the 2010 World Cup
He played at three FIFA World Cups (2006, 2010, 2014) and three European Championships (2004, 2008, 2012), famously leading the Netherlands to the 2010 World Cup Final, where they lost narrowly to Spain. Sneijder announced his international retirement in March 2018.
More than a goal
Cristiano Ronaldo’s ask isn’t just about nostalgia, it’s about scripting one final, cinematic football moment. A 1,000th goal assisted by a fellow footballing icon, a friend, and a former teammate from the Bernabéu would be the kind of full-circle moment Ronaldo lives for. Whether Sneijder dusts off his boots remains to be seen. But if anyone could tempt a legend back onto the pitch with a singular mission, it would be Ronaldo.And with 57 goals to go, the countdown is very much on.
