"Hope he reaches 1,000 goals ... but I hope he doesn't score any this Sunday" - Spain star on Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of Nations League final
Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon wants Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo to reach 1000 career goals but not score against his team in the UEFA Nations League final on Sunday (June 8).
La Roja - the defending champions - booked a blockbuster title clash with 2019 winners Portugal by outlasting 2021 champions France 5-4 in an absolute humdinger of a second semi-final on Thursday (June 5).
Luis de la Fuente's side were up four goals to the good by the 55th minute and restored their four-goal lead in the 67th minute after France had pulled one back. Les Bleus burst into life late on, scoring thrice, but a comeback wasn't to be as Simon and Co. lived on to fight another day.
Ahead of the title clash with Ronaldo's side, Simon said about the 40-year-old (as per The CR7 Timeline):
"He's an example of everyday life, of sacrificing many things for football. I don't see myself at Cristiano's level at 40. I hope he reaches 1000 goals ... but I hope he doesn't score any this Sunday."
Notably, Ronaldo scored the Selecao's winner in the 2-1 come-from-behind win over hosts Germany in the first semi-final in Munich on Wednesday (June 4). It was the five-time Ballon d'Or winner's 937th goal for club and country, having entered the 900-goal club last year.
How has Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo fared against Spain?
Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo is the game's most prolific scorer, with 72 more goals than anyone else. His tally of 937 career goals includes a record 137 in international football.
However, only three of those goals - in nine games - have come against Spain. Interestingly, all three strikes came in a single game - a memorable 3-3 draw in Sochi in the two teams' 2018 FIFA World Cup opener.
In five other competitive meetings against La Roja, Ronaldo has gone without a goal contribution, with his team winning once and losing thrice. The Al-Nassr superstar will hope to lead from the front as Portugal strive to become the first multiple-time Nations League winner.
