Carvajal hails Ronaldo as ‘predator in the box’, backs him for 1,000 goals

Abdullateef Fowewe

Former Real Madrid full-back Dani Carvajal has delivered a glowing tribute to Cristiano Ronaldo, predicting the Portuguese star will reach the historic milestone of 1,000 career goals and praising his unmatched mentality.

Speaking in an interview shared on Wednesday, the defender, who shared a dressing room with Ronaldo for nearly a decade at the Bernabéu, said, “That guy is going to reach 1,000 goals, for sure. And he deserves it. He’s the epitome of discipline, of perseverance.”

Carvajal also urged fans to look beyond Ronaldo’s later years.

“People tend to remember him from his later years. Anyone who might not have seen Cristiano here at Real Madrid, he was incredible, they should see him.”

He reserved special praise for Ronaldo’s presence in the dressing room and inside the penalty area.

Recalling Champions League nights, Carvajal revealed, “He’d tell me, in an important Champions League match: ‘Look, when you get there, you put it anywhere, I’ll be right there.’ And you’d think: ‘God, I can take on anyone’ He was so imposing, a predator in the box.”

Carvajal, now playing for Getafe after a long spell at Real Madrid, formed part of the side that dominated European football during Ronaldo’s nine seasons in the Spanish capital (2009–2018).

Ronaldo scored a club-record 450 goals in that period and helped the team win four Champions League titles.

The comments come as Ronaldo, currently at Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr, continues his relentless pursuit of the 1,000-goal mark.

As of late October 2026 he stood on 982 career goals for club and country, leaving him just 18 short of the landmark.