Cristiano Ronaldo will go down in history as one of the greatest footballers ever. And there’s no question that he deserves the status because of what he’s managed to achieve in his career so far. However, he’s not done yet and intends to play well into his forties.
In the case of many footballers, at thirty-seven years old, they’ve retired and started to enjoy their passions away from the sport. And Ronaldo could quite easily do that. It’s well-known that the Portuguese icon is skilled at poker, so it is maybe not out of the question to see one of the greats of football launch his own version of an online casino site. Still, it’s not something Ronaldo is contemplating yet, as his mind is entirely focused on football.
When Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon D’or winner, was questioned on his plans in terms of his longevity, he responded by saying, “Genetically, I feel like I’m 30 years old. I take great care of my body and my mind. Something I’ve learned recently is that after 33, I believe the body can deliver if you need it, but the real battle is mental.
“I want to find out if I’m going to play until I’m 40, 41, or 42, but the most important thing is that my daily goal is to enjoy the moment.”
So, with Ronaldo continuing to work hard to stay as fit and healthy as possible, and with his strong mind, you can certainly see him continuing to play into his forties. But is there any proof on the pitch that there’s any decline slipping into his game? Or is he still good to go and continuing to deliver the goods?
Last season, Ronaldo decided to rejoin Manchester United and once again ply his trade in the Premier League, which is the most competitive football division in the world. And while many thought he wouldn’t be able to spearhead the United attack, he certainly silenced his doubters by weighing in with twenty-four goals and three assists in all competitions. He scored six in six in the Champions League and eighteen in the Premier League.
It was very much trademark Ronaldo. There were hat tricks, braces and plenty of SIUUUUUUs. And, because he doesn’t want to rest on his laurels and wants to continue pushing himself, he’s reportedly asked to leave Old Trafford after one year because he wants to carry on competing in the Champions League, a competition that United won’t be in next season.
Ronaldo has the intention of playing into his forties. And, unless he takes a serious injury, you can see him doing precisely that. The player is thirty-seven but still one of the most feared strikers operating in one of Europe’s top leagues. And, he’s got that desire, as shown by his determination to move to a club where he can continue to test himself against Europe’s elite clubs.
