3 reasons why Cristiano Ronaldo can keep his promise of playing until the age of 40

Can Cristiano Ronaldo play till 40?
Can Cristiano Ronaldo play till 40?

Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates his 34th birthday today but considering his powerful displays on the pitch week in and week out, it is not much difficult to believe why he is still at Europe's top five leagues. He is now the same age at which legendary Zinedine Zidane retired and past the age at which Philipp Lahm retired from all forms of football.

The Portuguese talisman is undoubtedly striving hard to be the best like always and is the top scorer of Serie A with 17 goals with Juventus. His exploits helped Juventus maintain their unbeaten record in the Italian league this season.

The modern-day great himself said before that he wishes to play till 40. While this is almost impossible to fathom for most professional footballers, critics and fans alike are reluctant to bet against Cristiano as he has always proved his naysayers wrong.

As the megastar of world football turns 34 years old, let us evaluate three reasons why Cristiano can keep his promise and play at the top level till he turns 40.


#1 Insane fitness

Juventus have a big shot at glory because of Ronaldo
Juventus have a big shot at glory because of Ronaldo

People who follow football know Cristiano's alien-like capabilities on the pitch. The 34-year-old's body is showing signs of slowing down but he is determined to slow down his deterioration which comes with his age. Almost a year ago, his medical report showed that he has the body of a 20-year-old, which is astonishing for any human being of his age.

The test by Juventus' medical team revealed that he has a total body mass of 7 percent. Ronaldo has a muscle mass of 50 percent, while the average is 46 percent. Amazingly, Cristiano also recorded the fastest sprint in last year’s World Cup in Russia, a speed of 33.98 km per hour.

The fitness test revelations only show Cristiano's singular focus towards his fitness. We are all familiar with how he took ice baths early in the morning and did other courageous training regimes to turn his skinny avatar into an absolute beast. This surely played a huge role in his career and help him stay sharp despite ageing.

#2 Constant evolution

Cristiano Ronaldo during his early years at Manchester
Cristiano Ronaldo during his early years at Manchester

Cristiano Ronaldo's nature to constantly adapt and evolve with different systems in modern football is a huge reason for his consistency over the years.

When Cristiano was a teenager, he wanted to dribble past defenders and beat them with trickery. But under the tutelage of Sir Alex Ferguson at United, he made himself more efficient and productive in the left wing.

Despite his dribbling being high during his initial seasons with Real Madrid, he was more of a machine. To settle into Jose Mourinho's defensive style, he became a tremendous goalscorer while leading the team's counter attacks through the left.

Later under Carlo Ancelotti and Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo prospered at being a free forward with Los Blancos. He could roam into spaces, pick the passes and score which helped him remain a world class player even after he reached 30 years old.

After turning 30, it is crystal clear that he is more of a gunslinger than the driver. His dribbles and touches became lesser while his shots at goal increased. His own constant evolution on the pitch might keep him at the very top till 40.

#3 Mental strength

Juventus already won a title with Cristiano
Juventus already won a title with Cristiano

Physical decline is inevitable with time. Yet Cristiano's hunger is insatiable. He is extremely focused on football and towards his own body. His unbending will and desire will make it hard to give up easily.

Besides the fact that Cristiano will not give up, he is always dedicated and motivated to compete with the best. These traits only add to his mental strength and make his will unmatched in the modern era.

For instance, despite struggling initially to help Real Madrid when he arrived, he stopped at nothing till he became a champion in club football's toughest competition and made history by winning the UEFA Champions League three times in a row and four times in five seasons among other major accolades.

Cristiano's mental strength is one of the pivotal reasons why even his naysayers won't bet against him. We are all familiar with the fact that momentarily failures are not enough to stop Cristiano from achieving his goals and he will stop at nothing to until he fulfils his dream.

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Edited by Victor R. Lopez M.