da spicy bet: Al-Nassr superstar Cristiano Ronaldo will only “finish” his remarkable career when his body begins to give up, says Portugal manager Roberto Martinez.
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All-time great showing no sign of slowing downContinues to star for club and countryWill not hang up his boots any time soonWHAT HAPPENED?
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner is still going strong at 38 years of age, with nobody in world football bettering his return of 54 goals for club and country across the calendar year of 2023. The all-time great is showing no sign of slowing down, with the expectation being that he has several years left at the very highest level.
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Ronaldo has suggested in the past that he will play on into his 40s, providing that he steers clear of serious injury, with there no desire on his part to consider retirement. He has worked relentlessly to keep himself in peak physical condition, while demanding nothing but the best from himself and those around him.
WHAT MARTINEZ SAID ABOUT RONALDO
As long he retains that hunger and fitness, Martinez sees no reason why Ronaldo would give any thought to hanging up his boots. Portugal’s head coach has told when asked when the all-time great could call it a day: “Cristiano will finish the day he decides that his body cannot give him what he wants on the pitch. At the moment he still wants to win everything. There are no other 38 year olds that can give you the level that he gives physically in two international games within a space of three days.”
GettyWHAT NEXT FOR RONALDO?
Former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus star Ronaldo is working on a contract at Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Nassr through to 2025. He is expected to grace Euro 2024 with his country, while playing on towards the 2026 World Cup, and will continue to enhance international records in the men’s game that have already seen him earn 205 caps and score 128 goals for Portugal.