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Ronaldo turns 36 today. But here’s why he still has 5+ years at the top level of football
THREAD:
THREAD:
Firstly, how is he currently playing?
• 22 goals in 23 games this season
• Most match winning goals in the top 5 leagues since joining Juventus
• Averaging 1.2 g/g for Portugal since EURO 2016
He still easily affects games at the top level & can start 90% of the time.
• 22 goals in 23 games this season
• Most match winning goals in the top 5 leagues since joining Juventus
• Averaging 1.2 g/g for Portugal since EURO 2016
He still easily affects games at the top level & can start 90% of the time.
Next, how is he physically?
• Pace: his top speed in 2020 was 95% of the fastest player in the world
• Agility: currently ranking as Serie A’s most effective dribbler in 20/21
• Jump: just last season he scored one of the highest leaping goals ever
• Pace: his top speed in 2020 was 95% of the fastest player in the world
• Agility: currently ranking as Serie A’s most effective dribbler in 20/21
• Jump: just last season he scored one of the highest leaping goals ever
So, physically & technically he is still world class. But what has he said about retirement? A quote from 2016:
“What I most want is to continue enjoying the years I have left to play. I still have 10 years ahead”
“What I most want is to continue enjoying the years I have left to play. I still have 10 years ahead”
After making this quote, he later added the following refinement:
“It was meant half jokingly and half seriously... If I feel good... I’ll play until I’m 35, 41 or 45. I don’t know”
“It was meant half jokingly and half seriously... If I feel good... I’ll play until I’m 35, 41 or 45. I don’t know”
In late 2019 he said:
“Maybe I can finish my career next year... but I can also play up to 40 or 41. I don't know. What I always say is to enjoy the moment.”
“Maybe I can finish my career next year... but I can also play up to 40 or 41. I don't know. What I always say is to enjoy the moment.”
Fitness wise, we all know about Ronaldo. The biological age of a 26 year old, returning after lockdown fitter than he left:
“Physically it will never be a problem for me”
This was taken in mid 2020:
“Physically it will never be a problem for me”This was taken in mid 2020:
After his 1000th match in March 2020 he said the following:
“It’s not easy to do 1000 games at 35 years old... It’s nice but I hope to play hundreds of games more”
“It’s not easy to do 1000 games at 35 years old... It’s nice but I hope to play hundreds of games more”
So, how long he plays depends on motivation, not physicality. Of which he’s said:
“I’ve never tried to hide the fact that my only goal in football is to be the best”
The record he wants the most: “to have the most golden balls in the history of football, I will love it”
“I’ve never tried to hide the fact that my only goal in football is to be the best” The record he wants the most: “to have the most golden balls in the history of football, I will love it”
What we’ve learned:
• Physically he can play into his 40s
• Motivationally, his goal is to be the best
• He wants to have the most Ballon D’Or
• He’d need 1 to equal Messi, 2 to equal Pelé
It’s fair to say, he’s still got motivation to play and achieve this.
• Physically he can play into his 40s
• Motivationally, his goal is to be the best
• He wants to have the most Ballon D’Or
• He’d need 1 to equal Messi, 2 to equal Pelé
It’s fair to say, he’s still got motivation to play and achieve this.
So if he went into his 40s, what else could he do?
• Score 1000 official goals if he maintains 80% of his current goal/game
• Help Juventus to the UCL he promised
• Contest 6 international trophies with this upcoming Portugal team
• Score 1000 official goals if he maintains 80% of his current goal/game
• Help Juventus to the UCL he promised
• Contest 6 international trophies with this upcoming Portugal team
Lastly, Ronaldo said this at a sports conference in Dubai in 2019:
“Sometimes, my son tells me: ‘Dad, hold on for a few more years, I want to play with you’.
So as one generations ends, another could begin. But most importantly, there a still many years left of CR7.
“Sometimes, my son tells me: ‘Dad, hold on for a few more years, I want to play with you’.
So as one generations ends, another could begin. But most importantly, there a still many years left of CR7.
