Longevity in football is indeed rare. Only a handful of players have continued to play in their late 30s or even early 40s. Zlatan Ibrahimovic retired recently at 41; Andres Iniesta still plays at 39; Cristiano Ronaldo will also be 39 soon; and he is still going strong. On the other hand, there are others like Eden Hazard, who has just retired at 32 after turning down the opportunity to join David Beckham’s star-studded Inter Miami.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s longevity and athleticism are things that have truly amazed fans all over the world. Former Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov is equally impressed, as he is full of praise for the Portuguese talisman.
Berbatov confident Ronaldo will play until at least 2025
Cristiano Ronaldo is still going strong despite turning 38 last season. The Portuguese forward has already netted 17 goals for Al Nassr this season. Recently, he scored a double, shining in Portugal’s victory against Slovakia on Friday.
Because of his sensational form, Dimitar Berbatov sees no reason Cristiano should hang his boot just yet. The former Manchester United player thinks he still has “two years or three years” left in him.
“Ronaldo will stop when he wants to stop. When you look after yourself the way he has, have the team around you that he does, the chances of playing football for longer than expected gets bigger,” the former United striker told Betfair.
“In Cristiano’s case, I think he has the chance to play for another two or three years. People will say that he’s playing in a slower league that’s not as good as the Premier League, but it doesn’t matter. He’s still proving that he’s going strong, especially recently with his performances and goals for Portugal.
“He’s helped Portugal qualify for Euro 2024, and one day his last tournament will come, of course, but let’s not think about that yet. Let’s just leave him be, and I’m sure he’ll surprise us with another decision soon enough. At the moment, Cristiano is going strong, so we need to enjoy watching him play until he does decide that enough is enough.”
There have been reports indicating that Ronaldo has communicated his intention to extend his tenure with Al-Nassr until 2027. This suggests that he might be considering the possibility of participating in the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States as his potential final World Cup appearance.
How many UCL’s does Ronaldo have at Manchester United?
Ronaldo achieved the distinction of being the first player to win five Champions League titles. His first-ever victory came with Manchester United. followed by additional successes with Real Madrid in 2014, 2016, 2017, and 2018.
Indeed, Cristiano Ronaldo has a lot of dazzling Champions League records. The former Manchester United player sits at the top of the list for all-time appearances in the UEFA Champions League, appearing 59 times for Manchester United. He is also the all-time leading scorer in the competition.
Cristiano Ronaldo made 346 appearances for Manchester United and scored 145 goals during his time at the club. He also helped the team win the Champions League in 2008, solidifying his status as a legend of the club.
How likely is it for Cristiano Ronaldo to appear in the 2026 World Cup? Tell us your predictions in the comments.
