“I have given my body for 25 years to football” - Cristiano Ronaldo acknowledges number of years he can still play at top level

Cristiano Ronaldo recently shed light on the future of his illustrious career, revealing how much longer he plans to grace the sport with his extraordinary talents. In a candid interview with former teammate Rio Ferdinand, Ronaldo discussed not only his journey but also the projections he has for his remaining time on the pitch.

At 39, Cristiano Ronaldo's career is a marvel of longevity, characterized by an almost supernatural capacity to maintain top form. His disciplined approach to fitness, combined with an unrelenting dedication to his craft, has allowed him to defy the conventional athlete's career span.

Despite facing some criticism, which he dismisses as inconsequential compared to the love he receives from fans, Ronaldo remains resolute. Speaking on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, Cristiano Ronaldo said:

"People always take the worst part, not always the good part. But I'm not going to finish my career because two rats criticize me. The world loves me, the fans love me. This is my motivation to carry on playing football. People love me. No one is going to take my shine away because two people from TV that nobody knows criticize me."

He added:

"I give everything, I have given my body for 25 years to football... I know that for two or three more years I can produce something good, but after that, I don't even want to think about that. You think I am going to cry [when I retire] with everything I have in my life? Well, maybe a little bit!"

From his early days at Sporting Lisbon to his stints with Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, and now Al-Nassr, Cristiano Ronaldo is constantly reinventing himself, proving himself across different leagues and competitions.

Cristiano Ronaldo opens up about life with his five children

Cristiano Ronaldo also spoke about family life and how his competitive mentality has been passed on to his children.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner is presently the father of five children. He welcomed Cristiano Jr. in 2010 while choosing not to reveal the identity of the mother. His twins Mateo and Eva Maria were born via surrogacy in 2017. He also had two daughters with his partner Georgina Rodriguez.

Ronaldo told Rio Ferdinand:

''I was in the Red Sea a couple of days ago, I play every day padel. Me and Cristiano Jr get mad, we don't speak for like two days. This is why I'm happy, even the small one Matteo [gets competitive], I like it. It shows they have personality."

''Seriously, my kids, they are like me. I don't teach them but they see by example because sometimes when I lose, I get angry, sometimes I cry, it depends on the moment. They are kind of the same, so even with my kids I compete, I always want to win. I don't give nothing for free."

Of Cristiano’s five children, only his eldest child is currently following in his footsteps, as he currently plays for Al-Nassr’s youth team.