Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates 40th birthday, won’t retire yet

Cristiano Ronaldo celebrated his fortieth birthday on Wednesday with no indicators of slowing down his majestic profession.

The Portugal captain elevated his report to 923 targets after scoring twice in Al Nassr’s 4-0 conquer Al Wasl in Monday’s Asian Champions League. It was his 700th membership profession win.

Ronaldo was congratulated on Wednesday by all of his former golf equipment, who stated that “each madridista is pleased with the legend that you’re and what you characterize for our historical past.”

The ahead’s longtime agent, Mino Raiola, additionally paid tribute to his most well-known shopper.

“On the day that Cristiano turns 40, I am unable to cease congratulating the perfect participant within the historical past of world soccer,” he wrote in a letter printed by AS. “Sure, I’ve at all times stated it, I repeat it and I’ll proceed to guarantee the identical factor to anybody who asks me: Cristiano is a part of the historical past of world soccer as the perfect participant in historical past.’

Ronaldo, for his half, agrees with Raiola and isn’t afriad to say it.

“I truthfully have not seen anybody higher than me,” the AL Nassr ahead instructed El Chiringuito TV. “I imagine I’m essentially the most full participant that has ever existed. I do every little thing in soccer.”

He’s a singular participant in the event you contemplate his achievements and longevity.

Ronaldo, who began his skilled profession at Sporting CP in 2002 earlier than transferring to Manchester United one yr later, has received 33 senior titles.

He has lifted 5 Champions League crowns, together with 4 throughout his nine-year spell at Actual Madrid.

“I am so aggressive that many occasions I neglect what I’ve achieved because it offers me motivation to do extra and be higher yearly,” Ronaldo stated. “I believe that’s the distinction with others. Anyone else in my place would have left soccer 10 years in the past. I proceed with that keenness. I am totally different.”

Ronaldo, who has received 5 Ballon d’Ors and two FIFA the Finest awards, stated he is not able to cease.

“I may truthfully finish my profession now and I would not have any regrets,” he stated. “It will be a pity, nevertheless, as a result of I am nonetheless very properly, I nonetheless make a distinction. I can proceed making a distinction for one or two years extra.”

It stays to be seen if Ronaldo will attain the 1000 profession objective mark.

“It will be nice, but when it would not come, I am already the participant in historical past with essentially the most targets,” Ronaldo stated. “To attain targets is the perfect sensation on the planet and essentially the most tough factor in soccer.”

Amongst his many achievements, Ronaldo captained Portugal to Euro 2016 glory, and to the inaugural UEFA Nations League three years later.

He’s the boys’s all-time main scorer in worldwide soccer with 135 targets and holds the world report for many appearances at 217.

Ronaldo is the one participant to have featured in six European Championships. He’s the report objective scorer within the historical past of the competitors with 14 targets.

His affect on the game transcends the boundaries of soccer.

Ronaldo has multiple billion followers throughout all social media platform — he has 648 million followers on Instagram, 170m on Fb and 114.6m on X, beforehand often called Twitter.

“Folks take a look at Cristiano for example, not simply on the pitch, however off it,” Ronaldo stated.

Ronaldo’s unbelievable mentality is what has allowed him to go this far, in keeping with his coach at Al Nassr, Stefano Pioli.

“What Cristiano is doing in soccer, what he has performed, what he’ll do, will stay in historical past,” he stated. “He takes care of his physique, his preparation, and the sport in an obsessive method as if he had been 20 years previous and at all times desirous to show every little thing to everybody. He’s a champion with an unbelievable mentality.”

The previous Juventus star scored a Saudi Professional League report 35 targets in his first full marketing campaign at Al Nassr final season and was named the Finest Center East Participant of 2024 on the current Globe Soccer Awards.