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Cristiano Ronaldo: Football is my life, I will continue playing.
In a testament to an almost superhuman career that continues to defy the very laws of athletic physiology, Cristiano Ronaldo, at the age of 40, has emphatically declared that his story is far from over, telling the world he will play football 'as long as his legs allow. ' Following a match for Al-Nassr where he not only secured a victory but also netted a classic brace, the Portuguese icon offered a glimpse into the engine room of his longevity, attributing it not to advanced cryotherapy or bespoke nutrition plans, but to a raw, unyielding passion that still burns as fiercely as it did when he was a teenager at Sporting CP.'I always say that longevity is achieved only through passion. And I still have that passion,' Ronaldo stated, his words carrying the weight of two and a half decades at the pinnacle of the world's most demanding sport.This isn't merely a player clinging to the limelight; this is a man for whom the beautiful game is synonymous with existence itself. 'Regardless of whether I score goals or not, this is my life.It has always been like this. 23-24 years I have been playing football, this is my life.And that's why I want to continue as long as my legs allow. ' To put this into the kind of statistical perspective that defines modern football analytics, Ronaldo's career is a staggering outlier.Comparing him to legends is not just an exercise in nostalgia but a necessity to understand his scale. Where Pelé retired at 37 and Diego Maradona's top-flight career was winding down by 34, Ronaldo is not just participating in the Saudi Pro League; he is dominating it, consistently ranking among the top scorers and demonstrating a physical conditioning that would be the envy of players a decade and a half his junior.His relentless drive, his almost obsessive dedication to perfection in his craft—from his famed 'Siuuu' celebration to his powerful headed goals—has created a blueprint for athletic longevity that is now studied and emulated. This declaration also carries significant consequences for the global football landscape.His presence at Al-Nassr has been a cornerstone of the Saudi league's ambitious project to become a major footballing force, attracting other stars and shifting commercial and media attention. His continued performance provides immense validation for this project, influencing transfer markets and the career choices of other veteran stars.Furthermore, it sets a daunting new benchmark for his eternal rival, Lionel Messi, and for the next generation of players like Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland, showing them that the summit of the game is not a peak to be reached and descended, but a plateau that can, with unparalleled will, be extended seemingly indefinitely. Ronaldo's journey is more than a sports story; it is a profound lesson in sustained excellence, a narrative where every match, every goal, is another chapter written in defiance of time itself.
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