Cristiano Ronaldo continues to set new benchmarks as he carries on playing at the highest level despite reaching an age generally considered to be the twilight years of a footballer’s career.
35-year-old CR7 recently leveled Hungarian legend Ferenc Puskas’ tally of 746 career goals to become the joint fourth-best goalscorer in the history of the sport.
The Juventus forward has an intense desire to be the best and supports it with a notoriously regimented lifestyle so as keep getting the best out of himself for a much prolonged time.
Before him, it was Ryan Giggs who was considered to be the epitome of physical fitness.
The Manchester United legend played a mouthwatering 963 appearances in his 24-year-long senior club career before hanging up his boots in 2014 at age 40.
Ronaldo is also determined to play until his 40s, and Mick Clegg, who worked as a fitness coach under Sir Alex Ferguson at Man United, believes CR7 can match Giggs’ longevity.
“Before Ronaldo, the best athlete in terms of work on his body was Ryan Giggs. He was the strongest, the most attentive to details,” Clegg told Gazzetta dello Sport, via Football Italia.
“If Giggs played at United until he was 40, Ronaldo can play till he is 41. Cristiano was the only one able to go beyond the high standards of Giggs.”
