Watan-Despite being 38 years old, and having won the Ballon d’Or five times while scoring 873 goals in his career, Cristiano Ronaldo is in astonishing physical condition and shows no signs of aging.
In the past few days, the Portuguese star, currently playing for Saudi club Al-Nassr, was seen showcasing his impressive muscles in the gym at the beginning of the winter break for the Saudi league.
Ronaldo finished 2023 as the world’s top scorer with 54 goals in club and international matches. This marked the fifth time he received this title, having also been the top scorer in 2011, 2013, 2014, and 2015 during his time at Real Madrid.
Over the past decade, we have only seen Ronaldo as a world-class football player with a muscular physique, but that wasn’t always the case for the forward.
When he first appeared with Sporting Lisbon in 2002 at the age of 17, Ronaldo was a tall and slender teenager. He looked completely different from what he is today, yet this didn’t stop him from excelling and showcasing talent that led him to move to Manchester United.
Ronaldo’s Fitness
However, Ronaldo seemed like a different person in the early 2000s. After a promising but less noticeable first season, he realized he needed to increase his muscle mass to cope with the physical demands of English football, as reported by the British newspaper Daily Mail.
Now, at the age of 38, he has added muscle to his body, ensuring he maintains his fitness to face the challenges of aging.
With advances in technology and nutritional advice, Ronaldo has taken advantage of these opportunities to be in the best possible shape.
His remarkable performance led to a record-breaking £80 million transfer to Real Madrid, where he continued to work on his physique.
His fitness and physique were so impressive that Ronaldo began to change the way we perceive football players and what the ideal physical build for a footballer is.
This transformation came after significant dedication from Ronaldo, who, at the age of 38, was known to employ a personal nutritionist, a doctor, a physical therapist, and a chef to improve his performance.
One of the most iconic moments in his career was his goal during Real Madrid’s 4-1 victory over arch-rivals Atletico Madrid to secure the UEFA Champions League title in 2014, the tenth for the Spanish giant. When he scored Real’s fourth goal, Ronaldo took off his shirt and flexed his muscles, giving fans worldwide a glimpse of his stunning physique.
How Cristiano Ronaldo Built an Amazing Body
Following an intensive gym routine, Ronaldo emphasized the importance of his diet and lifestyle in transforming his body over the years.
In an interview with “fourfourtwo” in 2015, he said, “I monitor my diet, eat healthy, and avoid harmful things like alcohol, sugary sodas, and processed foods.”
He added, “I focus on consuming whole, simple foods, like fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean, fat-free protein. I love fresh fish and try to get a lot of my protein from it.”
Ronaldo emphasized the importance of good sleep for maximum training benefits, saying, “Good sleep is crucial to get the most out of training. I go to bed early and wake up early, especially before matches. Sleep helps my muscles recover, and that’s crucial.”
He continued, “Training and gym workouts are vital, but living a comfortable lifestyle helps you be the best you can be, both physically and mentally. I spend my free time with family and friends, which keeps me relaxed and in a positive mindset.”
Reports in the past have claimed that Ronaldo eats six meals a day, allowing him to build muscles and maintain his fitness.
Given his disciplined routine and consistent performance on the field, it’s not surprising that many, including his former United coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, bet on Ronaldo to continue playing well into his forties.
The striker continues to deliver outstanding performances in Saudi Arabia with Al-Nassr, leading the scoring charts in the Saudi Professional League this season with 20 goals.