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Cristiano Ronaldo has said he hopes to play for another “four or five years”, even though he turns 37 next month.
The Manchester United striker received FIFA’s best special award at a ceremony in Zurich on Monday in recognition of breaking the world record for international goals in September last year, previously held by Iran’s Ali Daei (109), with Ronaldo now at 115 goals for Portugal.
When asked by event co-host Jermaine Jenas about his “obsession” with the game and where he could take him, Ronaldo said he still has the same love of football he had when he was younger and gave an idea about how long he intends to keep playing.
“I still have the passion for the game. Not just for scoring goals,” Ronaldo said. “It’s to entertain myself, because I’ve been playing football since I was five or six years old.
“When I walk on the field, even during training, I still enjoy it [it] and my motivation is still there. Even though [though] I will soon be 37, I feel good, I feel motivated.
“I keep working hard since I was 18 and I keep going. I love the game, I still have that passion and I want to keep going.
“People sometimes ask me how many more years I have to play and I say I hope to play four or five more years.
“It’s about mental, because I think if you treat your body well when you need your body, it will give it back to you, so that’s what I do.”
Cristiano Ronaldo is the recipient of #The best FIFA Special Award!
Legend. Winner. Goal scoring machine. @Cristiano . pic.twitter.com/ZnzGMJKCEk
– FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) January 17, 2022
Ronaldo has scored 14 goals in 22 games for United in all competitions since making a dramatic return to Old Trafford at the start of the current season, but recently indicated frustration over the team’s recent form.
The Red Devils are currently in seventh place in the Premier League table, five points from West Ham in fourth place and 24 points behind the top of Manchester City, though with two games left over both.
In a talk with Sky Sports last week, the former Real Madrid and Juventus shooter said: “I do not accept that our mentality is less than being in the top three in the Premier League.
“I think in order to build good things, sometimes you have to destroy a few things. So why not – new year, new life and I hope we can be the level that the fans want. They deserve it. .
“We are able to change things now. I know the way, but I do not want to mention it here because I do not think it is ethical on my part to say so.
“What I can say is that we can do better – all of us. Manchester United are important things, so we need to change that.
“I do not want to be here to be in sixth, seventh or fifth place. I am here to try to win, to compete.
“I think we’re competing, but we’re not at our best level yet. But we have a long way to go, and I believe that if we change our minds, we can achieve great things.”
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