Cristiano Ronaldo Portugal is the athlete who is still going against age and expectation as he gears up to one more important campaign with the national team. The great forward is 41 years old, and he is a player who is still playing in the middle of the pitch as well as in the locker room.
Portugal coach Fernando Martinez highly commended Ronaldo in the leadership and goal scoring abilities. Martinez pointed out the commitment of the captain who he said was a role model whose desire to be better, establishes the mood of the whole team. As Martinez said, Cristiano is not a 41-year-old player, but a player hungry to become better day by day. The influence of Ronaldo beyond statistics is stressed by his words.
Although Ronaldo lacks the warm-up games against Mexico and United States, as he got a hamstring injury with Al Nassr, the appearance of the Portuguese is critical. His experience is especially valuable to help the younger players go through the tough situations of high pressure and make sure that the team does not decline in terms of its competitive performance.
Ronaldo has a record to speak on the field. He has the international scoring record of all time with 143 goals in 226 appearances since his inception in the year 2003. He has scored 25 goals in the past 30 games and this proves that age has not impaired his finishing skills or football intelligence.
Martinez did not make predictions when questioned on whether he was to retire or not. It is difficult to say, he said. I have soon discovered that I must never attempt to judge of what is coming when it concerns Cristiano. He is concerned about how he can make himself the best he is at this moment.
