"Can Cristiano Ronaldo play deep into his 40s? That depends" – Ex-Manchester United hero on Portugal captain amid talks of return to Europe

Ex-Manchester United striker Teddy Sheringham has shared his honest thoughts on Portugal and Al-Nassr superstar Cristiano Ronaldo's potential longevity.

Ronaldo, who will turn 40 next month, is considered in the twilight of his illustrious career. The former Manchester United attacker, however, has shown little signs of slowing down with him still scoring goals at a stellar rate in Saudi Arabia.

Speaking to betting website Boyle Sports, Sheringham stated the ex-Manchester United and Real Madrid man could play in his forties due to his incredible physique. He said (h/t GOAL):

"Can Cristiano Ronaldo play deep into his 40s? That depends. At that age, it gets harder to recover from knocks and minor injuries. He has an unbelievable body and looks after it a million times better than players did in my day. If anyone is going to play into his mid-40s then it's him because of how he has looked after himself."

Ronaldo, whose current contract will expire this June, has started all 19 of his appearances in all competitions for Al-Nassr this season. He has scored 16 goals and laid out three assists in 1667 minutes of action for his club this campaign.

Neymar defends Cristiano Ronaldo's remarks

Last month, Cristiano Ronaldo claimed the Saudi Pro League is a better league than the Ligue 1 at the Globe Soccer Awards. As a result, the Al-Nassr forward received a lot of criticism from the likes of Emmanuel Petit and Roberto De Zerbi.

However, former Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) star and Al-Hilal ace Neymar has recently come to the Portuguese's defence. He told CNN Sport (h/t GOAL):

"Today, I think it is [stronger]. The level of the Saudi Pro League is increasing and, from what I see, it's better than Ligue 1. Ligue 1 has its positives. The league is very strong. I played in it, so I know this well."

Neymar, who helped PSG lift five Ligue 1 titles from 2017 to 2023, added:

"Today, the players in the Saudi Pro League are better. Saudi Arabia has surprised me in a positive way. The people, the country, the cities, the culture. It's a country that's continually growing. It will also host the World Cup in 2034, which I think will be incredible."

Neymar, who has made just seven total appearances for Al-Hilal, is currently on his way back from his latest injury setback. The 32-year-old Brazilian could next feature in his club's league clash at Al-Orobah this Saturday (January 11).