When it comes to football, one of the most common questions is when do strikers start to decelerate. Normally, they are at least 36 years old, and strikers at that age are expected to show signs of decline. But that’s not the case with Cristiano Ronaldo. At 36, he’s still playing for Juventus, and his form is better than ever. Although it seemed like his form had started to dip over the first two seasons at Juventus, the Portuguese star has been enjoying an Italian renaissance in the third season.
Ronaldo’s physical decline
We’re still far away from the real question: At what age do we expect Cristiano Ronaldo to start declining physically? After all, he’s only 32. The question is, when can we expect him to lose his magic touch? While he is still too young to write off, we do have to expect a significant decline in the quality of his performances. While there’s no definitive answer, we can expect his goal-scoring average to dip below 30 goals and assist averages of about 25 goals and assists a season.
The average footballer peaks at about 25 years old, but it is not until their late thirties or forties that the decline begins. Once they reach that age, physical performance begins to decline. It’s no wonder many professional athletes start retiring at this age. In the case of Ronaldo, his decline began after the 2015-16 season. That season was his first time averaging less than forty touches per game.
The privileged physiognomy of Cristiano has provided conflicting signs in recent dates. It’s normal for mortal footballers to feel discomfort. However, this discomfort doesn’t necessarily mean he’s entering the decline stage. Instead, it’s just a sign of aging. If you’re a football fan who expects to dominate the sport for many years to come, you may want to start worrying about Ronaldo’s declining physical appearance.
Unlike Messi, who has become a cynic for the modern game, Ronaldo has adapted to his new tools to keep his role in the world of football. While his speed and power have faded, his determination to score goals and to dominate opponents continues to remain intact. He hasn’t slowed down. And despite his age, he continues to defy nature and continue to set records.
At what age do you expect Ronaldo to begin deteriorating physically? The question is, how do we know he won’t be around forever? In order to answer this question, we need to look at his history as a footballer. In his early years, he played as a winger but slowly progressed to play in a true striker role. However, as he gets older, his physical ability will also decrease, and his performance will become less impressive.
In the recent past, there have been reports that Cristiano has started to show signs of aging. He hasn’t had the same impact as he did when he was a teenager. In fact, his performances have decreased since last season. In two of his last matches, Ronaldo was substituted, and Maurizio Sarri explained it as physical problems. In the future, he may only start starting less matches and taking fewer free kicks.
Signs of his decline
The recent comments from Alvaro Morata about Cristiano Ronaldo as being “human” are an indication of the player’s deteriorating fitness. Where once he looked like a superhuman, he now looks much more mortal. His comments could cost him the Ballon d’Or. Let’s look at a few other signs of Ronaldo’s decline. If Morata is right, it is a big sign.
In the season prior to his defeat to Southampton, Ronaldo averaged 38.4 touches per game. This is the lowest average of all three seasons, and the first time he has been below 40 touches per game. Earlier in his career, he averaged more than half of the touches at Juventus. During his final season at Real Madrid, he averaged only 43.5 touches per game. At Juventus, he averaged 52.5 touches per match, while in La Liga, he averaged 48.2.
Another sign of Ronaldo’s decline is a drastic drop in the number of headers he takes. In his first two seasons with Juventus, 15.8% of his shots were headers. His season at Real Madrid saw that percentage rise to 15.9%. While he has lost the ability to score headers, he is still a dangerous forward, as evidenced by his 41% conversion rate in free kicks.
The contrasting stats of Ronaldo’s performance at the European Championships are also indicative of his deteriorating form. He scored just one more goal than he did in the previous season, and his yearly goal-scoring statistics have fallen dramatically. Although he has been the most prolific scorer at Euro 2016, his goal-scoring stats will inevitably decline in the coming season. But in spite of the numbers, he still has a lot of goals to reach. The contrasting performances of Cristiano and Gareth Bale at Euro 2016 will help us understand why this is happening.
While his performance in the Champions League is still impressive, CR7’s form is becoming increasingly peripheral at Real Madrid. As he gets older, his role at the club is also changing. The manager is looking for a player with more experience to take the team to the next level. With that in mind, the aging process and the change in the role of the team, Ronaldo has shown signs of deteriorating health.
Despite having undergone a grueling injury in the autumn, the Portuguese superstar is already missing up to three games a season. His shot-rate is already below that of Lionel Messi, who has 12 goals in La Liga. If Ronaldo had a comparable conversion rate, he would have to miss 595 shots. Such statistics have led to a sense of fear among his Real teammates.
Signs of discomfort in his game
There are no clear signs of discomfort in Cristiano Ronaldo’s game, but his recent physiognomy is a sign of his increasing age. The Portuguese star has suffered from tendonitis in his left knee and has taped his knee for several days. On Wednesday, he was forced to abandon training and was given ice treatment. On Friday, he took part in a warm-up passing exercise without showing any signs of discomfort.
Cristiano Ronaldo is in his prime, but is he slipping behind Lionel Messi? Are the two players getting better with age? Zlatan Ibrahimovic is another great player who is not yet thirty. The question is: which one is more valuable to the team? If you haven’t heard, listen to Que Golazo! A Daily CBS Soccer Podcast for commentary.
Lionel Messi
With his incredible goals and countless silverware, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are the greatest players of our generation. Between them, they have more than 1,000 goals, won nine Champions Leagues and 11 Ballon d’Ors. Both players could have retired at the end of the decade, but instead, are only getting better. Despite their age, they’re still undoubtedly the best.
However, one thing is clear – Ronaldo is much more experienced than Messi. The Portuguese has better physique and endurance levels than Messi, so it makes sense that he’ll continue to be able to score goals for years to come. The question is which player will be able to stay at the top. While Ronaldo is in better physical shape, Messi is already starting to show signs of fatigue. While it’s possible to argue that Messi will be better as he ages, it isn’t likely to be as good.
While Cristiano Ronaldo is arguably the better player, it’s still difficult to argue that Lionel is better suited to modern football. He’s an exceptional shooter with excellent footwork and the jumping ability of an NBA star. In the end, both players are excellent role models for the next generation of players. The question is, however, whether Ronaldo will continue to be the best when he reaches his 30s.
In terms of age, the Portuguese player has a slightly longer career than the Argentine. Ronaldo has more appearances and has won more Ballons d’Or than Messi, but his decline has been accompanied by the decline of Messi’s form. Cristiano is 37 years old, while Messi is 35. However, Messi has scored seven goals in 24 appearances this season.
It is also fair to note that Ronaldo has been phased out of lung-busting runs, whilst Messi has been curtailing his dribbling to minimise the risks of a tackle. While Messi is still very impressive, his numbers have dropped compared to Cristiano. And if you’re comparing age and performance, Ronaldo is in a much worse position.
As you age, you have to adapt your training regime to keep up with the changing demands of the game. Both Messi and Ronaldo are following specific training regimes and diets. Messi eats more meat and vegetables and avoids sugary food and fruit. However, Ronaldo is still the most prolific goal-scoring machine. So, is Messi getting better with age whilst Cristiano Ronaldo is declining?
The comparison is even more striking. Cristiano Ronaldo had a better open play xG in eight seasons with Real Madrid whereas Messi averaged 2.1 in 2009-10. In addition to this, Messi has significantly less possession of the ball this season. If he were not getting fewer chances to score from the run of play, he would probably have to make fewer tackles.
Cristiano Ronaldo
The debate continues about whether Cristiano Ronaldo is declining with age, and if so, why. The Portuguese has won five Ballon d’Or awards, scored more than 140 goals in the Champions League, and has helped his clubs to four CL titles. His career has been a long one, with hattricks against Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid and over 100 UCL goals over the past seven years. Nevertheless, some feel that his flamboyance is declining as he ages.
It is true that a player’s peak goal output occurs between the ages of 25 and 28. After that, goals output drops. Ronaldo, however, has flouted that logic, consistently performing at a high level six years after his 28th birthday. This is an indication that he is still capable of giving his all and winning titles. However, it would be premature to declare that Ronaldo is declining with age.
The quality of the goals is another factor. While playing against lowly teams may pad his stats, goals scored against top sides are more important. Cristiano Ronaldo should save his best performances for the heavyweights of the Champions League, Italy and international football. He should play against these teams with more vigor and intensity. However, his career is clearly not over yet. So, how does he plan to stay on the pitch for years to come?
While the debate over whether Cristiano Ronaldo is declining with age is not over, his career is. He has been crowned Europe’s best player several times. However, the age-old winger continues to prove his skills and ability. A recent report from ESPN indicated that the Portuguese has already hit his 400-goal mark. A recent injury to the knee will likely prevent him from playing in the first three games of the Champions League this season.
The numbers speak for themselves. Despite his age, he is continuing to score goals for Juventus and France. While his touch total has dropped slightly this season, he has been consistent in scoring crucial goals against Juventus and Lazio. The emergence of Romelu Lukaku, a 21-year-old, is encouraging. A striker with the skills of Cristiano Ronaldo is vital for any team.
While there are many experts who suggest that the soccer star is showing signs of aging, his body has been in perfect condition for a decade. His genes and dedication to fitness have kept him from retiring early, but that’s not necessarily the case. Cristiano Ronaldo is still one of the fittest men alive. His diet and workout regime is what has kept him so youthful. A few months ago, he was even filmed on television doing a sit-up routine.
In recent years, it is clear that the Portuguese forward is not as effective as he used to be. His body language has been questioned in recent matches, and his lack of pressing has led to criticism. And while his performance has dropped this season, Manchester United has been on the lookout for a new coach. The team is seventh in the Premier League, and still in the FA Cup and the Champions League. A team that doesn’t make the playoffs can still win the FA Cup, and Ronaldo must not let that happen.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
There are some similarities between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Both have made over 700 senior appearances for their respective clubs and scored over 500 goals. Ibrahimovic has a more impressive goal scoring record than Ronaldo, scoring more than 280 in his first nine seasons at Juventus. The Swedish winger has scored a goal in every decade of his career, including his most recent two with AC Milan. Ronaldo, however, is a better finisher than Ibrahimovic, who has been injured for much of the season.
It’s true that Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Lionel Messi are getting better with age, but is this enough to keep them at the top of their game? It seems unlikely. Ibrahimovic has been out since January 23 with an Achilles tendon injury, but has recently posted a video of his training routine on Instagram. In it, he is performing upside down sit-ups in the air and expressing his patience. Cristiano Ronaldo’s career is far from over.
The Sweden international has recently reached 300 goals in the big five European leagues, making him only the third player to do so in the 21st century. Ibrahimovic is also an honorary black belt and practices taekwondo for fitness. His recent move to LA Galaxy was thought to be a sign of his retirement, but he returned to Europe and returned to Milan under Stefano Pioli. There, he is in the midst of a title challenge again with AC Milan.
Cristiano Ronaldo is fading while Messi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic are becoming more impressive as they get older. While the former has been an exceptional player for years, Messi is still the best in the world. Both have played in the same number of matches as Ronaldo, but their performances have slowed down considerably compared to Ronaldo.
In a contrasting scenario, Messi has been praised by many as the greatest player of all time. His exemplary performance has seen him win the Champions League with Barcelona last season, while his rival has failed to achieve the same feat at Old Trafford. However, in the long run, both Messi are the better players. They have the potential to turn their excellent careers into the greatest.
Although the Portuguese and Brazilian Ronaldo were born a decade apart, the former is still considered the best player in history. He has more goals and assists than Ronaldo, but neither is a natural soccer talent. The question is, who is the better player? It’s difficult to judge which one is better, but if both are equal in age, then it’s clear who will be remembered for being the greatest.
The average age of Champions League players has risen significantly. Messi has reduced his lung-busting runs and Ibrahimovic has reduced his dribbling to a more sensible level to avoid tackles. This is a testament to the hard work and dedication that both players put into their football careers. It’s a wonder that they have lasted for so long.
