How does Cristiano Ronaldo STILL avoid injuries at 40? Exercise physiology professor reveals what makes Al-Nassr superstar the 'best example of all' as an athlete

Ronaldo has enjoyed a phenomenal career and is still going strong at the grand old age of 40. The Portugal superstar has shown few signs of slowing down despite heading towards the end of his career and has been tipped to play "deep into his forties" and meet his ambition of hitting 1,000 career goals.

The Portugal international has managed to avoid serious injury throughout his career and continues to play regularly in the Saudi Pro League with Al-Nassr and the national team. Exercise physiology professor Rafael Oliveira has been quizzed on how Ronaldo remains in such excellent shape despite his advancing years and highlighted a number of reasons for Ronaldo's injury-free run.

Oliveira told O Jogo: "Cristiano certainly has good genetic indicators to avoid so many injuries, without a doubt. And there are other players who, no matter how much they train, are constantly, or systematically, injured, or are more likely to get injured,” he said

“I haven’t analysed him, I can’t say. There are some analysis videos about him, but I can’t say this 100%, but I imagine that he has a [running] technique that is very close to perfect, while there are other players who probably don’t have these techniques as well acquired, and then they are also more prone to injuries."

Oliviera also highlighted how Ronaldo takes care of himself with "recovery strategies" and pointed out that his "high levels of muscle mass and very low levels of fat mass" and impressive "willpower" are also vital to his physical condition.

He added: "I think he is the best example of all in professional terms, in which there must have been very few exceptions throughout Cristiano's life in which he did not follow these rules in a very methodical way. Therefore, from that point on, you can reach that age and still be able to perform excellently."

Ronaldo is currently in fine form with Al-Nassr and has six goals in his last four games for the Saudi outfit. He'll be hoping to score his first goal as a 40-year-old on Friday against Al-Feiha.