‘Invisible training’ - Secrets of Cristiano Ronaldo’s longevity revealed by former Al-Nassr coach as Portuguese GOAT maintains stunning standards at 40

The Portuguese GOAT has spent over 20 years at the very top of the global game, having burst onto the scene after leaving Sporting for Manchester United in 2023. Records have tumbled around him across spells at Old Trafford, Real Madrid, Juventus and in the Saudi Pro League.

There is no sign of CR7 slowing down, as he remains a prolific presence for club and country, with there a desire on his part to one day grace the same side as son Cristiano Jr - who recently made his international bow for Portugal’s U15 side.

Ronaldo has been able to avoid serious injury across his career to date, allowing remarkable individual standards to be maintained, with the all-time great considered to be a pleasure to work with. Former Al-Nassr boss Luis Castro has told Sky Sports: “Very easy. Working with the best in the world is truly enjoyable. Cristiano has very ingrained routines, a strong culture of training, and great respect for practice and for the game itself. That makes daily work much easier.”

Quizzed on what makes Ronaldo different from just about every other player on the planet, Castro - who helped to deliver Al-Nassr’s only trophy with CR7 in their ranks - added: “What sets him apart is what happens before and after training - the so called 'invisible training' that he does.

“His behavior is all tailored towards sports performance - his diet, his sleep, and his recovery. He is a person deeply concerned with eating well, sleeping well and preparing his body properly. In my opinion, this is clearly where Cristiano's longevity comes from.”

Ronaldo - who is looking to grace the 2026 World Cup and reach 1,000 career goals - was expected to agree an extension to his record-breaking contract at Al-Nassr, but speculation is now suggesting that he could take on a new challenge when hitting free agency this summer.