Cristiano Ronaldo's 'anger' fuelling Portugal captain's desire to keep playing at 39 as Robert Lewandowski hails CR7 for 'raising the bar' ahead of Nations League clash with Poland

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner will turn 40 in February 2025, but he is showing no sign of slowing down. Goals continue to flow at Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr – with 50 registered in the Middle East last season – and Ronaldo’s intention is to reach 1,000 over the course of his career before considering retirement.

Alongside eternal rival Lionel Messi, Ronaldo has set standards of individual excellence that few can dream of emulating. His relentless drive has carried him to the very top of the game, with Barcelona striker Lewandowski saying of CR7: “As for Cristiano, he has written many pages of history and has always raised the bar for everyone around him, and this is something that cannot be overlooked. Although he has achieved everything or almost everything, and he is 39 years old and approaching 40, it is clear that he has ambition, as he gets angry and nervous, and this shows his great ambition.

“I think if he didn’t have that anger, he might have looked like he was just playing for the sake of playing. But he clearly still has the desire, and he looks physically in very good shape, which shows that the path he chose was successful. Regardless of age, his numbers keep going up and not the other way around. Of course, he is an exception and there are very few exceptions like him.”

Ronaldo will be lining up against Lewandowski when Portugal face Poland in the UEFA Nations League on Saturday, with the latter adding on the challenge that the all-time great still poses to any opposition: “I fully understand what Cristiano Ronaldo has achieved throughout his career, and how he has impacted the history of football with his achievements and numbers. This will certainly remain engraved in history.

“But when it comes to the match, I see it as a match between two teams, and we will need to play as a team to stand up to Portugal. They have many great players who I have faced before, and I know very well the level of challenge we will face.”

Ronaldo has reached 214 caps for Portugal, scoring 132 goals, and is being tipped to play on through to the 2026 World Cup finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico – a competition that Lewandowski may also grace despite now being 36 years of age himself.