Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo could play professional football even when he is in his 40s, the club's manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said in an interview ahead of a home game against Aston Villa.
When asked how long the Portuguese star could carry on with professional football, Solskjaer said: "I wouldn't be surprised if he still played when he was 40, not at all, because of the way he looks after himself".
Solskjaer specified that Ronaldo's physical condition and his attitude to keeping himself in shape are the key points to understanding why the 36-year-old striker still has the capacity to perform at the highest level.
"He has put every single ounce of energy and effort into becoming the player he is and has been, so he deserves every single little plaudit that he gets for his physical state", Solskjaer said.
The Red Devils' manager is also impressed with Ronaldo still being "hungry" for new achievements, regardless of how many trophies he has already won.
"His mentality is still absolutely spot-on and that's a desire from inside that he's going to keep going until his head says, 'no, I've given everything now'", Solskjaer stressed.
Ronaldo has scored four goals in three games since re-signing for Manchester United. His next opponents are Aston Villa, who he's scored eight goals against.