MX23RW : Friday, December 13 20:37:52| >> :60:2892:2892:

Cristiano Ronaldo: 'I can remain at top for years to come'

Cristiano Ronaldo: 'I have many years left'
© Offside
Cristiano Ronaldo has little doubt that he still has plenty to offer at the highest level of the game following two "very good years" for club and country.

Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo has vowed to "keep going at the highest level for years to come", as he offers a strong response to his critics.

The Portugal international, the winner of a fifth Ballon d'Or at the end of last year, has been far from his best domestically speaking this term.

Ronaldo has netted eight times in 17 La Liga starts, dropping below his impressive goal-a-game figures of the past, leading to rumours that he may even be allowed to leave the Bernabeu in the summer.

Speaking to Italy's GQ magazine, however, the 33-year-old insisted that it is far too early to consider winding down his career elsewhere.

"On a personal level, this is a fantastic time for me," he said. "I have a growing family and I am very happy with my life. On a professional level, I have had two very good years in which I have won titles with my club and with my national team. I feel that I can keep going at the highest level for years to come.

"Life is a challenge from all perspectives and I try to be at my peak, physically, because this is very important in my profession. I have to be at 100% and I take this very seriously.

"To maintain this level, you need to make sacrifices. There are certain things that I could do when I was 20 that I can't do today. You have to try and find a balance. It's the finer details that make a difference.

"I am ambitious, very ambitious. People should chase their dreams. I chased mine and I want to keep doing so, to improve and achieve even more goals. I believe I've had some memorable performances throughout my career but can't recall any in particular. I try to focus myself more on the present than on the past."

Paris Saint-Germain youngster Kylian Mbappe, who Ronaldo will come up against in the Champions League next week, has backed the Portuguese superstar to recapture his peak form.

ID:318187: cacheID:318187:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2989:
Written by
Daniel Lewis
Restore Data
Share this article now:
A frustrated Cristiano Ronaldo kicks the post during the Champions League group game between Tottenham Hotspur and Real Madrid on November 1, 2017
Read Next:
Mbappe: "Ronaldo is not on the decline"
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
1.15am
Rams
@
49ers
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona17122350193138
2Real Madrid16113234132136
3Atletico MadridAtletico16105130111935
4Athletic Bilbao1795326151132
5Villarreal157532725226
6Real Sociedad167361611524
7Osasuna166642225-324
8Mallorca177371620-424
9GironaGirona166462223-122
10Celta Vigo166372527-221
11Real BetisBetis165651820-221
12Rayo Vallecano155461516-119
13Sevilla165471723-619
14Las PalmasLas Palmas165382227-518
15Getafe163761113-216
16AlavesAlaves164391827-915
17Leganes163671423-915
18Espanyol1541101528-1313
19Valencia142481322-910
20Real ValladolidValladolid1623111134-239


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!