Raphael Varane praised Cristiano Ronaldo commitment to fitness, revealing that he invested significantly in his body and mind from a young age. At 40, Ronaldo continues to dominate, scoring 24 goals and providing four assists in 26 games for Al-Nassr this season. He is also the top scorer in the Saudi Pro League with 16 goals.
For the past two decades, Cristiano Ronaldo has maintained an elite level of performance, and former teammate Raphael Varane attributes this to his heavy investment in physical and mental fitness. In an interview with L’Equipe, Varane highlighted Ronaldo’s dedication, stating that the Portuguese star understood early in his career the importance of taking care of his body. He spent substantial amounts on recovery, nutrition, and performance research, which has helped him stay at the top for so long.
Ronaldo’s stats speak for themselves—450 goals and 131 assists in 438 matches for Real Madrid, along with 145 goals and 64 assists in 346 games for Manchester United. At 40, he remains Al-Nassr’s key player, scoring 24 goals and providing four assists in 26 games this season. He also leads the Saudi Pro League with 16 goals in 19 matches, helping Al-Nassr secure third place with 41 points. He said:
“Firstly, he has an extraordinary physique. More importantly, he understood very young, very early on, that he needed to invest in his body to achieve his ambitions. He invested a lot of money throughout his career in his care, physically, mentally, or in performance research. That’s the big difference with many high-level athletes: he did it from the start of his career when he was at Manchester United.”
Varane, who played alongside Ronaldo at both Madrid and United, praised his relentless commitment. While Varane himself was a solid defender, Ronaldo’s ability to adapt and sustain his dominance well into his 40s sets him apart. His longevity is a testament to his discipline and unwavering ambition.
