Cristiano Ronaldo defies father time by scoring incredible goal at age 40

Can anything slow Cristiano Ronaldo down is a question on many fans’ lips after the football great scored an incredible goal at 40-years-old.

Cristiano Ronaldo has continued to make history, defying father time to net his first goal as a 40-year-old.

On Saturday morning (AEDT) Ronaldo’s Al Nassr defeated Al Feiha 3-0 as Ronaldo and new recruit Jhon Duran both found the back of the net.

But the night belonged to Ronaldo, who with his 924th goal in his career has now scored at every age from 17 to 40.

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And after netting a double in his Al Nassr debut, Duran said playing alongside the football icon was a dream.

“It feels like I’m playing FIFA Career Mode. I’m celebrating goals with Cristiano Ronaldo,” Duran said.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first goal as a 40-year-old. (Photo by Abdullah Ahmed/Getty Images)

The latest achievement for Ronaldo is hard to fathom with many footballing greats calling time on their careers long before 40.

It is even crazier considering the Portuguese legend appeared to trade an end-of-career payday for football obscurity when he moved to Saudi Arabia on a deal understood to be worth $250 million.

However, not only has his move seen several high-profile stars follow him to Saudi Arabia, but he continues to do what he does best, score goals.

In 18 matches in the Saudi Pro League this season Ronaldo has scored 16 goals.

And Simon Chadwick, professor of Sport and Geopolitical Economy at Skema Business School, told AFP that his physical prowess and determination at his age is something incredibly rare.

 “With age, one’s physical prowess diminishes hence it would have been easy for Ronaldo to take Saudi Arabian money and gently fade from view,” Chadwick told AFP.

Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 924 goals in his career to date. (Photo by Fayez NURELDINE / AFP)

“However, the gusto and passion that he continues to display suggests a consummate professional, deeply passionate player, and a physically determined athlete, the likes of which we don’t commonly see.”

But even though he is still in fine goal scoring form, it is still a matter of time before the legend hangs up his boots and it could come sooner rather than later.

Ronaldo’s contract expires in June and there is no confirmation that he intends to continue his stint in Saudi Arabia.

But whether he calls time on his incredible career or continues on beyond this season, football fans know they are lucky to be alive in a time they can witness Ronaldo continue to defy father time.

– with AFP

Originally published as Cristiano Ronaldo defies father time by scoring incredible goal at age 40