Cristiano Ronaldo Reveals Messages from Pals and How He Spent His 40th Birthday

Cristiano Ronaldo has opened up about the blunt messages he receives from friends—even on his 40th birthday.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner spent part of his milestone day in recovery mode, as shown in a social media post where he was seen resting on a sofa with both legs wrapped in £4,000 cryo compression boots.

The image was a testament to his relentless commitment to staying in peak condition.

However, not everyone in his circle appreciates his dedication.

In a recent interview, Ronaldo admitted that some of his friends joke that he has “no life” because of his disciplined routine.

“If you ask me, ‘Do you still like training?’ I do,” Ronaldo told Canal 11. “Is it the same feeling I had when I was 20? No, of course not. But I still have the passion. I enjoy finishing drills, competing, using my left foot, right foot—I still love it.

“But it’s funny because a lot of my friends say, ‘You have no life.’ It’s true in some ways, but I enjoy it. I know it won’t last forever. Maybe one year, two, or three—I don’t know, and honestly, I don’t care.”

His words suggest that retirement isn’t immediately on the horizon, and he remains confident about his legacy in football.

“I believe I am the best player in history,” Ronaldo declared. “I’m fast, I’m strong, I score with my head, my left, my right—no one has ever been as complete as me.

“You might prefer Pele, Lionel Messi, or Diego Maradona, and I respect that. But if I finish with 920 or 925 goals, it doesn’t matter to me. I am the greatest ever. Period.

“If I reach 1,000 goals, fantastic. If not, that’s fine too. Numbers don’t lie.”

Ronaldo also didn’t hold back in his criticism of some of his former managers, calling them “clueless” about football, though he didn’t name names.