Cristiano Ronaldo Turns 30, Will He Now Start To Decline?

Cristiano Ronaldo turned 30 on Thursday, February 5, 2015, and it’s safe to say that he has used every year he has been on this earth wisely.

There are literally hundreds of clips that you devour on the internet to celebrate the Real Madrid forward’s birthday for yourself. But should we also be beginning the mourning process for Cristiano, too?

It’s commonly believed that when a soccer player turns thirty, he begins a steady decline. One of the most respected managers in English soccer, Arsenal’s Arsene Wenger, believes that once players have gone over the age of 30, they should only be offered one-year contracts.

The likes of Patrick Vieira, Robert Pires, Dennis Bergkamp, and Thierry Henry have each only been offered these deals, even though they had excelled during their careers at the Gunners.

It’s highly unlikely that Real Madrid will take the same stance with Cristiano Ronaldo, though. To start off with, the 30-year-old still has three years to run on his current contract with Madrid. Plus, they also have a billion dollar buy-out clause locked around the forward that will stave off any potential bids from the likes of Manchester City, Manchester United, or Chelsea.

Then there’s also the fact that he is still regarded as the best player in the world. Not only did he win his second consecutive Ballon d’Or last month, but his scoring record for this season is the barely plausible 28 goals in 18 La Liga games.

But should Real Madrid fans be concerned that Ronaldo will start to decline now that he has reached such a heady age? Of course, that’s an impossible question to answer, but it’s believed that Ronaldo will continue to prosper.

To start off with, he is still in fine-fiddle physically. Ronaldo’s fitness is one of the key reasons why he is believed to be a higher echelon above every other soccer player in the world. He is simply stronger, faster, and more direct than every defender or opponent he comes up against.

Also, the advancement of sports science means that extensive tests can be carried out to make sure Ronaldo can protect himself from injury. Plus, Ronaldo can also change his playing style as his pace and strength dwindles. He has always been a clever player, and he has an innate understanding and reading of the game, too.

Basically, despite the fact that he has just turned 30, Cristiano Ronaldo is far from done yet. And the world of soccer should be relieved that’s the case.

[Image via Caught Offside]