Cristiano Ronaldo, the Manchester United striker, says he intends to play until he is 42 years old. Last summer, the Red Devils re-signed the Portugal international from Juventus.
So far, he's had a mixed season, scoring 14 goals in 22 appearances while also getting criticised for his off-the-ball contributions.
Ronaldo made his professional debut with Sporting Lisbon when he was 17 years old, and has since scored approximately 700 goals for the club.
After nearly two decades on the field, the 36-year-old has no plans to retire anytime soon, aiming to play well into his 40s.
“I feel happy to be a player who has shown who, in my case, longevity has been a crucial factor for me to keep playing at a high level, putting in good performances,” he told ESPN.
“Genetically I feel like I’m 30 years old. I take great care of my body and my mind. Something I’ve learned recently is that after 33, I believe the body can deliver if you need it, but the real battle is mental.
“Going through many things with the focus on the end goal of staying at a high level is the hardest thing, and that’s what I’ve been doing for the last few years. I’ve been working and focusing more on working on my mind. I know my body will handle me because I have a lot of respect for it and I listen to it a lot.
“Life has to have important moments, for better or for worse, but when you fall you must have the strength to get up. I’m happy, I want to stay here and see what will happen.
“I want to find out if I’m going to play until I’m 40, 41, or 42, but the most important thing is that my daily goal is to enjoy the moment.”