How Much Longer Does Cristiano Ronaldo Have at the Very Top?

Age has certainly played no part in Cristiano Ronaldo's career so far. If anything, the closer he has gotten to 30, the better he has become.

In 2013, then-Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said the Real Madrid forward has improved since leaving Old Trafford because he has "matured as a player," per Sky Sports.

That was nearly two years ago, and the Portuguese international has not slowed down since. This season, he has scored 26 goals in just 15 La Liga games—Lionel Messi's record tally of 50 is no doubt at the back of his mind. He's also scored five more in the Champions League.

In February, he will turn 30, which used to be the beginning of the end for a lot of players. However, in recent years, that theory has proven wrong on plenty of occasions. Ryan Giggs played until he was 40. Frank Lampard is still performing in the Premier League at 36, and Steven Gerrard, who recently announced he will leave Liverpool in the summer, has only declined since he turned 34.

Meanwhile, in Spain, Barca remain about as reliant on Xavi Hernandez in their midfield now as they were five years ago, and Atletico Madrid's Gabi, who's creeping toward 32, almost seems to have peaked over the last 12 months.

Then there's Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The Paris Saint-Germain forward may be 33, but he is still full of the swagger, self-belief and ability which have made him one of Europe's most feared front men. While it could be argued he's got it easy in France, the big Swede can only beat the opposition placed in front of him.

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So when will Ronaldo slow down?

Some had been expecting it to happen this season. He's reliant on that initial burst of power, that speed that is so destructive that many thought his shelf life may be shorter than some of the previously mentioned players. To think that, though, is to underestimate Ronaldo.

This is a man who takes tremendous care of himself to ensure he can deliver the ultimate performance. His post-match routine, as revealed by AS, is not just for the sake of preening, nor is it just for the benefit of ensuring he's ready for the next match; it is with the intention to extend his career for as long as possible.

Ronaldo has explained as much himself, per AS:

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Recovery is more important to me than actual training sessions due to the large number of games I have to play. Winding down and resting is a key part of my day-to-day routine and enables me to perform to the highest level in my profession and prolong my career.

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Portugal's national team doctor, Antonio Gaspar, works with Ronaldo and suggested to Marca, as translated by the International Business Times, that we shouldn't expect him to ease away from the elite in the near future.

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I think an athlete like him can easily carry on until 33. In fact, in his case, I reckon that, barring anything untoward, he will be at the peak of his powers even longer, until 35. He's a super-athlete, way above the average in that sense, and he's also a top professional who takes perfect care of himself and doesn't miss a trick when it comes to his diet and recovery time.

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Some careers can burn out if they kick off so soon. Wayne Rooney played 68 full matches before he turned 20, per ESPNFC's Gabriele Marcotti, and he's adapting his game as he ages. Ronaldo played just 30 and is still full steam ahead.

It all equates to at least two-and-a-half more years of Ronaldo domination. That takes us up to 2017, at which point he would still have one more year to run on his contract at the Bernabeu and would be 32. But as Gaspar pointed out, Madrid have backed him to continue performing at the very top until he is 33, or maybe older. 

The only questions that remain concern how soon people can catch up to him.