m88worldcups.com – Cristiano Ronaldo does not want to end his career without winning the World Cup, a title that would place him on equal footing with his eternal rival, Lionel Messi.

This was conveyed by his former Manchester United teammate, Kleberson, to GOAL.

The former Brazilian midfielder, who understands the mindset of world-class players very well, even boldly predicted that a still-fit CR7 could continue playing until the age of 50 if he truly wanted to.

The Eternal Ronaldo Who Continues to Chase Major Titles

Ronaldo has passed the age of 40 and has signed a contract extension with Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr, which will keep him there until the summer of 2027.

He has shown absolutely no signs of declining performance and is expected to still feature in another major international tournament this summer.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner remains the captain of the Portugal national team, with a record tally of 143 goals, and continues to possess a strong desire to achieve tangible success.

He watched Lionel Messi conquer the world with Argentina in 2022 and is clearly determined not to end his career without a similar achievement being recorded in his illustrious journey.

Will Ronaldo Match Messi With a World Cup Title

When asked how strong Ronaldo’s desire is to claim the world crown, Kleberson, the 2002 World Cup winner, speaking in collaboration with BetVictor Online Casino, told GOAL that deep inside Ronaldo there is most likely a powerful drive that makes him feel he must win the World Cup and does not want to end his career without that achievement.

According to Kleberson, this struggle is not only a burden carried by Ronaldo, but also by other great players.

He cited Neymar, who may think that Messi already has a World Cup while he does not, as well as Erling Haaland, who could potentially never experience that title. This motivation, he said, always exists within top-level players.

He also mentioned Adriano, a major figure in Brazil who performed exceptionally in Italy but never won the World Cup.

Kleberson believes that the tournament sometimes feels fair, but at other times feels unfair.

He even joked that great players might look at him and wonder how Kleberson has a World Cup title while they do not, even though he does not have five Ballon d’Or awards like Ronaldo.

The Journey to Stardom: Ronaldo’s Talent Was Evident From Day One at Manchester United

Kleberson witnessed firsthand the beginning of Ronaldo’s journey toward global stardom when they both joined Manchester United in the summer of 2003.

When asked whether it was already clear from the start what Ronaldo would become, the former Brazil international emphasized that it was all down to Ronaldo’s own hard work.

He explained that from the beginning they knew Ronaldo was a talented player, with high technical ability, excellent ball control, and a strong personality.

However, imagining that Ronaldo would go on to win five Ballon d’Or awards, appear in major finals, and win almost every possible trophy was something that only became evident over the long term.

Kleberson compared this with his own career path, which peaked between 2000 and 2003 before he suffered injuries at Manchester United.

Although he managed to return to a good level between 2008 and 2010, his career declined again afterward. In contrast, Ronaldo has remained consistent in winning titles and trophies up to the present day.

He also expressed his happiness at having worked with Ronaldo at the start of the player’s career and said he is pleased to see Ronaldo’s development as a person, including his role within his family and how he looks after those closest to him. According to Kleberson, Ronaldo has an extraordinary story in the world of football.

Still Playing at 50 Years Old: How Long Will Ronaldo Continue

That extraordinary story appears set to continue, as Ronaldo shows no signs of retiring anytime soon.

Some observers have even predicted that he could still be playing at Euro 2028 and beyond.

When asked whether Ronaldo could continue playing until the age of 50, Kleberson stated that with someone like Ronaldo, no possibility can be completely ruled out.

He recalled meeting Ronaldo when he was still 17 or 18 years old in 2003, when they often spoke in Portuguese and he could clearly see the life ambition that Ronaldo possessed, which he believes has never changed.

Kleberson emphasized that Ronaldo’s greatest strength lies in his extraordinary mentality. In addition, Ronaldo takes exceptional care of his physical condition and his approach to the game.

Although his playing style is not the same as it was a few years ago, his impact on the pitch remains significant.

He also responded to views that underestimate the Saudi Arabian competition, stating that even though the league is often considered not as strong as Europe’s top leagues, Ronaldo continues to perform at a good level.

Kleberson believes that Ronaldo could even still play in Major League Soccer in the future, and if he wants to play until the age of 50, that is very possible given his current physical condition.

New Targets: How Ronaldo Keeps the Competitive Fire Burning

At present, Ronaldo is pursuing the extraordinary achievement of scoring 1,000 goals throughout his professional career, a milestone that is drawing ever closer.

In addition, he has previously expressed a desire to play on the same team as his son, Cristiano Jr, in the future.

For a player with achievements as significant as Ronaldo’s, setting new targets is considered essential to keeping his competitive spirit alive, especially after achieving so much success throughout his career.