'You Can't Even Call Him Old' - Manchester United Legend on Why Cristiano Ronaldo is the GOAT

The Manchester United legend has analysed Cristiano Ronaldo's motivation to continue playing in Saudi Arabia at 40. How many more years does he have left?

Dimitar Berbatov shared the pitch with Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United, albeit for just one season, 2008/2009, yet that single campaign left a lasting impression on the former Bulgarian striker.

To this day, Dimitar Berbatov fields questions about the Portuguese superstar, whether at a summer football camp with kids or in interviews, much like this one given to A BOLA from the Algarve.

Berbatov is currently at the Summer Football Camp, an initiative bringing together Manchester United legends at the Pine Cliffs resort in Albufeira.

Dimitar Berbatov: The Day Cristiano Ronaldo Stops Playing Will be Sad

Cristiano Ronaldo's career is a legendary journey marked by incredible goal-scoring and numerous trophies. Due to his talent, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time.

Cristiano Ronaldo's career began at Sporting CP before earning a move to Manchester United in 2003 at just 18 years old. Under the guidance of manager Sir Alex Ferguson, Cristiano Ronaldo developed from a flashy winger into a world-class attacker.

During his first spell with the club (2003-2009), he won three Premier League titles, a Champions League trophy, and his first of five Ballon d'Or awards in 2008.

In 2009, Cristiano Ronaldo made a then-world-record transfer to Real Madrid. He became the club's all-time leading scorer with 450 goals in 438 appearances.

He won four Champions League titles, two La Liga crowns, and another four Ballon d'Or awards, solidifying his status as a global icon and rival to Lionel Messi.

After conquering Spain, Ronaldo moved to Italian powerhouse Juventus in 2018. In 2021, he returned for a brief second stint at Manchester United before making a landmark move to Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr in 2023.

On the international stage, Cristiano Ronaldo's career with the Portuguese national team is equally impressive. He is the most-capped male player and the all-time leading male goalscorer in international football history.

He captained Portugal to their first major international titles, winning the UEFA European Championship in 2016 and the UEFA Nations League in 2019. Despite his numerous successes, a FIFA World Cup remains the only major trophy missing from his cabinet.

"Let's talk about Cristiano Ronaldo, currently playing for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia. Three years ago, when he returned to Manchester United, I said he could play for another three or four years. And he's still going strong. Do I want to try a new prediction? Well, his dedication to self-care, that professionalism, that discipline, that consistency, is obviously key to being a great player," Dimitar Berbatov said.

"But you can't even call him 'old.' When you see him on the pitch, his physique, his movement, his goals, his motivation… When you see the determination in his eyes to keep playing, to keep producing… And you see the players joining him, not just on his team, but in the Saudi League, that fuels his motivation.

"The league won't make him great – he's already great enough; he doesn't need to prove anything more to anyone. Now it's about enjoying it, playing as much as he can, because the day he stops playing will be a sad day for all of us – because one of the greatest of all time will leave football."

Dimitar Berbatov gave credit to Cristiano Ronaldo for continuing at 40, and said that, given how well he looked after himself, there was no reason he could not play another two or three years.

He added that, knowing Cristiano Ronaldo's competitive nature, he partly joked but genuinely believed he wanted to prove to both the younger generation and the older ones that even at 42 or 43, he could still play and deliver.