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Football
Former Manchester United teammate Eric Djemba-Djemba predicts Cristiano Ronaldo can continue playing until the 2030 World Cup, possibly alongside his son.
Legendary footballer Cristiano Ronaldo has received strong support and predictions that he will continue his professional career until the age of 45 and participate in the 2030 World Cup finals.
This comes as the Saudi club Al-Nassr star prepares to make his sixth World Cup appearance in the upcoming tournament this summer.
After being named in Portugal’s national team squad last Tuesday ahead of the global event next month, many believe this edition will mark Ronaldo’s farewell on the international stage. However, his former Manchester United teammate Eric Djemba-Djemba holds a different view.
Djemba-Djemba, aged 45, believes Ronaldo can endure until the 2030 tournament, which Portugal will co-host.
Speaking to the network BetVictor, the former Cameroonian star said, “I truly believe Cristiano Ronaldo can continue playing until he is 44 or 45 years old.”
He added, “I am not surprised at all by what he is achieving now; I have known him closely since he was 17 and fully understand his determination and dedication.”
Djemba-Djemba further described Ronaldo’s unique qualities: “We trained together daily, and even after training sessions, he always insisted on doing more. He has a real obsession with self-improvement and competitiveness; I have never seen a mentality like his throughout my career.”
The former player also considered a historic possibility: if Ronaldo decides to fight for a place in the next World Cup, he might appear alongside his eldest son, Cristiano Junior.
He stated, “If Cristiano Ronaldo is still playing football by the time of the 2030 World Cup in Portugal, I believe he should undoubtedly be included in the squad.”
Djemba-Djemba concluded, “That would be the perfect end to his career and an unforgettable moment in Portuguese football history. Imagine if Cristiano Junior is there as well; it would be incredible. Although it will be difficult for his son to reach the same level, since Ronaldo is from another planet, it will remain a beautiful story told for generations.”
On the domestic front, Ronaldo, aged 41, continues to prove that age is just a number. This season, he has scored 30 goals in 37 matches for Al-Nassr and led his team to win the Saudi Professional League title this month with distinction and strength.
