Having maintained levels of consistency never seen before in football, Cristiano Ronaldo is enjoying some well-earned rest.
The Juventus forward is one of a select few players to have played over 1,000 professional games, failing to play 40-or-more club matches in just two of his 17 full campaigns.
Indeed, Ronaldo has managed an incredible 81,011 minutes of football when also taking into account his appearances for Portugal.
Having maintained levels of consistency never seen before in football, Cristiano Ronaldo is enjoying some well-earned rest.
The Juventus forward is one of a select few players to have played over 1,000 professional games, failing to play 40-or-more club matches in just two of his 17 full campaigns.
Indeed, Ronaldo has managed an incredible 81,011 minutes of football when also taking into account his appearances for Portugal.
Since fracturing his kneecap for Manchester United in July 2008, Ronaldo has gone on to register just 25 more injuries, amounting to only 44 matches missed as a result. That tally is extended to 64 since 2009 with suspensions.
In contrast, his former Real Madrid strike partner Gareth Bale has missed two seasons’ worth of games since arriving from Tottenham Hotspur in 2013 due to crippling injuries alone.
Of course, Ronaldo’s natural fitness has played a huge part in this longevity, and it is only now – due to a global pandemic – that he is taking the longest midseason break of his career.
However, age will always catch up and the Portuguese is now 35, so there is an increasing need for him to prioritise his workload, the Champions League coming before everything else.
Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane alluded to this back in January 2017, having successfully talked the superstar into playing less games and preserving himself for the more important ones.
“We’ve talked about it, the only thing you [journalists] need to think is that he’s a very intelligent player,” said Zizou.
“My idea is to have a fit Cristiano throughout the season. Having 20 games in 70 days, he also needs to rest from time to time.
“That’s how I see it, and so does he. He always wants to play, but talking to him always ends well.”
What is certain, Juve will benefit hugely from having a fully recharged and refreshed Ronaldo in their ranks once the season resumes.