CRISTIANO RONALDO has vowed to continue playing for ‘more years’ after he was named Player of the Century at the Globe Soccer Awards.
The Juventus superstar, 35, was handed the award in Dubai and attended the glitzy event alongside partner Georgina Rodriguez.
Cristiano Ronaldo was named Player of the Century in DubaiCredit: Reuters
Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodriguez at the Globe Soccer AwardsCredit: EPA
And after scooping the gong for football’s best player since the turn of the Millennium, Ronaldo insisted he has no plans to slow down.
He said: “It’s really beautiful. I just want to say thank you to everyone.
“Thanks to the people who voted for me, my team-mates, clubs and national team, family and friends – especially my girlfriend and my children who help me to be a better person.
“It is an exceptional achievement. It gives me the motivation to move forward.
“To be named the best is a great honour, I hope that this situation [the Coronavirus pandemic] is over next year and that we can have more fun, thank you very much.
“I hope to still be able to play for more years.”
Ronaldo was wearing a dapper grey suit and red tie to match his Argentine girlfriend’s stunning red dress.
And the former Real Madrid ace revealed the secrets behind a long and fruitful career that has seen him win five Champions League titles.
Messi and Ronaldo’s fight to be crowned the GOAT continues to rage on
Globe Soccer Awards
- Player of the Year – Robert Lewandowski
- Club of the Year – Bayern Munich
- Coach of the Year – Hans-Dieter Flick
- Player of the Century – Cristiano Ronaldo
- Club of the Century – Real Madrid
- Coach of the Century – Pep Guardiola
- Agent of the Century – Jorge Mendes
- Player Career Award – Gerard Pique, Iker Casillas
He added: “I am 35 years old but I still love football. I love my life and I love my family and children.
“I have been doing the same things and often the same exercises for 15 years.
“Sometimes I arrive at 2am, I do a massage at the spa to recover.
“Iker Casillas is an example for us, when he had his problem (heart attack) he was an example because sometimes we don’t appreciate what we have.”
The ceremony was held at the iconic Burj Khalifa in the UAE with Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski named Player of the Year.
Robert Lewandowski was named Player of the YearCredit: Reuters
Ronaldo was congratulated by Fifa president Gianni InfantinoCredit: Reuters
The voting was open to the public and according to Tuttosport, incredibly popular Ronaldo topped the poll for this year’s award before he stepped in to ensure it was handed to the Polish forward.
Ronaldo’s super agent Jorge Mendes also bagged the unusual gong of ‘Agent of the Century’ to ensure it was celebrations all round for the Portuguese contingent.
Ronaldo pipped GOAT rival Lionel Messi and Brazilian Ronaldinho to the main prize but the five-time Ballon d’Or winner reserved special praise for his team-mates.
He said: “For 20 consecutive years I have played and scored as a professional, I didn’t know there was another record to beat.
“It’s a pleasure to hear about the records, I have achieved all this but without my team-mates, without a great team, I would not have achieved these records.”
Cristiano Ronaldo looks frustrated as the winner of the 2020 Fifa Best Men’s Player is announced
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
