{"id":413022,"date":"2026-02-07T14:10:17","date_gmt":"2026-02-07T14:10:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/413022\/"},"modified":"2026-02-07T14:10:17","modified_gmt":"2026-02-07T14:10:17","slug":"cristiano-ronaldo-just-turned-41-and-still-looks-like-this-heres-how","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/413022\/","title":{"rendered":"Cristiano Ronaldo Just Turned 41 and Still Looks Like This \u2013 Here’s How"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you think Cristiano Ronaldo<\/a> turning 41 means he\u2019s close to hanging up his boots, think again. The Portuguese superstar remains a physical specimen, obsessively dedicated to his craft, and still treats training, nutrition and recovery<\/a> like part of the job description.<\/p>\n

Closing in on 1,000 career goals and still chasing more, Ronaldo has built a reputation for staying lean, strong and relentlessly consistent year after year. Here are the principles he follows to keep performing at an elite level. <\/p>\n

Cristiano Ronaldo’s Training Routine<\/p>\n

Data configured by Whoop<\/a> in May 2025 suggested Ronaldo had a biological age of just 28.9. It’s unlikely the Al-Nassr forward’s lifestyle will have drastically changed in recent months, considering he is still banging in the goals in Saudi Arabia. He had a resting heart rate<\/a> of 44bpm, averaged 17,000 steps a day, and slept an average of 7 hours and 15 minutes each night, while also spending 10 hours a week in zones 1-3, with an additional hour working intensely in zone 4-5. <\/p>\n

While a large amount of that physical exertion will have been spent at his club, Ronaldo doesn’t relent on his training once he goes home. With a purpose-built gym in his own house, he’s often completing leg extensions<\/a>, hamstring curls<\/a>, and cable resistance exercises to focus on strengthening his hips<\/a>, abductors, adductors and glutes<\/a>. <\/p>\n

And when it comes to his vertical leap \u2013 which is as good as, or even better than, many NBA players \u2013 plyometrics<\/a> form a key aspect of developing that explosive, springy power. <\/p>\n

Why Recovery Matters Most<\/p>\n

For every hour he spends training, Ronaldo spends the same amount of time purposefully recovering. Recovery, in his view, is crucial for performance. ‘In football you have basic points \u2013 from training well to eating properly to drinking properly and so on \u2013 but recovery for me and from my point of view is the most important thing,’ Ronaldo said.<\/p>\n

That means Ronaldo incorporates a range of methods to get his body in optimal condition, utilising cryotherapy chambers, compression therapy, saunas, stretching and ice baths<\/a> as part of his routine. ‘I try to use the ice bath as frequently as possible to help reset and recover my body for each upcoming game,’ he wrote on Instagram.
<\/p>\n

Keeping on Top of His Nutrition<\/p>\n

Ronaldo treats food as fuel rather than indulgence, prioritising protein-rich meals<\/a> alongside whole grains, fruit and vegetables to support training and recovery.<\/p>\n

\u2018Eat regularly,\u2019 he has said. \u2018If you train regularly it\u2019s important to keep energy levels high. I sometimes eat up to six smaller meals a day to make sure I have enough energy to perform each session at top level.\u2019 <\/p>\n

Build strength, add muscle and strip body fat in 2026 with this simple four-week training plan from Men\u2019s Health fitness director Andrew Tracey. You\u2019ll also get a fully comprehensive nutrition guide, giving you the tools to create a smart, sustainable calorie deficit \u2013 without compromising your training. Tap the link below to unlock 14 days of free access to the Men\u2019s Health app and start training today.<\/p>\n

Click here<\/a><\/p>\n

\"magazine<\/a>Related Stories\"Headshot<\/p>\n

Ryan is a Senior Writer at Men\u2019s Health UK with a passion for storytelling, health and fitness. Having graduated from Cardiff University in 2020, and later obtaining his NCTJ qualification, Ryan started his career as a Trainee News Writer for sports titles Golf Monthly, Cycling Weekly and Rugby World before progressing to Staff Writer and subsequently Senior Writer with football magazine FourFourTwo.<\/p>\n

During his two-and-a-half years there he wrote news stories for the website and features for the magazine, while he also interviewed names such as Les Ferdinand, Ally McCoist, Jamie Redknapp and Antonio Rudiger, among many others. His standout memory, though, came when getting the opportunity to speak to then-Plymouth Argyle manager Steven Schumacher as the club won League One in 2023.<\/p>\n

Having grown up a keen footballer and playing for his boyhood side until the age of 16, Ryan got the opportunity to represent Northern Ireland national futsal team eight times, scoring three goals against England, Scotland and Gibraltar. Now past his peak, Ryan prefers to mix weightlifting with running \u2013 he achieved a marathon PB of 3:31:49 at Manchester in April 2025, but credits the heat for failing to get below the coveted 3:30 mark\u2026<\/p>\n

You can follow Ryan on Instagram @ryan.dabbs<\/a> or on X @ryandabbs_<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n