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.
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.
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.