Inside Cristiano Ronaldo's strict routine with six meals a day and wild sleep schedule

Cristiano Ronaldo will turn 40 next season, but he is still racking up goals for fun in Saudi Arabia. With a staggering 44 goal involvements in only 30 league games this term, the Portuguese’s longevity is virtually unmatched in the professional game, and it hasn’t happened by accident.

“Everyone wants to be Cristiano,” he said during a recent interview. “But if I gave you the map, do you think you would do it? It’s difficult. The discipline is the most difficult thing not only in sport, but in life. You have to challenge yourself to be consistent. Sometimes it’s hard. Of course I don’t like going to the gym every day but you have to do it.”

It’s said that Ronaldo spends nine figures per year on his health, utilising forward-thinking methods such as cryotherapy, cold plunges and massage guns.

But there are no shortcuts to staying in top shape at an age when most professional players have long since retired. On top of a full-time training schedule with Al-Nassr, Ronaldo is believed to spend between three and four hours in the gym, five days a week.

That helps him maintain an extremely low body fat percentage, comparable to that of a professional bodybuilder. Weight training, running and swimming are all part of Ronaldo’s regular routine as he heads further into the twilight of his career.

To get the most out of his brutal workout schedule, the former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus forward makes sure his body is fueled up with six small meals per day.

With every meal prepared for him by a private chef, the staples of Ronaldo’s diet include fish, vegetables, chicken, steak and fruit. Already, the Al-Nassr star’s lifestyle is dramatically different to that of the average person.

But his sleep schedule is what really sets him apart. On top of getting his regular eight hours per night, Ronaldo also spaces out no fewer than five 30-minute naps throughout any given day.

His mega-money move to Saudi last year means he can afford to invest in his health and have millions upon millions left over. Ronaldo’s contract, which still has 13 months left to run, is believed to net him a whopping £173million a year.

And that’s not taking his multitude of sponsorship deals into account. For all of Ronaldo’s effort off the pitch and scoring ability on it, Al-Nassr have still fallen well short of lifting the Saudi Pro League title this season as, with one game remaining, they sit a whopping 14 points behind runaway leaders Al-Hilal.