Will Cristiano Ronaldo Finish His Career at Real Madrid?

Under contract with Real Madrid until the 2017/18 season, why Cristiano Ronaldo's future is such a massive topic has yet to be divulged. Nothing is more infuriating than manufactured smoke, and Los Blancos' former boss, Carlo Ancelotti, has attempted to throw water on burgeoning fumes.

The five-time UEFA Champions League winner—twice as a player, thrice as a manager—told Le Parisien (via ESPN FC's Mark Rodden): "I don't see Ronaldo changing clubs. I think he'll finish his career at Real Madrid where everyone likes him."

Managing one of the world's most recognisable sportsmen for two seasons, Ancelotti is in an advantageous place to speculate about Ronaldo's Madrid future. Moreover, his previous employment with Paris Saint-Germain could have garnered the French publication some latitude—but the Italian was rather definitive.
Calculating the long-term viability of 30-year-old footballers is challenging. Some have the capability of playing at high levels for years, while others fall off cliffs. Given his exceptional conditioning and unquestioned talent, Ronaldo (who turns 31 in February) should have at least three seasons of world-class football left in his tank.

The questions to answer are: Will Real Madrid want an aging superstar (as they are normally last to realise they have fallen off)? Second, and possibly more important: Will the Portugal international want to play past a certain age—one that could make him a liability to his current employers?

Only Ronaldo could attempt to answer the latter—but answering the former is not as straightforward as it seems.

Rafa Benitez, filling the prestigious boots of Ancelotti, has attempted to establish his own brand of football at the Santiago Bernabeu. The 4-3-3 of yesteryear has been replaced by the 4-2-3-1—with Gareth Bale seeing unprecedented minutes in the No. 10 role. Other than a spellbinding, five-goal tour de force vs. Espanyol, Ronaldo has been held scoreless in six of Madrid's opening seven La Liga fixtures.

Whether basic functionality or inconvenience in a new system, Real's talisman has yet to mesh with new management. Ronaldo's quality makes him a key component in any formational composition, but getting the best from him (as with every footballer) takes ideal circumstances.

Benitez could be the last manager to have "peak Ronaldo" under his wing. Being a generational talent, the Spanish boss must find ways to maximise the 30-year-old's various talents before Father Time starts taking invariable commissions.

Come 2018/19, Ronaldo will be 33. Before we reach that point, there will be likely be contract sagas and speculations of returning to either Sporting or Manchester United. Madrid, beforehand, must determine whether his on-pitch value equals both his wages and marketing prowess.

Even in his mid-30s, the three-time Ballon d'Or winner will possess the international clout to warrant continuation, but athleticism (which is the hallmark of his game) is Real's primary variable. How Ronaldo copes with an ageing frame will decide his fate in an all-white kit.

There are not better clubs for the Portugal captain to ply his trade for.
Additionally, Madrid have shown, with the likes of Iker Casillas and others, they are willing to accommodate accomplished veterans in their squad (at least for a period). No previous veteran, though, would have had the financial and production credentials that Ronaldo carries—making him an almost singular case.


Ronaldo has moved before (so him moving again is not foreign) but there seems every possibility he will stay in the Spanish capital for the foreseeable future, possibly until the 2018/19 season.

Motivation and desire are whimsical notions in many respects, changing from day to day. So for projecting his exact retirement, not even Ronaldo could see that far.