"I honestly haven't seen anyone better than me. I believe I am the most complete player that has ever existed."

Never one to downplay his achievements, Cristiano Ronaldo told El Chiringuito this week that he was "different" to other players.

Even as the five-time Ballon d'Or winner celebrates his 40th birthday on Wednesday, he has no intention of slowing down.

"I could honestly end my career now and I wouldn't have any regrets," he said. "It would be a pity, however, because I still make a difference. I can continue making a difference for one or two years more."

Only a select few players have managed to make a meaningful impact on the top stage in their forties, but if anyone can defy the ageing process, it may just be Ronaldo.

As he celebrates the big four-zero, we look at what the stats say about his evolution across the years, as well as asking what the future may hold.

Like a fine wine

Ronaldo has shown remarkable consistency since achieving his first 20-goal campaign with Manchester United, way back in 2006-07. 

Indeed, in the last 19 seasons, Ronaldo has only once scored fewer than 23 times in all competitions. That occurred in 2022-23, when he was frozen out of United's squad by Erik ten Hag and left for Al-Nassr midway through the campaign.

Between 2010-11 and 2015-16, a period spanning the ages of 25 to 31, Ronaldo scored at least 51 goals and had at least 14 assists in six straight seasons for Real Madrid.

The 2014-15 season was Ronaldo's statistical high point at club level, despite Madrid's arch-rivals Barcelona winning the treble. He hit 61 goals and provided 21 assists in 54 matches in a campaign that saw him celebrate his 30th birthday.

For club and country combined, Ronaldo scored more goals while 27 years old (67 goals in 70 appearances) than he managed at any other age, but he averaged his fewest minutes per goal (78.4) when aged 28.

However, while Ronaldo's peak goalscoring feats may have come in his late twenties, his thirties were a more productive period overall.

Ronaldo has plundered 460 goals since turning 30, having scored 440 times between his 20th and 30th birthdays. He netted 23 times as a teenager.

A similar theme emerges when looking at Ronaldo's showings at major international tournaments.

Ronaldo scored 13 goals at the five tournaments (World Cup / European Championships) to take place when he was in his thirties, leading Portugal to glory at the first of those, Euro 2016. That is despite him only managing a single goal at the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024 combined. 

He only scored seven times at five major tournaments in his twenties, and twice as a 19-year-old at Euro 2004.

In terms of goalscoring, Ronaldo has aged like a fine wine, and he still has more to achieve before hanging up his boots. 

The chase for 1,000

Ronaldo has 788 goals and counting at club level – five for Sporting, 145 through two spells with Man United, 450 for Madrid, 101 for Juventus and 87 with Al-Nassr.

He also holds the distinction of being the all-time leading marksman in men's internationals, netting 135 times in 217 senior caps for Portugal.

That figure puts him well clear of second-placed Romelu Lukaku (85 goals in 120 games for Belgium), and 150 international goals is a landmark he could feasibly achieve if he continues to play a pivotal role under Roberto Martinez. 

For club and country, Ronaldo is up to 923 goals overall. Asked about his chances of reaching 1,000, he told El Chiringuito: "It would be great, but if it doesn't come, I'm already the player in history with the most goals."

FIFA previously recognised former Austria and Czechoslovakia international Josef Bican as the all-time leading scorer in the men's game, with 805 goals. Almost three years have passed since Ronaldo overhauled that mark with a hat-trick in Manchester United's 3-2 Premier League win over Tottenham.

Overall, Ronaldo has averaged just over 40 goals per year throughout his career.

With that in mind, two more years could be enough to see him net the 77 he requires to hit four figures.

The 40 club

Now plying his trade in the Saudi Pro League, Ronaldo looks highly unlikely to join the list of 40-somethings to have made an impact on the European stage.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is among the most notable players to have played into his fourth decade. The Swede was 41 years and 166 days old when he netted in AC Milan's Serie A defeat to Udinese in March 2023, becoming the oldest goalscorer in the competition's history.

Also in Serie A, Paolo Maldini was almost 41 when he made his final Milan appearance against Fiorentina in 2009 – playing in his 30th game of a season in which the Rossoneri finished third and kept a league-high 17 clean sheets.

A couple of Ronaldo's former team-mates have also demonstrated remarkable longevity at the top table.

During a spell as United's interim player-manager, Ryan Giggs brought himself on as a 40-year-old in a 3-1 win over Hull City in May 2014 – his 963rd and final outing for the Red Devils.

Ronaldo's former Madrid team-mate Pepe, meanwhile, has the honour of being the oldest outfield player to play in the Champions League, doing so aged 41 years and 15 days for Porto versus Arsenal last year.

He is also the only 40-year-old to ever score in UEFA's premier club competition, doing so for Porto against Shakhtar Donetsk in December 2023 (40 years, 290 days old).

History to make in 2026?

Ronaldo's swansong on the elite stage looks likely to come at next year's World Cup, where he could become just the second outfielder to appear at the competition when 40 or older.

Roger Milla memorably featured for Cameroon at the 1994 World Cup, with his final appearance coming at the age of 42 years and 39 days.

Having netted against Russia at that tournament, Milla also has the honour of being the oldest player to ever score at a World Cup.

Ronaldo will not be able to take that record in 2026, but he will harbour hopes of becoming the first player in their forties to score multiple goals at FIFA's flagship tournament. 

Should Portugal go all the way, he could also become the oldest player to ever win the World Cup.

Legendary Italy goalkeeper Dino Zoff, who captained the Azzurri to glory in 1982 while 40 years and 133 days old, currently has possession of that record. No other player has ever lifted the famous trophy at the age of 40 or older. 

Lionel Messi – Ronaldo's great rival – was 35 when he starred for Argentina in their 2022 triumph, which most onlookers saw as his final shot at international glory.

Ronaldo has said he intends to play at next year's World Cup while 41 years old, and leading Portugal to glory would further prove that age is just a number.