Cristiano Ronaldo celebrated his 39th birthday this week with a selection of lavishly decorated cakes.
He posted the Instagram photo of him sunbathing after training later suggesting he didn’t touch a single crumb.
The fitness-obsessed Portuguese star is still as strong as ever, but even he isn’t invulnerable when it comes to injuries.
The Saudi Pro League’s six-week winter break, which includes the Asian Cup, has given Ronaldo time to recover from a calf problem and he hopes to return to action soon.
Al-Nassr’s last competitive match was a 4-1 victory over Al-Taawoun on December 30, a result that kept them trailing leaders Al-Hilal.
Cristiano Ronaldo turned 39 last week and marked the occasion with a family photograph with his partner Georgina Rodríguez, four of his five children and some sumptuous birthday cakes.
The next day, Ronaldo showed off his toned physique while sunbathing after Al-Nassr’s training session.
Ronaldo last played on December 30, when Al-Nassr beat Al-Taawoun 4-1 in the Pro League.
They will resume their AFC Champions League campaign against Saudi club Al-Fayha on February 14 and resume league action against Al-Fateh three days later.
But Ronaldo’s winter break has naturally been quite busy with a family vacation to Dubai, receiving even more awards and a visit to China, where he was unable to play.
The injury left him cheering from the stands when Al-Nassr crushed Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami 6-0 last week.
His Argentine rival only made a late cameo from the bench, but Ronaldo would no doubt have loved some help rubbing it in for him in a completely one-sided contest.
Ronaldo traveled to China, where he held a news conference and waved to fans holding No. 7 jerseys from a bus window in Shenzhen, but did not take the field.
Al-Nassr was due to play against Shanghai Shenhua on January 24 and against Zhejiang four days later at a winter training camp in Shenzhen, but Ronaldo’s injury forced the postponement of both matches.
‘I am really sad because Al-Nassr and I have come to China to enjoy the tour. “We haven’t canceled the match, we want to move on and come back here,” Ronaldo said.
Delaying the matches was probably a wise decision on Al-Nassr’s part in light of the fury in Hong Kong over Messi remaining on the bench in a highly publicized Inter Miami friendly there this week.
Ronaldo was the center of attention on a visit to Shenzhen in China but two matches were postponed after suffering a calf injury.
Al-Nassr has said he will return to play both matches on the tour when Ronaldo returns to fitness.
The star still traveled to China and held a press conference before greeting her fans.
Al-Nassr was able to organize a winter break training camp in China while Ronaldo recovered from his injury.
Ronaldo was presented to the public before Al-Nassr’s friendly with Inter Miami, which he missed due to injury.
Ronaldo was seen cheering from the elegant seats as Al-Nassr thrashed Messi’s Inter Miami 6-0.
The Argentine only made a late cameo from the bench as his team was thrashed.
After the supposedly unfit Messi came off the bench to play the next game in Japan, fans and media in Hong Kong cried foul.
On January 20, Ronaldo and his partner Georgina Rodriguez were in Dubai as he added even more personal accolades to his massive collection.
He won the Best Player in the Middle East award, the Fans’ Favorite Player of the Year and the Maradona Award for Top Goalscorer at the Dubai Globe Soccer Awards.
Ronaldo joked that he had “10 years left” when asked on stage if he planned to retire soon and left Erling Haaland, who won the top player award, unimpressed when talking about his top scorer award.
Ronaldo spent time with his entire family in Dubai during the January offseason.
Ronaldo and Georgina pose for a photo in the sea during their break in the sun in Dubai
There was more personal praise for Ronaldo at the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai
He was accompanied by his partner Georgina Rodríguez at the awards ceremony.
Ronaldo also attended the Dubai International Sports Conference as part of his visit.
The 39-year-old has continued to score goals at a prodigious rate, with 30 in 31 appearances for Al-Nassr this season. He also scored 10 for Portugal in calendar year 2023 as he looks forward to Euro 2024.
The winter break has also allowed Ronaldo the opportunity to relax and spend time with family.
Her birthday was celebrated with Georgina and four of her five children, while the whole family enjoyed a beach holiday in Dubai earlier this month.
Temperatures are comfortably in the mid-20s in Dubai at the beginning of the year and, according to the couple’s Instagram photos, the sky was blue and the sea was certainly warm enough.
Ronaldo’s mother, Dolores Aveiro, was delighted to receive the Porsche Cayenne as a gift.
It came after they celebrated the New Year in Madeira, Ronaldo’s birthplace, with a spectacular fireworks display.
Ronaldo’s sister Katia captured the moment her mother Dolores Aveiro shed tears of joy after the star gifted her a new Porsche Cayenne, which retails from £70,400, for her 69th birthday.
But soon Ronaldo will begin his mission to surpass the 54 goals he scored during 2023. There is always more to achieve.