Cristiano Ronaldo struggled to hire personal chef on £4,500-per-month salary

Cristiano Ronaldo once struggled to find a personal chef willing to cook for him because of his peculiar demands.

Ronaldo turned 39 on Monday, although you wouldn't know it given the impressive shape he's in.

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner was an incredible player as a youngster at Sporting Lisbon and Manchester United, but it was when he joined Real Madrid in 2009 that he developed into a superb athlete.

Despite now nearing retirement, the Al-Nassr star is showing no signs that he won't keep himself in peak condition after he hangs up his boots.

Doing so will require a good diet, and Ronaldo clearly intends to eat well for years to come.

In September 2021 the Portugal captain purchased land in Quinta da Marinha, Portugal, where he built a 'forever home' for his family.

Early last year he was looking to hire a personal chef to cook for him and his family at the £17 million mansion for years to come, but despite reportedly offering a salary of £4,500-per-month, he couldn't find anyone that fitted the bill.

Reports in Portugal claimed that Ronaldo and his partner Georgina Rodriguez insisted that the chef specialised in Portuguese cuisine, as well as international dishes including sushi.

Finding a top-quality chef with such a wide-ranging repertoire proved difficult, and it's not known whether Ronaldo eventually filled the position or not.

Ronaldo will be 40 when his Al-Nassr contract expires in 2025, but he has given no indication that he will call time on his incredible career next year.

However, last summer confirmed that his career in Europe is over. He said: "I won't return to European football, the door is completely closed. I'm 38 years old, also European football has lost a lot of quality... [the] only valid one [league] is Premier League, they're way ahead of all the other leagues."