Inside Cristiano Ronaldo's remarkable body transformation down the years

Despite being 38, a five-time Ballon d'Or winner and scorer of 873 career goals, Cristiano Ronaldo shows no signs of slowing down.

Just this week, the Portuguese superstar was spotted showing off his incredible muscles in the gym at the start of what is the Saudi Pro League's winter break.

Ronaldo's Al-Nassr side don't return to competitive action until February 14 when they take on Al-Fayha in the AFC Champions League play-offs, but he is continuing to put in the hard work.

The latest example of his relentless work ethic comes after Ronaldo ended 2023 as the top goalscorer in the world with 54 goals across club and international action.

It was the fifth time Ronaldo has picked up the accolade after he also finished top scorer in 2011, 2013, 2014 and 2015 while at Real Madrid.

While he has dominated our screens over the past decade as a world class footballer with a ripped physique, this hasn't always been the case for the forward.

Back when he made his debut for Sporting Lisbon in 2002 at the age of 17,  Ronaldo was a tall but skinny teenager who looked a lot different to how he does today.

This didn't stop him excelling though and his dazzling performances and talent earned him a move to Manchester United.

However, Ronaldo almost looked like a different person in the early 2000s and after a promising, but unspectacular debut season, he realised he needed to bulk up to cope with the physical demands of English football.

The now 38-year-old began to add muscle to his upper body, while ensuring he was lean enough to deal with the challenges he faced from opposition defenders.

It would turn out to be a masterstroke as Ronaldo excelled over six years from 2003 to 2009 under the guidance of Sir Alex Ferguson, becoming the first United star to win the Ballon d'Or since George Best in 1968.

As technology and nutritional advice advanced, Ronaldo seized upon these opportunities to put himself in the best possible shape.

Ronaldo's stunning form earned him a world record £80m move to Real Madrid where he continued to work on his physique.

His fitness and shape were so impressive that Ronaldo began to change the way we looked at footballers and what the ideal footballing physique was.

This came after significant dedication from Ronaldo, with the 38-year-old known to employ a personal nutritionist, doctor, physio and chef in an attempt to improve his performances.

One of the most iconic moments of his career was his goal during Real Madrid's 4-1 victory over city rivals Atletico Madrid to win the Champions League title in 2014 and secure La Decima for the Spanish giants.

As he notched Real's fourth goal, Ronaldo ripped off his shirt and tensed up, giving fans all around the world a glimpse at his incredible physique.

Coupled with a hectic gym routine, Ronaldo revealed the importance his diet and lifestyle played in his body transformation over the years.

Speaking to FourFourTwo in 2015, he said: 'I watch my diet, eat healthily and avoid things that are bad for me like alcohol, sugary sodas and processed foods.

'I focus on eating simple whole foods, like fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and lean protein. I really like fresh fish and try to get a lot of my protein from it.

'Proper sleep is really important for getting the most out of training. I go to bed early and get up early, especially before matches. Sleep helps my muscles to recover, which is really important.

'Training and gym workouts are vital, but living a relaxed lifestyle helps you to be the best you can be, physically and mentally. I spend my free time with family and friends, which keeps me relaxed and in a positive mindset.'

Reports have also claimed in the past how Ronaldo eats six meals a day, which enable him to build muscle and remain lean.

Given his regimented regime and continued performance on the pitch, it is therefore no shock that many, including his former United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, back Ronaldo to play into his 40s.

The forward continues to deliver in Saudi Arabia with Al-Nassr, where he is the Saudi Pro League's top goalscorer this season with 20 goals and nine assists in 18 games.

Along with his uncompromising professionalism and strict diet, which was evidenced by the photos from the gym this week, his shape has so far ensured age is not catching up with him and few would put it past the forward following Solskjaer's predictions and continuing past 40.

Speaking in 2022 to ESPN, Ronaldo backed himself to do just that as he said: 'Genetically I feel like I'm 30 years old. I take great care of my body and my mind. Something I've learned recently is that after 33, I believe the body can deliver if you need it, but the real battle is mental.

'Going through many things with the focus on the end goal of staying at a high level is the hardest thing, and that's what I've been doing for the last few years.

'I've been working and focusing more on working on my mind. I know my body will handle me because I have a lot of respect for it and I listen to it a lot.

'Life has to have important moments, for better or for worse, but when you fall you must have the strength to get up.

'I want to find out if I'm going to play until I'm 40, 41, or 42, but the most important thing is that my daily goal is to enjoy the moment.'

With everything Ronaldo has achieved, you wouldn't put it past the Portuguese superstar continuing to prove the doubters, and traditional science, wrong.