Reuters
Cristiano Ronaldo.
- Cristiano Ronaldo is a 33-year-old forward, but results from his Juventus FC medical examination show he is as fit as a 20-year-old, according to Spanish publication AS.
- The world soccer superstar has a lower body fat percentage than the average athlete in his sport, has a higher muscle mass, and can sprint faster.
- Ronaldo recently cost Juventus $130 million when he left Real Madrid for the Turin club - but it looks like he's already proving to be a bit of a bargain.
- Read all of Business Insider's soccer coverage for the 2018-2019 season here.
Cristiano Ronaldo has completed his medical examination at new club Juventus FC and the results are in - he is performing like a 20-year-old.
The Cristiano Ronaldo effect is already being felt at Juventus. The 33-year-old forward was bought for a $130 million fee earlier this month and whipped fans into a shirt-buying frenzy. He has sent the club's stock price soaring and he prompted millions of new people to follow Juventus via social media portals like Twitter and Facebook.
It is clear Juventus has already gotten value for money in the soccer deal of the summer, but now it looks like Ronaldo could prove to be an even bigger bargain - and it's all because he is apparently as fit as a player 13 years younger than he is.
That's the line coming from his medical report, as three key statistics indicate he remains one of the most impressive athletes in world soccer.
Spanish sports publication AS reported that Ronaldo's medical evaluation shows he has just 7% body fat, which is 3% lower than the average for a soccer player. Additionally, Ronaldo has a 50% muscle mass, which is 4% greater than average.
Furthermore, Ronaldo reached a maximum sprint speed of 33.98 kmh during the recent 2018 FIFA World Cup - a speed which is amongst the highest that was registered at the tournament, according to AS.
So what does this mean?
It's simple, really. It means Ronaldo is as fit as a 20-year-old soccer player - as fit, perhaps, as recent World Cup winner Kylian Mbappé, who turns 20 later this year.
It is unclear what the main reasons for Ronaldo's extraordinary fitness levels are. However, his famous diet - which includes fish, lots of vegetables, and fresh fruits - together with his incredible dedication to training, will likely be big factors.