"CR7 retirement 2077" - Patrice Evra sends message to Cristiano Ronaldo after Al-Nassr's Saudi Super Cup S/F win
Cristiano Ronaldo has received a supporting message from long-time friend and former Manchester United teammate Patrice Evra. The Frenchman has jokingly called for the five-time Ballon d'Or winner to extend his playing career till 2077.
The Portuguese legend scored the second goal and set-up the first in Al-Nassr's 2-0 win against Al-Taawoun in the semi-final of the Saudi Super Cup on Wednesday, August 14. Ronaldo shared a post with images from the match on Instagram.
"Super Cup final here we come!" he wrote in the caption.
Evra couldn't help but be his jovial self in the comments section of the post.
"CR7 retirement 2077. Respect bro," Evra commented on Ronaldo's post.
Al-Nassr will face Al-Hilal in the final of the Saudi Super Cup on Saturday, August 17. Cristiano Ronaldo will be hoping to help his club lift the Super Cup for the third time in their history and the first since 2020.
When Patrice Evra backed Cristiano Ronaldo to play till he turns 45
This is not the first time the former Manchester United full-back has been vocal about Cristiano Ronaldo's longevity. The Frenchman mentioned that the secret to the 39-year-old's hunger is that he is "always angry".
During a media interaction in June, Evra mentioned that it is this anger that fuels Ronaldo and he will continue playing till he has that anger in him.
“With Cristiano, you know his secret is he’s always angry no matter what he wins, no matter what he achieved, he has that anger, so that’s why until Ronaldo is angry he will keep playing football,” Evra said (via Times Now).
Evra also mentioned that Cristiano could keep playing for another six years.
"I won't be surprised if he keeps playing till 45 because I don't think in his head he's like even thinking of retiring one day," Evra added.
Evra also heaped praise on the Portuguese forward's work ethic and gave insight into why he prefers his former teammate over Lionel Messi.
“People always say I pick Ronaldo over Messi because Ronaldo is my brother; now I do that because I’m in love with the work ethic,” he said.
“Messi, God gave him a gift, but Cristiano, he had to work out to be where he is.”
Evra shared the dressing room with the attacker for three seasons between 2006, when the Frenchman signed for the Red Devils, and 2009, when Ronaldo left for Real Madrid.