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34 days to go: Rapid Ronaldo

May 7, 2026 3 min read
34 days to go: Rapid Ronaldo

Despite being 33 years old at the time, Cristiano Ronaldo recorded an astonishing top speed of 34 km/h during the 2018 Russia World Cup, tying with 24-year-old Croatian winger Ante Rebic for the tournament's fastest sprint.

Ronaldo also broke the record for the oldest player to score a hat-trick, with his sensational last-minute free kick securing a 3-3 draw for Portugal against Spain. The previous record was held by Netherlands' Rob Rensenbrink, who was 30 when he scored a hat-trick against Iran at the 1978 Argentina World Cup. The Portuguese number seven proved through his combination of speed and skill that he remained one of the most dangerous attackers in world football.

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