Frank Lampard Narrates Why He Stayed Away from Ronaldo When Pair Met on Holiday

• Former Chelsea midfielder and manager Frank Lampard recently bumped into Cristiano Ronaldo while on holiday
• The pair had a rivalry during their days in the Premier League, and faced each other in the 2008 Champions League final
• Ronaldo, 39, still plays professionally while Lampard, 45, retired and has ventured into football management

Frank Lampard paid his respects to Cristiano Ronaldo in a glowing tribute on Tuesday, June 18, as he gave a tale of how he met the Portugal superstar while on holiday.

Ronaldo is showing no signs of slowing down in his football career and is competing in his sixth European Championships.

The Al-Nassr star earned his 208th cap for Portugal on Tuesday when Selecao faced Czech Republic in their opening group game of the Euro 2024.

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Football

Lampard, who made an appearance on BBC radio one, openly praised Ronaldo for his dedication to the sport, saying:

"What a great attitude and professionalism from him to [still] be playing at this level. The numbers are incredible.”

The former Chelsea man then narrated how impressed he was with Ronaldo when he saw the superstar’s physique while on holiday.

He added, per The Mirror, "I actually bumped into him on holiday a few months ago. I was in the same hotel on the beach. Unfortunately, his sunspot every day was a bit down from me, and I made sure to stay away from him because he was in incredible shape.”

According to Lampard, Ronaldo typically went to the gym twice a day with a personal trainer.

Cristiano Ronaldo's stats

Ronaldo recently admitted he did not have much time left in professional football, although he continues to defy his age with his performances.

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Football

In the Saudi Pro League last season, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner topped the scoring charts with 35 goals.

His 895 career goals for club and country make him one of football's most prolific marksmen.

Portugal beat Czech Republic

Meanwhile, Portugal kicked off their Euro 2024 campaign with a win after seeing off Czech Republic with a late winner.

Francisco Conceicao found the net in the second minute of added time to help Roberto Martinez’s side come from behind to secure all three points.

Ronaldo was the main man in Portugal’s attack, and he had two of his attempts quelled by the Czech goalkeeper.

The secret to Ronaldo’s longevity

Sports Brief also reported on one factor that has helped Cristiano's longevity.

Aside from genetics, Ronaldo’s career longevity also has a lot to do with his rigorous diet and nutritional discipline.

The 39-year-old recently gave fitness brand Whoop a brief tour of his refrigerator and explained his typical diet, which is mostly vegetables and fruits.