RYAN Gauld has admitted that seeing Cristiano Ronaldo playing for Portugal at 39 is an inspiration for him as Scotland prepared for their Nations League match here in Lisbon this evening.
Vancouver Whitecaps playmaker Gauld made his international debut at the age of 28 on Thursday night when he came on in the second half of the 3-2 defeat to Poland at Hampden.
The Aberdeen-born attacking midfielder, who was tipped for great things when he emerged at Dundee United as a teenager, has taken a long time to break into the national team.
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However, he has seen Ronaldo, who is set to win his 214th cap for his country in the Group A1 match in the Estadio da Luz tonight, continue to compete at the highest level despite his advancing years.
He firmly believes he can be involved with his country for many seasons to come if he devotes himself to his profession in the same dedicated manner the Manchester United and Real Madrid great has.
“I played at Sporting Lisbon, where he started out. He's obviously a hero around those parts. There are murals everywhere and that kind of thing. You won't find anyone saying a bad word about him. So, you can see why he wants to play as much as he can."
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He continued: “I think it inspires everyone when you see how good a shape he's in at the age of 39. He's still got the mentality to play at the highest level he can and score goals (Ronaldo claimed the winner in the 2-1 triumph over Croatia in Lisbon on Thursday night to take his international tally to 131).
“It definitely proves if you want to play on you totally can if you look after yourself and do the right things. I think, just for football in general, he's someone that everyone would look up to.”
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