Why Cristiano Ronaldo paints his toenails black as fans spot them in Instagram post

Cristiano Ronaldo is undoubtedly one of the top performers in his discipline despite his age.

Together with the likes of LeBron James, Lewis Hamilton, Thiago Silva, and Eliud Kipchoge, Ronaldo has managed to maintain his fitness levels at peak conditions.

Therefore, it is no surprise that most of his achievements came after he had crossed the age of 30.

Ronaldo has hit the ground running in Saudi Arabia, as he aims to win the league title in his maiden season with Al-Nassr.

Age always has a funny way of catching up with a person and one has to devise ways to remain at an optimum level. For the 38-year-old, hitting the gym constantly has always done the trick.

However, fans noticed something else when Ronaldo recently uploaded a picture of himself in the sauna on his Instagram story. Hawk-eyed followers spotted the five-time Ballon d'Or winner had his toenails painted black.

Upon a quick glance at his social media pages, where his toenails are often visible, it was established this was not a one-time coincidence: the veteran regularly has his toenails painted.

As Sports Brief has determined, this is likely not for aesthetic reasons. Black toenails are a phenomenon often seen with MMA fighters or boxers including the legendary Mike Tyson at one point.

The main idea behind the paint to prevent chipping of toenails while they are training or on the pitch, as Black Belt Trek reports.

German publication, BILD additionally adds that 'many top athletes do this to protect their nails from fungi and bacteria when they are stuck in sweaty shoes for hours'.

There is no doubt the Portuguese icon has taken several initiatives to ensure his longevity.

At this rate, he might have at least five more years in the tank, before he called it quits on an illustrious career that has taken him to the top in five countries.