Image source, Getty Images

Cristiano Ronaldo has been involved in more than 30% of the matches ever played by the national team. But more importantly, he's changed the perception around a team that had always been known for an inferiority complex that held them back in the past.

"Cristiano is one of a kind," said former Sporting fitness coach Joao Aroso told BBC Sport, who also worked with the forward as a Portugal assistant coach and is currently part of the South Korea national team staff.

"He's defined a style, in every way, with his relentless ambition to break records and the age to which he continues to play. Just as Maradona was unique, as Pele was unique, as [Lionel] Messi is unique, Cristiano is too, for his own reasons.

"What I want to highlight is that for Portugal, having a player like Cristiano is extremely important. We are a small country that rarely has a global impact outside of football.

"He allows our small country to be known worldwide for something great - because of Cristiano and all the positive things he stands for."

Image source, Getty Images

As he celebrates his birthday on Wednesday, Ronaldo is determined to prove that life begins at 40.

He still doesn't lack any confidence either.

"I think I'm the most complete player to have existed," he said on Spanish TV on Monday. "In my opinion, I think it's me. I do everything well in football.

"One thing is taste - if you like Messi, Pele, Maradona, I understand that and I respect that - but saying Ronaldo isn't complete... I'm the most complete. I haven't seen anybody better than me, and I say it from the heart."

He has not always been this obsessed with the idea of defying time to prolong his career for as long as he can.

As Joe promised, it's time for a focus on Cristiano Ronaldo as he celebrates his 40th birthday.

We'll be talking his achievements, what got him here and also, taking a look at other players still going strong at and around the age of 40.

Do get involved with your thoughts on Ronaldo, other great players at that age, or just whatever is on your mind in the world of football.

That said, my boss has suggested I "take a screen break". This could finally be it folks...

Jonty's in charge now. Be kind to him guys.

Now that one actually wasn't my fault! I think somebody has pressed the wrong button. Or maybe we're saving it for a bit later?

I love how every live we do seems to contain a mini history lesson.

I'd never heard of that before Sam, thanks for sharing.

Haha, you guys are relentless!

And just so we're absolutely clear, I'm not on tomorrow but that was always going to be my day off - I'm not being transferred out to a different department.

I don't want you guys messaging in demanding editor Murray Burnell triggers my buyback clause or telling the poor journalist who's on tomorrow that they're only an interim live-texter.

I don't mind a captain's/manager's/team's challenge approach.

But with umpire's call, aren't we just moving the goal posts? We'll end up debating whether something was refs call or not.

And just to set up later's Cristiano Ronaldo focus, we've set up a poll at the top of this page.

"Cristiano Ronaldo at 40: Who is the 'most complete' player of all time?"

And that's Ronaldo's claim - not ours....

Give it a go!

It's 10:00 GMT, time for a recap.

We're currently chatting VAR, referees and the offside rule. What changes would you like to see?

Earlier, Arne Slot had a news conference and confirmed Trent Alexander-Arnold will not play against Tottenham on Thursday.

Later, we'll build up to both EFL Cup semi-final second legs, and we'll also talk Cristiano Ronaldo in a bit. He turned 40 today.

Image source, Getty Images

News from the Scottish Premiership.

Yesterday, manager Brendan Rodgers admitted the January transfer window "wasn't ideal" for Celtic but is not apportioning blame ahead of a club review.

The Scottish Premiership leaders signed Jeffrey Schlupp from Crystal Palace on deadline day and brought winger Jota back from Rennes, with forward Kyogo Furuhashi moving in the opposite direction.

"I said it myself, we wanted another striker, so we're not hiding behind anything," said Rodgers.

"And absolutely, the supporters will look and see that a top striker has gone out, a legendary striker.

"So I understand that. But all I can do is affect what we have now and look to teach and work very hard and finish off what has been, until now, a great season for us."

Yep, understood. I didn't really think it through.

And that's all from Liverpool's news conference. Many thanks to Arne Slot for distracting us from my terrible scrap offsides suggestion.

Not my finest ratio.

We'll be chatting more about Liverpool and the rest of the EFL Cup semi-finalists a little later.

Liverpool

Liverpool manager Arne Slot delivered a long answer when asked how he keeps all the players in his squad happy now that he has a near fully fit group to choose from: "That is one of the only things that I don't understand here in England. Everywhere around the world and in Europe as well when we play Champions League, we can take 23 players to the game. We are here in a country where we play the most games - especially the ones like us, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Chelsea - all the ones that are playing in Europe.

"We play so, so many games. If you are able to play all of these games, you need a big squad, that seems to be fair to me. One of the things that is so important for a manager - to pick the first 11 is difficult - but to tell someone they aren't even in the squad makes it even harder. I don't understand why we don't go to 23 in this country because this country plays the most games out of anywhere in the world and we only have 20 players we can take to the game. It's not for that game because nine substitute is more than enough but it would keep the dressing room going.

"You need more than 20 players in this country because we play so many games. Why can't we bring 23 players to the game instead of 20? That will be the most difficult decision I have to make tomorrow - to leave someone out who works so hard on a daily basis and wants to be involved - that is the hardest decision for me to make."