I faced Cristiano Ronaldo in 2004, now I’m still going strong at my 22nd club aged 45 and even played with my two sons

TWO exciting young forwards faced off when Manchester United beat Northampton Town in the FA Cup fourth round in January 2004. More than 22 years on, Cristiano Ronaldo and Derek Asamoah are both still going strong. Derek Asamoah played against Cristiano Ronaldo in 2004 – and they are both still going in their 40s Credit: Reuters There was plenty of excitement around the two tricky youngsters Credit: Alamy The 45-year-old scored on his Whistable Town debut in the FA Cup extra preliminary round Credit: Instagram / aaronwestgatephotography Asamoah spoke to SunSport about his remarkable career Credit: The Sun Ronaldo is a fledgling 41 compared to 45-year-young Asamoah, who is showing no signs of slowing down – quite literally. The veteran scored just 70 seconds into his Whitstable Town debut in the FA Cup extra preliminary round a fortnight ago to become one of the competition’s oldest scorers. Dream Team is back, free, and there’s £100,000 up for grabs! His new Kent side face Newhaven on Saturday for a spot in the first qualifying round. Revealing his secrets to his incredible longevity, Asamoah told SunSport: “There was a lot of hype around the Northampton-United game between Ronaldo and me because we both like doing skills and entertaining the crowd. “It was a really good battle. “It’s absolutely crazy we are both still playing. “Age is just a barrier. “I’m proud I’m not just a bit-time player making up numbers for the fairytale. CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS “I’m playing 90 minutes, contributing goals, leading the team. I’m still one of the quickest. “I’ve always really looked after myself. “I’ve done my stretches, prepared properly and don’t just jump out of bed and put my boots on. “I rest right. I eat really clean. I go to the gym regularly. I’m not a drinker. After games, everyone sees me with water. Like Asamoah, Ronaldo has kept himself in fine shape thanks to his dedicated lifestyle Credit: Reuters “Sometimes, I play Saturday and Sunday.” Ninth-tier Whitstable are the 22nd club of Asamoah’s ultimate journeyman career, which began aged 17 in 1999 at Barking – a whopping 27 years ago. He spent much of the noughties in the Football League before a complicated transfer to Ligue 1’s Nice, followed by spells in Scotland, Bulgaria and South Korea, returning to England with Carlisle in 2014. Impressively, he can rattle off his full CV in order. Ronaldo and Asamoah both played the 90 minutes at Sixfields Credit: Action Images The Portuguese superstar was still only a teenager at the time Credit: Alamy Asamoah has fond memories of the United game – and came within a whisker of scoring but hit the post Credit: Getty Derek Asamoah's amazing career 1999: Barking 1999: Asante Kotoko 2000: Hampton & Richmond Borough 2000–2001: Slough Town 2001–2004: Northampton Town 2004–2005: Mansfield Town 2005–2006: Lincoln City 2006: Chester City (loan) 2006–2007: Shrewsbury Town 2007–2009: Nice 2009: Hamilton Academical 2009–2010: Lokomotiv Sofia 2011–2012: Pohang Steelers 2013: Daegu FC 2014–2016: Carlisle United 2016–2017: Carlisle United 2017: Guiseley 2017–2018: Haringey Borough 2020: Cheshunt 2021–2023: New Salamis 2023–2024: Brightlingsea Regent 2024: New Salamis 2024–2025: Haringey Borough 2025–2026: Sittingbourne 2026–present: Whitstable Town 2004-2011: Ghana Asamoah, who manages properties around his football, earned four caps for Ghana alongside Michael Essien and Asamoah Gyan. But midway through his fifth decade, he has no plans to retire, especially after memorable family moments. Asamoah explained: “Every year since I turned 39, I’ve told myself I’ll quit if I don’t score 20 goals in a season. Since then, I’ve scored 150 goals. “People who’ve retired say they knew when it was time. “Right now, the love of the game keeps me going and my body feels in top-notch condition. “I’m probably the only player who hasn’t seen the physio in ages. I don’t get any massages, taping or strapping. Asamoah made his senior debut with Barking but returned to his homeland in 1999 to sign for Asante Kotoko Credit: Supplied Asamoah broke into the Football League with Northampton Credit: Alamy A loan spell at Chester prompted his surprise Ghana call-up in 2006 Credit: AFP The pacey forward had spells in France, Scotland, Bulgaria and South Korea Credit: Getty “Cheshunt signed both me and my son Maleace. We made our debuts together and also played for New Salamis together. “In one game, we both scored and he assisted me. “I played with my son Zayshaun at Haringey and Sittingbourne, where we both scored in a game and I assisted his winner. “Some people have kickabouts with their kids in the park. I feel so blessed by what we’ve achieved. It’s unbelievable. “ Speaking of unbelievable, on-loan Shamrock Rovers forward Maleace is reportedly the fastest footballer in the world. Asamoah Sr added: “Maleace actually recorded the fastest time in football at 40kmh (24.8mph) for Wigan. “Kylian Mbappe’s at about 39km. I don’t think anyone’s broken Maleace’s record. “But I keep telling him that in my prime, I’d have beaten him. I managed 35kmh last year.” Derek’s son Maleace Asamoah is on loan at Shamrock Rovers from Wigan – and is reportedly the world’s fastest footballer Credit: Sportsfile Derek and Maleace were team-mates at both Cheshunt and New Salamis Credit: Supplied Derek and Zayshaun Asamoah both scored in the same game for Sittingbourne Credit: Supplied Derek has played with two of his sons… and has another aged six who is desperate for the chance to do the same Credit: Supplied For comparison, the top speed clocked at the 2026 World Cup was Mbappe’s 37.6kmh. Asamoah is motivated to keep playing for another decade for another son. He revealed: “My six-year-old Ezra said to me, ‘Dad, are you going to be playing in ten years because I want to play with you as well?’ “I told him I’ll try my best to hang on, but can’t promise.” Asamoah scored at Anfield to force penalties in Carlisle’s League Cup tie with Liverpool in 2015 Credit: Shutterstock He performed his pre-planned cartwheel and shooting celebration Credit: Craig_Brough After Carlisle, he dropped down into non-league and is now in the ninth tier Credit: Getty Asamoah is still the fastest member of the Whitstable squad despite his age Credit: Instagram / aaronwestgatephotography Asamoah has been scoring goals for nearly 30 years. So has he stuck with one celebration throughout or constantly created new moves? He concluded: “I’m a simple guy. It’s a little fist bump. The only time I went overboard was when Carlisle played Liverpool at Anfield. “I told my team-mate beforehand I had a celebration I wanted to do. “He set me up for my goal, I did the cartwheel, got on my knee and shot him. The way he went down was beautiful. It was like a Hollywood movie.” Even by Hollywood’s standards, Asamoah’s script is a never-ending blockbuster.