Former Chelsea centre-back Frank Leboeuf has urged Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo to consider hanging up his boots in the near future.

The 37-year-old has scored 15 goals in 30 appearances for the Red Devils this season, but he has only found the back of the net on one occasion since the end of December.

Ronaldo missed a host of chances in Saturday's 0-0 draw with Watford, meanwhile, and Leboeuf has said that the Portugal international must consider retiring early due to his recent struggles.

"Do you know what? I think there is a time where you have to think, 'What do I do with my life and my career'," Lebeouf told ESPN.

"And maybe it's time for Cristiano Ronaldo at the end of his career to wonder and have a discussion with himself, and maybe some of his family, to know what he has to do for the rest of his career, if there is a future in his career.

"I don't want to watch Ronaldo and have pity, because he's been on the top for so many years. I don't want him to be a normal player. He's been an exceptional player for so long.

"I'd prefer him to give up his career at the top instead of maybe trying and play for two or three more years and not being the player that he used to be."

Ronaldo recently said that he still intends to play for "four or five" more years, with the attacker confident that he can continue to play at the highest level past his 40th birthday.