Robin van Persie targets 2018 World Cup

Robin van Persie has expressed his determination to represent the Netherlands at the 2018 World Cup.

The Manchester United striker will be approaching his 35th birthday by the time the tournament, which will be hosted by Russia, gets underway.

However, the 31-year-old has insisted that he is hoping to still be playing professional football at the age of 40.

"I will do whatever it takes to make it to the 2018 World Cup. I am living a calm and relaxed life. That should save me a few years. It's my goal to keep playing at the highest level for as long as possible and being available for the national team is part of that," he told De Volkskrant.

"I am 31 now and I have a little less than nine years to go. I won't be playing for a major club any more at the age of 40, although I do still want to be playing professional football at that age. That's my goal."

Van Persie is Holland's leading goalscorer of all time, having found the net on 47 occasions for Oranje.