Cristiano Ronaldo appears in whacky Japanese commercial... again

The secret behind Cristiano Ronaldo's muscular physique is a strange electronic device that looks like a space-aged bath mat and sticks to your gut, if a zany new Japanese commercial is to be believed.

Cristiano Ronaldo (L) poses next to a silicone version of himself clad in ab-ripping technology. (Twitter/@cristianoista) Source: Twitter/@cristianoista

Not for the first time, the Portuguese football star has sacrificed his dignity to spruik a Japanese fitness product, having last year introduced the world to the concept of 'facial fitness'.

This time it's "Sixpad", which the Real Madrid goal machine would have us believe is one of the secrets behind his success.

"Body revolution," the 30-year-old drawls as he hits the on button and the pad does its magic.

As is often the case with these events - last year a cardboard cutout was used to surprise him on stage - Ronaldo looked bemused by the presence of a life-sized, silicone version of himself, clad in the stomach-sculpting machine, during a presentation in Tokyo this week. 

Despite often looking uncomfortable on stage, we can understand why CR7 keeps coming back. Life must be tough when you're only earning an estimated $406,537 a week.