What is Lionel Messi’s diet and how does it help improve his play as he gets older?

Lionel Messi doesn’t look like the physical specimen that Cristiano Ronaldo does. That doesn’t mean Messi isn’t incredibly fit. The Argentine isn’t a workout, heavy training addict like Ronaldo. Yet, he still manages to stay fit and one of the two best players in the world.

Part of Messi’s fitness regime is his diet. In 2019, it was reported by a number of blogs that Messi had become a vegan to improve his food intake and better fortify his body against injury. The vegan world took the news of Messi being a herbivore and ran with it, although it is not really known just how vegan Messi’s diet truly is.

Still, Messi is said to be dedicated to five key dietary items: water, olive oil, whole grains, fresh fruit and fresh vegetables.

In 2014, Messi began working with Italian nutritionist Giuliano Poser. He changed Messi’s diet to improve his fitness while ageing. Messi’s diet was created to cut back on sugar. If you think Messi actually drinks Pepsi because he stars in the soft drink brand’s commercials, then think again.

“[Sugar] is the worst thing for the muscles. The farther he stays away from sugars, the better. Refined flours are also a big problem as these days, it’s difficult to find uncontaminated wheat.”

It was claimed Messi was told to stop eating pizza, which is one of his favourite foods. In addition, another Messi food favourite was Milanesa, an Argentine beef recipe, that he was told to cut back on.

 “What you can put into your body at 18 or 19 years of age is not the same as what you can put in at 27.”

Like many of the top players in the world of football, Messi has immense talent, but players must do more to become great. Whether it is training and developing continually or having a good diet that prevents them from taking on unnecessary calories, talented players must make good decisions.