The two food items Lionel Messi has avoided for 12 years as strict diet plan revealed
As the 2026 World Cup powers on, Lionel Messi has kept himself on a lengthy plan that focuses on his health after battling adverse reactions a decade ago, as well as an Argentinian tradition.
Wouldn’t you like to be as fit as Messi at 39? I don’t know about you, but I couldn’t enter the World Cup at my age (ahem) or have a career that has seen him score over 900 goals.
But maybe it’s down to what he puts into his body and how he takes care of himself.
We all know footballers start to retire around 34 years old, per Jobs in Football, so he’s stretched past that by some time.
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Thankfully, if you also want to keep fit, you can try to keep up with Messi, but it won’t be easy.
According to his nutritionist, it cuts out a lot of the things people usually like to enjoy. But clearly, it has worked a treat for the sportsman’s health.
Italian nutritionist Giuliano Poser began working with Messi in 2014, back when his career saw him munching on things like soda and chocolate, while suffering from soft tissue injuries and bouts of vomiting, CBC Sports previously reported.
To curb this, Poser identified five key foods for the football player to focus on improving his overall condition and extending his career.
These were water, olive oil, whole grains, fresh fruit, and fresh vegetables, and completely cut out the likes of soda consumption and pizza, with replacements including nature’s picks.
"Also very good are nuts and seeds," Poser explained to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo in 2016, as per the Independent.
"[Sugar] is the worst thing for the muscles. The farther he stays away from sugars, the better," he continued.
"Refined flours are also a big problem as these days, it’s difficult to find uncontaminated wheat."
The nutritionist also advised against excessive meat consumption, noting: "The amount of meat normally eaten by Argentinians and Uruguayans is too much, as it is difficult to digest."
Because of him, Messi apparently hasn’t eaten pizza or drunk soda in 12 years.
If you’re thinking his methods are a little extreme, Poser said: "My methods are not in doubt, everyone can see Leo week in, week out."
As well as Poser’s advice, Messi apparently starts every morning with yerba mate, which he drinks from a gourd he has had since childhood.
Yerba is a natural alternative to coffee, which he explained in a 2019 interview with Marca, that it’s a drink he’s carried with him.
"I like a hot and bitter mate. I used to drink it sweet, but then I got used to the bitterness and I drink it like that," the footballer admitted.
Do you want to give his routine a try?
All-time World Cup top scorers
Lionel Messi - Argentina
Number of goals: 21
World Cups: Six - 2006 (one goal), 2010 (no goals), 2014 (four goals), 2018 (one goal), 2022 (seven goals), 2026 (eight goals at time of writing)
Number of matches played: 31
Kylian Mbappé - France
Number of goals: 20
World Cups: Three - 2018 (four goals), 2022 (eight goals), 2026 (eight goals at time of writing)
Number of matches played: 20
Miroslav Klose - Germany
Number of goals: 16
World Cups: Four - 2002 (five goals), 2006 (five goals), 2010 (four goals), 2014 (two goals)
Number of matches played: 24
Ronaldo - Brazil
Number of goals: 15
World Cups: Four - 1994 (no goals), 1998 (four goals), 2002 (eight goals), 2006 (three goals)
Number of matches played: 19
Harry Kane - England
Number of goals: 14
World Cups: Three - 2018 (six goals), 2022 (two goals), 2026 (six goals at time of writing)
Number of matches played: 16
Gerd Müller - West Germany
Number of goals: 14
World Cups: Two - 1970 (10 goals), 1974 (four goals)
Number of matches played: 13
Just Fontaine - France
Number of goals: 13
World Cups: One - 1958
Number of matches played: Six
Pelé - Brazil
Number of goals: 12
World Cups: Four - 1958 (six goals), 1962 (one goal), 1966 (one goal), 1970 (four goals)
Number of matches played: 14
Cristiano Ronaldo - Portugal
Number of goals: 11
World Cups: Six - 2006 (one goal), 2010 (one goal), 2014 (one goal), 2018 (four goals), 2022 (one goal), 2026 (three goals at time of writing)
Number of matches played: 27
Jürgen Klinsmann - West Germany/Germany
Number of goals: 11
World Cups: Three - 1990 (three goals), 1994 (five goals), 1998 (three goals)
Number of matches played: 17
Topics: World Cup, Food and Drink, Sport, Football
Britt Jones