Lionel Messi, captain of the Argentina national team and star of Paris Saint-Germain, at 36 years old, knows very well what he has to do to take care of his body and food is one of those key points.
In fact, there was a time when Messi was a lover of ultra-processed foods that are high in fat and sugar.
Messi was a huge fan of fizzy drinks as a teenager and at Barcelona’s La Masia academy they had a coke machine. Messi was often spotted so Pep Guardiola (Barcelona coach at the time) took it out himself.
In 2014, Italian nutritionist Giuliano Poser “revolutionized” the Argentine international’s diet. Messi identified five main foods – water, olive oil, whole grains, fresh fruit and fresh vegetables – as the basis of his diet.
Sugar is the worst thing for muscles, so he has to stay away from it as much as possible.
Like many nutritionists who work with athletes, he advises against eating too much meat – something that is all too common in South America and Spain. “The amount of meat that Argentinians and Uruguayans typically eat is too much,” he said.
Messi’s favourite dish, revealed by Barcelona, is grilled chicken with vegetables. The club shared the recipe on its official website, the ingredients include:
– 30g olive oil
– Salt
– Crushed garlic
– An onion
– A carrot
– Leek
– 700-800g potatoes
– Chicken thighs
– Fresh basil
Instructions for preparing Messi’s favorite dish with the above ingredients are very simple: Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius, add oil and salt to a baking tray, then add vegetables and chopped chicken. Next, bake for 45 minutes at 190 degrees.
Messi is also a self-confessed “fan” of the Argentine specialty Milanesa (a thin fillet of beef deep-fried in breadcrumbs), and has previously admitted the difficulty of cutting conventional meat out of his diet.
The striker was also asked to give up pizza, another of his favourite foods.
Messi’s daily meals usually include the following foods:
– Breakfast: Whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables
– Lunch: Soup, salad and stir-fried beans
– Dinner: Brown rice and tuna
