Behind Lionel Messi’s brilliant performance in Barcelona’s recent 3-0 win over Bayern, few people know that the Argentine superstar has had to restrain himself from his favorite foods. Messi no longer carefreely drinks carbonated soft drinks and eats pizza like before.
EAT RIGHT, KICK FLY
Two classy goals and an assist for Neymar to seal the score in the big win over Bayern at the Nou Camp this morning were just the latest and most vivid evidence that Messi has played extremely gracefully and energetically this season. Messi’s class is beyond question. But whether or not he can improve depends largely on his elegance. The current image of Messi is different from the time when he often vomited on the field, as well as the times when he showed signs of sluggishness before. Now Messi is faster, more compact, more energetic and more resilient.
The important reason for this positive change is that Messi has changed his diet to suit his physical condition and playing frequency. Most notably, Messi has stopped eating his favorite foods like pizza and carbonated soft drinks.
Messi loves pizza and carbonated soft drinks. However, these two things not only make him gain weight, but also make him prone to belching and nausea . The world’s leading Italian nutritionist, Giuliano Poser, “diagnosed” Messi like that. Poser analyzed for Messi that a scientific and reasonable diet is not only about limiting processed canned foods and avoiding foods that still contain a lot of chemical residues. He also has to actively drink natural mineral water instead of carbonated soft drinks, eat lots of clean vegetables, eat fruits in season (limit eating fruits out of season no matter how much he likes them),…
Messi has changed his diet since being advised by Poser (inset)
Messi started following Poser’s advice at the start of the 2014/15 season. The results were visibly positive. He lost 4-5 kg, no longer felt nauseous and had less muscle pain.
ACTIVELY “LEARN TO EAT”
Messi’s “oral treatment” process achieved quick and brilliant results thanks to his receptive attitude. Messi consciously and proactively changed his diet instead of “squeezing his mouth” in a coping manner.
Messi’s girlfriend Antonella Roccuzzo revealed that even when he goes on family vacations, Messi doesn’t eat and drink as much as he likes like before. Even nearly 2 weeks ago, when Barcelona’s coaching staff gave him a day off, Messi didn’t care about relaxing. He took advantage of this day off to go straight to the land of pasta to meet Poser and ask him to “re-examine” him and give him more advice on how to have the most appropriate nutritional regimen.
His girlfriend Antonella confirmed that Messi now eats very scientifically.
Former midfielder and former Barca coach Carles Rexach was surprised by the change in Messi’s “eating habits”. Rexach was the one who did not hesitate to complain that Messi ate too much pizza, leading to his performance not meeting expectations last season. During the period when coach Gerardo Martino led Barca, the Argentine coach let Messi eat whatever he wanted and drink whatever he wanted. Rexach said that in his latest conversation with Messi, he did not blame him for the “pizza scandal”.
Things are very different from when Messi turned on coach Pep Guardiola because of his “addiction” to carbonated soft drinks. Former coach of New York Red Bulls and former teacher of two former Barca stars, Thierry Henry and Rafael Marquez, Hans Backe, revealed that before a match in 2009, Messi said he wanted to drink Coca-Cola, but Pep stopped him on the grounds that it was not beneficial to the game. Messi stormed out and returned a few minutes later with a glass of Coca-Cola in his hand. He drank it right in front of Pep and his teammates.
Messi “big belly”
Messi had a “big belly” during the recent win over Bayern, but it wasn’t because he had gained weight. He stuffed the ball into his shirt to pretend to be pregnant while celebrating a goal, as Antonella was pregnant with his second child.
