DistantNews
Support us
Cristiano Ronaldo's Longevity: Ex-Chef Reveals Diet Based on Discipline, Not Secret Foods
🇦🇷 Argentina /Sports

Cristiano Ronaldo's Longevity: Ex-Chef Reveals Diet Based on Discipline, Not Secret Foods

From La Nación · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • Despite being 41, Cristiano Ronaldo maintains peak physical condition, prompting questions about his longevity in professional football.
  • His former chef reveals that Ronaldo's diet is not based on secret or expensive foods, but rather on extreme discipline and healthy habits.
  • Key elements of his routine include prioritizing sleep, avoiding sugar and junk food, and consistently eating healthy, natural foods.

At 41, an age when most professional footballers have retired, Cristiano Ronaldo continues to compete at the highest level. As he participated in what was likely the final World Cup of his career, the question of how he maintains a physique capable of competing with players twenty years his junior resurfaced.

There is no magic food. People believe that great athletes eat exclusive or impossible-to-get products, but Cristiano eats normal things.

— Giorgio Barone, former chefExplaining that Cristiano Ronaldo's diet is not based on exotic or secret ingredients.

According to Giorgio Barone, the Italian chef who cooked for Ronaldo during his time at Juventus, the secret is far less complex than imagined. Barone emphasizes that there are no secret foods or impossible diets involved. Instead, Ronaldo's sustained performance stems from unwavering discipline: sleeping early, avoiding sugar, prioritizing home-cooked meals, and adhering to the same healthy habits for years.

His food was quite normal. He didn't eat expensive foods. He ate like anyone else, he just chose healthy and excellent quality products.

— Giorgio Barone, former chefDescribing the simplicity and quality of Ronaldo's meals.

Barone debunks the myth that elite athletes consume exclusive or hard-to-obtain products. He states that Ronaldo eats normal, healthy foods of excellent quality, avoiding expensive or unusual ingredients. The chef noted that Ronaldo was never obsessed with counting grams of protein or carbohydrates, simply eating substantially because he trained extensively.

We didn't measure proteins or carbs. He simply ate a lot because he trained a lot.

— Giorgio Barone, former chefHighlighting Ronaldo's focus on quantity due to high training volume rather than precise macronutrient tracking.

The true differentiator, Barone explains, lies in Ronaldo's unique discipline compared to other top-tier footballers he has worked with. While many athletes allow themselves occasional indulgences, Ronaldo does not. He completely avoids junk food, even on vacation, and never consumes sugar, not even in his coffee. Barone also stresses the equal importance of sleep, noting that Ronaldo dines early and avoids going to bed with a full stomach, further contributing to his remarkable physical condition and longevity in the sport.

Everyone eats well, but sometimes they allow themselves liberties. Cristiano does not. His discipline is unique.

— Giorgio Barone, former chefContrasting Ronaldo's strict adherence to his diet and training regimen with that of other top footballers.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by La Nación in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog