[Herald Economy = Kim Seong-hoon] Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, is still performing at an elite level—and his surprisingly strict diet is getting a lot of attention.According to U.S. entertainment site Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Giorgio Baron, who served as Ronaldo’s personal chef from 2018 to 2021, revealed one of the star’s non-negotiables: no cow’s milk. Ronaldo skips milk even in his coffee, though he’ll use plant-based options like almond, oat, or rice milk when necessary.
Baron explained, “Humans are the only animals that drink another animal’s milk. I think that’s wrong. Drinking milk after infancy isn’t natural.”
Baron also said Ronaldo avoids pork because of its higher fat content, and when he does eat it, it’s usually only about once a week.
Ronaldo cuts out sugar entirely and doesn’t add it to his cooking. He made headlines in 2020 when he pushed a can of Coca‑Cola off a table during a press conference and told people, “Drink water.”
He typically starts his day with plain eggs, avocado, whole‑grain bread, coffee, and plenty of water.
Fiber and vitamins are central to his meals. Baron said fiber should be included every day and that he never prepared a meal without vegetables. He also emphasized the importance of vitamins, citing vitamin D as an example.
“Diet is 60%, exercise 40%,” Baron said. “The body is like a car—no matter how good the car is, it won’t run properly if you put the wrong fuel in the engine.” He added that he’s worked with players from Spain, Argentina, and Brazil, and the importance of diet is the same across the board.
Ronaldo is known for ruthless self-discipline. He follows a protein-focused plan of small, frequent meals—about six a day—and, rather than sleeping in one long stretch, reportedly naps five times for 90 minutes each to maintain peak condition.
That strict routine seems to pay off: a U.S. health company found last year that Ronaldo’s body age was 28.9. Recent measurements put his body fat at roughly 7%, below the typical Premier League average of 8–12%.
