In case you missed the biggest sports news of the year, football legend Cristiano Ronaldo returns to Manchester United
The 36-year-old has left Italian club Juventus to sign a two-year deal at Old Trafford. It is a return to his footballing roots when Ronaldo signed for Man U as a relatively unknown 18-year-old player in 2003 and scored 118 goals for the club in six seasons.
Most footballers age out of the Premier League by their early 30s, but Ronaldo is still good and really strong – and he has the résumé to prove it. Over the course of his career, Ronaldo has won three Premier League titles, five Champions League prizes, a European Championship – and much more.
Ronaldo promises an explosive presence in the Premier League, but the question is, how does he do it? He has been at the peak of his physical fitness for over 18 years and every now and then points out how to optimize his lifestyle to continue to be the best …
Diet…
The Sun reports that Ronaldo said, “I eat a high protein diet high in whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and avoid foods that are sugary. Eat regularly. When you exercise regularly, it is important to keep your energy levels high in order to feed your body for better performance. I sometimes eat up to six smaller meals a day to make sure I have enough energy to carry out each session at the highest level. “
That doesn’t mean that Ronaldo doesn’t deviate from a healthy diet – in a 2019 interview with ChrisMD he mentions that he occasionally eats pizza with his son because he doesn’t want to be “bored”.
But when it comes to hydration, it’s all about water. At a press conference at the European Championships in June, he – a sponsor of the competition – pushed two bottles of Coke aside and said in Portuguese: “Drink water!”
A practice…
Ronaldo told ChrisMD that “life is all about balance” – which means he doesn’t go to the gym every day because it could mean his muscles are tense at game time. “As you get older, you know your body 100% and you train intelligently,” he said. “It’s not the quantity, it’s the quality.”
When he’s not doing soccer practice, Ronaldo works out at the gym, rides an exercise bike, and does Pilates.
The star also puts a lot of emphasis on his recovery – prefers ice baths and hand-held percussive therapy devices to relieve muscle pain after a hard workout or game.
Lifestyle…
Sleep is important if you want to be at your best, and chances are Ronaldo might do things a little bit differently than aiming for eight or nine hours a night. Sports sleep coach Nick Littlehales counts the soccer player among his customers and recommends taking four or five 90-minute naps throughout the day.
Just don’t call it a nap – Littlehales told Football Whispers, “It’s not for old people to watch TV. It’s not for snoozers and losers. It’s a way to get less sleep to improve your recovery from it. Don’t waste valuable time on it, go out at the right time and you can really get it under control. “
Ronaldo meditates regularly and often talks about how his mental strength helps him stay on top of his game.
