Milk is often promoted as a superdrink rich in protein, calcium and essential vitamins, and is widely used by athletes for recovery and muscle support, Cristiano Ronaldo has avoided it as part of his long-standing diet, according to his former personal chef, a choice that has been linked to the discipline behind his longevity in his 25th professional season. The 41-year-old, who is now at Al-Nassr, is closing in on 1,000 career goals after scoring his 969th goal in the win last weekend. Throughout his stints with Manchester United and Real Madrid, Ronaldo has consistently cited discipline in diet and recovery as central to maintaining peak physical condition.
Why has milk been excluded from their diet?
Ronaldo’s former chef Giorgio Barone explained that milk has been completely removed from his routine, not just for performance reasons but because of a broader view about consumption. “No milk,” Barron pointed out. covers.com, Before outlining the argument in detail: “Humans are the only animal that drinks the milk of other animals. No other animal drinks milk after three months. Calves do not drink milk after three months of age. Animals do not drink the milk of other animals.” “This does not exist in nature. Only humans continue to drink milk for 30, 40, 50 and 60 years and in my view this is wrong. We breastfeed from our mothers, like dogs, wolves, cows and donkeys. This is normal.” “This is not normal after childhood. It is against nature.”
Composition of Ronaldo’s daily diet
Barron described Ronaldo’s diet as controlled but varied, based on consistency rather than restriction. “Cristiano Ronaldo’s diet is balanced,” he said. “He eats a little bit of everything, but it’s always healthy.” He then detailed how this goes throughout the day: “Starting with breakfast, he would have coffee, eggs and an avocado without sugar. No sugar at all. Lunch can consist of chicken, fish and always vegetables. If he needs carbohydrates, he gets it through vegetables, so he doesn’t need anything made with flour. “Nothing like pasta, bread and other types of food. In the evening, he eats a light meal, usually fish or meat in the form of fillet. It is always accompanied by vegetables.” This approach eliminates refined sugar altogether and avoids flour-based carbohydrates, relying instead on proteins, vegetables, and healthy fats.
Ronaldo maintains less than 10% body fat, avoids refined sugar, milk and focuses on a strict recovery routine/Instagram
Physical condition and recovery routine
That structure is reflected in Ronaldo’s physical condition, with body fat levels remaining below 10 percent. His routine extends beyond diet, to include recovery methods like saunas and ice baths, which he and his partner Georgina Rodriguez are known to use regularly.
Ronaldo’s recovery routine includes intense sauna sessions and ice baths to maintain peak fitness and longevity/Instagram
This same discipline has been visible even in public moments. During the 2021 European Championships, Ronaldo removed a Coca-Cola bottle from a press conference table and asked the audience to “drink water”, a moment that wiped billions of dollars off the company’s market value.
Comparison with other players’ diets
Barron also drew comparisons with Erling Haaland, who has reported drinking raw milk as part of his daily routine. While rejecting milk, Barron agreed with other elements of that approach, particularly the inclusion of organ meats: “I agree with that. [Erling Haaland’s diet of] Eating the organs. Liver, heart and brain are all healthy foods. They are superfoods. Cristiano also liked liver. I love it. It’s rich in iron, and it’s important in the diet, so for organs, I accept it, but not for milk.”
