For the nutrition professional, the footballer’s secret does not lie in strange foods, but instead by following a clear and structured diet.

Regardless of how many different angles there may be to the debate over the greatest soccer player of all time, there is far less room for argument when it comes to the sport’s greatest athlete. At 41, Cristiano Ronaldo became the fourth-oldest player ever to appear at a World Cup and the second-oldest to score, behind only Roger Milla, who did so at 42 years and 39 days. To maintain that level of fitness and motivation, Ronaldo has always taken meticulous care of his body. But there are no miracle strategies or Instagram trends involved. Instead, he sticks to a diet that sports nutritionist Johnny Ondina describes as simple, basic and tried-and-tested. “The secret of Cristiano Ronaldo’s diet is one ‘ingredient’ that 90% of ordinary people or elite athletes don’t have, and that is consistency,” he says. “Any of the ingredients he has at home are things all of us can have. In fact, I’d say his diet is pretty boring.” After 25 years of a hugely successful career, the Portuguese star trusts what he knows works and delivers results. “A lot of the time we rely on magic solutions and things we’re told on social media, while neglecting the fundamentals of consistency,” the nutritionist says. Ronaldo does not use unusual ingredients flown in from far-flung corners of the world. “His kitchen is full of natural foods. The problem is that there are 18-year-olds buying Himalayan salt or who have read on social media that if they fast for 15 days, they’re suddenly going to score a goal into the top corner. That’s not how it works.” The biggest challenge with such extraordinary consistency and commitment is making sure the relationship with food does not become unhealthy. “He has said that, very occasionally, he has simple sugars or ultra-processed foods so that he doesn’t develop a bad relationship with food,” Ondina explains. His conclusion is straightforward: “What we should try to imitate is that 95% of his day is about eating healthily, while 5% is different. I think the percentages are different for the rest of the population.” Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere. And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.