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Like many professional athletes, football players are turning to plant power to stay in top form. With the FIFA 2022 World Cup upon us, we dish out some of the vegan food staples fuelling the tournament’s star players, from Lionel Messi to Gareth Bale.
It’s worth mentioning that there are plenty of other footballers who are not playing at the FIFA 2022 World Cup but who also opt for plant-based foods to stay on top of their game.
Some of the most notable players include former Spurs striker Jermain Defoe, an active flexitarian who opts to go vegan 3-4 days per week, and former Manchester City striker Sergio Agüero, who has cut out meat from his diet. Former England midfielder Fabian Delph and Roma’s centre-back Chris Smalling reportedly follow fully plant-based diets.
There’s science to back up their choices, too. A predominantly plant-based diet can reduce inflammation and enhance recovery, according to numerous studies. Tom Brady, the winningest quarterback in the National Football League, credits much of his success—now at age 45 and still playing—to a plant-forward diet.
1. Lionel Messi, Team Argentina: Healthy Whole Foods Bowl
While Messi isn’t a vegan, the renowned football star has mostly cut out animal meat and dairy from his diet to stay in top shape. According to a 2016 interview with Messi’s Italian nutritionist Giuliano Poser, his diet mainly consists of good quality olive oil, whole grains, vegetables and fruits, as well as plenty of nuts and seeds. He also stays hydrated on lots of water while staying off sugary drinks. Sounds like Messi’s go-to plant-based meal is a loaded bowl of whole-foods, with a good balance between whole grain carbs, healthy fats and veggies!
2. Ilkay Gundogan, Team Germany: Vegan Burgers
Ilkay Gundogan loves a vegan burger, or so his chef Jonny Marsh says. According to Marsh, the Manchester City midfielder often chooses the plant-based option for his athletic performance. Gundogan’s favourite burger is loaded with plant protein, made from a base of chickpeas, rice and lentils. Feeling like making it yourself? You can get the full recipe here.
3. Gareth Bale, Team Wales: Beans On Toast
Yes, Gareth Bale’s favourite pre-match dish is beans on toast. The Welsh player and renowned winger gorges on an accidentally vegan meal before every big game, as revealed by former Tottenham team player Kyle Walker back in 2015.
4. Robert Lewandowski, Team Poland: Millet and Oat Porridge
Robert Lewandowski isn’t vegan or even vegetarian, but he’s strict on cutting out dairy from his diet. Helped by his wife Anna, who is herself a fitness instructor and Karate World Cup medallist, Lewandowski’s meal plan features several plant-based dishes. He often starts the day with a millet and oat-based porridge, made with either almond milk or rice milk and a scoop of vegan protein.
5. Hector Bellerin, Team Spain: Seitan Stew
While Hector Bellerin will not be playing at the 2022 World Cup due to injury, the Barcelona defender has been a vocal proponent of a vegan diet. He adopted a fully plant-based diet back in 2016, and has since become a Veganuary advocate and even invested in Forest Green Rovers, the world’s first fully vegan football club. In Bellerin’s own YouTube vlog, he shares one of his go-to lunches, which features a plant protein-heavy plate of seitan stew, greens, couscous or quinoa, hummus and pita bread. Yum.
Lead image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
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Sally Ho is Green Queen's former resident writer and lead reporter. Passionate about the environment, social issues and health, she is always looking into the latest climate stories in Hong Kong and beyond. A long-time vegan, she also hopes to promote healthy and plant-based lifestyle choices in Asia. Sally has a background in Politics and International Relations from her studies at the London School of Economics and Political Science.
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FAQs
Omnivores get the majority of their protein from animal products, so vegans need to replace them with high-protein plant-based alternatives. Some examples include lentils, beans, chickpeas, nuts, tofu and soy products.
What do vegan footballers eat? ›
Omnivores get the majority of their protein from animal products, so vegans need to replace them with high-protein plant-based alternatives. Some examples include lentils, beans, chickpeas, nuts, tofu and soy products.
What are vegans favorite foods? ›
Vegan Food List
- Fruits and vegetables.
- Legumes such as peas, beans, and lentils.
- Nuts and seeds.
- Breads, rice, and pasta.
- Vegetable oils.
Is Lionel Messi Vegan? The Argentine soccer player does not live a completely vegetarian lifestyle, but he largely avoids meat and relies on a plant-based diet, as do many other soccer players.
Is Neymar a vegan? ›
when he was once again injured. But as he's now nearly 30 years old, Neymar has been taking a different approach to recovery. He has been opting to take up a vegan diet. as he works his way back to full fitness.
What does Messi eat in a day? ›
His diet includes fresh vegetables, olive oil, and whole grains for nutrition and energy. Hydration is also a big problem, with a focus on water intake and electrolyte-rich foods to aid muscle repair and reduce inflammation.
What football team is all vegan? ›
He also describes Forest Green Rovers and their owner Dale Vince as "trailblazers in business and football". Forest Green, currently in League Two, became the world's first vegan football club in 2015.
What candy is vegan? ›
Fortunately, loads of candies are vegan, so we can indulge our cravings (mostly) guilt-free. Most dark chocolate is vegan, as are popular sweet treats such as Smarties (known as Rockets in Canada), Oreos, Airheads, Jujubes, and Swedish Fish (some Swedish Fish contain beeswax, so be sure to check the label).
Which foods are surprisingly vegan? ›
Top 10 surprising vegan foods
- Crumpets. This might be an obvious one to some, but a quick poll with our vegan and dairy-free friends shows many mistakenly believe crumpets contained dairy. ...
- Dark chocolate. Chocoholics assemble! ...
- Cream crackers. ...
- (Some) biscuits. ...
- (Some) crisps. ...
- Ice Cream. ...
- Pasta. ...
- Peanut butter.
No, Ronaldo is not a vegetarian; his diet includes lean meats like chicken and fish. What food does Cristiano Ronaldo eat? Ronaldo's diet includes foods like lean meats, fish, whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and nuts, while avoiding sugary and processed foods.
Not everyone has switched to veganism completely. Players like Jalen Hood-Schifino, LeBron James, and Jalen Brunson have all experimented with plant-forward diets, keeping animal products to a minimum.
Is Brady vegan? ›
Tom Brady follows a “commonsensical” diet, primarily plant-based but not strictly vegan or vegetarian. He emphasizes that he's not a vegan or vegetarian by definition. Tom's meals comprise approximately 80 percent plant- and 20 percent animal-based foods.
Are any NFL players vegan? ›
And former New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton has been a passionate vegan since 2019. He was followed by NFL veteran Malcolm Jenkins, who retired in 2022, in 2020. “I didn't even tell anybody about it for a long while until everybody started realizing my plates didn't have meat on them,” Jenkins told ESPN.
Are most fries vegan? ›
After all, they're just fried, salted potatoes. While many fries are free from animal ingredients, sometimes they contain dairy or may be fried in lard. In most cases, the fries you order from a fast-food restaurant are cooked in the same oil that's used to fry meat and other animal products.
Is Kyrie vegan? ›
Kyrie Irving went vegan after watching a food documentary. He says it has improved his energy and mood. Kyrie Irving switched to a strict vegan lifestyle in 2017 when he was with the Boston Celtics after watching the Netflix documentary "What The Health," according to Bleacher Report.
Is Mike Tyson still vegan? ›
'Iron' Mike stopped with the vegan diet in 2020, as he revealed in an episode on Joe Rogan's podcast. “I only eat elk and bison – wild stuff – and I'm starting to feel fit. I realized the stuff that's good for other people – like kale, vegetables, and blueberries.
Are any elite athletes vegan? ›
Nate Diaz was one the UFC's first fighters to embrace a plant-based lifestyle. The 37-year-old welterweight fighter said he cut all meat out of his diet when he was 18 years old, and while he eats fish during his off time, when he is training for fights he exclusively eats vegan, he told Men's Journal.
Is Arnold Schwarzenegger vegan? ›
Arnold Schwarzenegger eats an 80% vegan diet, which he said has helped lower his cholesterol. His go-to protein sources are eggs, salmon, chicken, veggie burgers, and protein shakes. Schwarzenegger eats steak, hamburgers, and Austrian wiener schnitzel when he wants a treat.
