Cristiano Ronaldo says his guilty pleasure is pizza as he shares tips how to stay in shape as a ripped superstar over 30
CRISTIANO RONALDO’s guilty pleasure is a pizza shared with his son.The Juventus star, 36, is renowned for the impeccable condition that has seen him rule as one of the most physically dominant players in the world.
Cristiano Ronaldo revealed his guilty pleasure is a pizza shared with his sonCredit: Getty – Contributor
The Juventus star shows off his physique with Cristiano JrCredit: The Mega Agency
But Ronaldo admitted even he is a sucker for a cheat meal, with the superstar opting for a pizza to avoid a ‘boring’ life.
He told YouTube channel ChrisMD: “The key is to take care of your body, train, do your recovery and eat properly.
“Although sometimes I do eat pizza with my son otherwise it would be boring.”
CR7 claimed in 2018 that he has a ‘biological age of 23’ – and wants to continue playing into his 40s.
Apart from the occasional treat with his boy, Cristiano Jr, Ronaldo sticks to a strict diet and has implemented Pilates-based routines that focus on resistance work to strengthen his core.
Post-match exercise has also become a huge part of his regime, as the Portugal skipper heads straight to the swimming pool after a game.
But when Ronaldo first came to England, signing for Manchester United at 18 in 2003, he arrived with motivation having been called “too skinny” earlier in his career.
The 36-year-old revealed: “It’s true, I was skinny. I had no muscle.
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It’s a far cry from the skinny teenager he once was, pictured here with Portugal U21s in 2003Credit: AFP
Cristiano Ronaldo back at Manchester United in 2004 without the muscle-bound frame we see todayCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Cristiano Ronaldo had bulked up towards the end of his Manchester United careerCredit: Getty – Contributor
“So I made a decision at 11 years old, I knew I had a lot of talent, but I decided that I was going to work harder than everybody.
“I started sneaking out of the dormitory at night to go work out. I got bigger and faster.
“I would walk on to the field, and the people who used to whisper, ‘Yeah, but he’s so skinny,’ now they would be looking at me like it was the end of the world.”
Now one of the highest-paid footballers in the world, earning a reported £82m a year, he can afford luxuries like a Cryotherapy chamber – for muscle regeneration.
The £50,000, walk-in piece of kit works miracles on the body, with Ronaldo having one installed in 2013 after hearing it had worked well for Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery.
Standing in the chamber for around three minutes, liquid nitrogen freezes Ronaldo to between minus 160 and minus 200 degrees Celsius.
Cryotherapy beats muscle soreness and reduces swelling, inflammation or sprains – allowing the Juve forward to be ready for the next match or training session sooner.
It helps him recover from his five high-intensity workouts a week, that includes a lot of sprinting.
Ronaldo’s top tips
Hard work: Motivation to be the best is key – which Ronaldo’s five Ballons d’Or prove.
The world is your gym: Don’t limit yourself to exercising in one place. Complete your routine at home in the morning or at night.
Booze ban: No more wild nights out if you want to stay so sculpted.
You are what you eat: Balanced diet with plenty of protein to fuel your workouts is best. Sugary foods are worst.
Ronnie says relax: Downtime at home with family and friends is a must, as well as plenty of sleep.
Though the Portuguese poster-boy insists all you need is a bedroom and spare time to get in shape.
He said: “We do a lot of sprinting drills in training and they can be incorporated into your workout whether you are in the gym or outdoors.
“Try and add it to every workout you do. Fit in exercise wherever you can.
“You can do an abs workout in your bedroom when you wake up in the morning or before you go to bed.
“If you get into a routine then it makes it easier as it will become a habit.”
Ronaldo is not a vegetarian and he does not eat a plant-based diet, but does limit his meat intake because of the higher fat content.
Fish is a key part of his diet with Lisbon speciality Bacalhau a Braz – a mixture of braised cod, onions, thinly sliced potatoes and scrambled eggs – one of his favourites.
Ronaldo has said: “I eat a high protein diet, with lots of wholegrain carbs, fruit and vegetables, and avoid sugary food.
“Eat regularly. If you train regularly it’s important to keep energy levels high to fuel your body for better performance.
“I sometimes eat up to six smaller meals a day to make sure I have enough energy to perform each session at top level.”
Here’s what Cristiano Ronaldo eats on a daily basis
Cristiano Ronaldo’s favourite food is Lisbon dish Bacalhau a Braz – a mixture of cod, onions, thinly sliced potatoes and scrambled eggsCredit: Instagram, @cristiano
Cristiano Ronaldo, with Cristiano Jr, says downtime with the family is crucialCredit: Instagram @cristiano
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