There is a reason Lionel Messi has spent over two decades performing at the highest level of football. It’s not just the genius-level dribbling or the uncanny ability to find the top corner from any angle. It is the relentless commitment to his body, the meticulous attention to what goes into it and what he puts it through every day.

He hasn’t become the GOAT by accident or simply his natural ability: it happens because a player treats their body like a finely-tuned machine.

The Argentine’s longevity across his Barcelona, PSG and Inter Miami chapters has been extraordinary. While some players start to slow down and fade into mediocrity when they hit their thirties, Messi has remained at the elite level. To some, it may seem like natural talent, but there is more than that.

It is the deliberate sacrifice, waking up early every day and choosing to do the work that separates legendary players from everyone else.

What Does Lionel Messi Eat To Stay In Shape?

Jay Biggerstaff (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)

For athletes like Messi, training is only half the battle. What happens off the pitch, especially in the kitchen, is equally crucial for performance and recovery. Diet is key to it all.

The transition of Messi’s nutritional routine came at a critical moment in his career. In 2014, he brought on Italian nutritionist Giuliano Poser to overhaul his eating habits. The timing proved to be perfect, with Messi scoring 58 goals and contributing 23 assists in the following season whilst winning the Champions League, Copa Del Rey and LaLiga with Barcelona.

According to ESPN, before Poser’s influence, Messi had followed less structured habits and had been accused of “eating too many pizzas” in earlier years.

Messi was introduced to Poser via his Argentine teammate Martín Demichelis. Poser immediately eliminated processed foods from Messi’s diet, insisting that a more natural diet allowed Messi to train with greater intensity.

In an interview with Mundo Deportivo, later picked up by The Independent, Poser had identified five key foods in Messi’s diet: water, good-quality olive oil, whole grains, fresh fruits, and fresh vegetables.

“Also very good are nuts and seeds,” Poser stated, but added his hatred for sugar.

Although Messi has admitted in an interview with Marca that his favourite Spanish dish is roast Milanesa (breaded meat fillet) or pasta. He also added that he likes to eat a little chocolate, caramel and ice cream, although he tries not to eat too much of it.

Lionel Messi Fitness and Exercise Routine

Messi’s training regime is built around his core athletic requirements: explosive power, rapid acceleration and agility. He won’t necessarily target bulk, his gym work targets functional fitness that translates to his match performance.

His workouts can include:

• Pull-ups
• Bicep curls
• Seated sit-ups and ab-focused exercises.
• Medicine ball throws
• Cable resistance chest work
• Medicine Ball seated rotations
• Dumbbell Holds/Carries

What stands out is the absence of heavy barbell work or maximal strength training. Instead, the focus is on explosive power, functional movements and core stability.

Work with medicine balls, dumbbells and bodyweight dominates because they help develop the kind of athletic fitness that still keeps him sharp at 38.

What Does Messi Focus on In Training?

Away from the gym and the kitchen, Messi’s on-pitch training sessions emphasise technical work and match replication. There is less focus on tactical work, which isn’t a surprise when you consider that he can do anything with a ball at his feet.

Como manager and former Barcelona midfielder, Cesc Fabregas still remembers his first-ever training session with the Argentine forward during their time in Spain.

Fabregas said:” I saw that he was coming with speed that is not normal, he was coming very fast at me. I was shocked as I was already on the floor, and he scored the goal.”

Fabregas wasn’t the only one, with Dani Alves also having his own stories about Messi during their training sessions.

Alves said, “Messi was doing things with the ball at his feet that defied logic. He was dribbling through the defence and scoring like a killer.”

What’s clear across his entire career is the commitment; there hasn’t ever been an off-season for Messi, he has been relentless for over two decades. That is how you become the greatest player of your generation.

Sharaputdin Magomedov has certainly made a name for himself during his brief career in the UFC, winning five of his six fights in the promotion so far. However, one thing that everyone has noticed about the Russian is the fact that he’s never been on a card that is held in America.

Four out of his six UFC fights to date have been in Abu Dhabi, while the other two have been in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and his next fight, which takes place this weekend, is also taking place away from the United States of America.

When asked previously about whether Magomedov would be able to fight in the United States, UFC honcho Dana White said: “Can he? Probably not. We’ll keep him out here.”

This may seem like a strange comment about a fighter who is five from six in his UFC career, but Magomedov may not be able to fight in the US due to an eye condition.

Sharaputdin Magomedov’s Eye

The Dagestani suffered an injury to his right eye back in 2016, and a lack of care meant that he required eight surgeries to try to salvage his vision.

In an interview with ATHLETISTIC, he said: “Before the operation, I was mainly afraid of an injection in the eye. I watched this video. Very unpleasant. I thought that was the most boring thing ever. And there were such operations when an injection in the eye had to be made, where it was removed, one might say. At this time, local anesthesia is administered, but you feel everything.”

It is unlikely that the American fighting commissions would approve a one-eyed fighter, so it may be that Magomedov is forced to fight in the Middle East and elsewhere for the foreseeable future.

Other Controversies Surrounding Sharaputdin Magomedov

Perhaps White is also scared of the American backlash against supporting such a controversial figure outside of the Octagon.

In May 2022, Magomedov was involved in an assault at a shopping centre. He took offence to a couple kissing in public on an escalator, leading to an altercation in which he assaulted the boyfriend.

There was an initial confrontation after alighting the escalator in which the civilian threw the first punch, and then proceeded to somewhat hold his own against the MMA star. They were broken up by onlookers and security.

That was not the end of it, though, as Magomedov waited for the man by one of the exits to finish the business. The fighter threw a sucker punch that knocked the man to the ground, and he continued to stamp on his head. It was an ugly scene, with the civilian not being able to keep his guard up as he had done earlier.

With such controversial allegations, it would not be surprising if Dana White continues to utilise Magomedov’s services in the UFC away from the US, somewhat out of the limelight from the major events. This is also not the only time in which Magomedov has used his fighting background to embroil himself in controversy.

At the ADCC Southeast Asia tournament, he feigned a tap and continued to jump on and kick his opponent. He was not awarded the victory, and it highlighted his volatile nature in the Octagon. Allegedly, the cause of the anger towards his opponent was that he had gone back on his promise to use ankle locks before the fight. This has not been confirmed, though, so the lashing out could be due to the Dagestani just being a sore loser.

Leeds United are closing in on their first deal of the summer, as Harry Wilson is set to join the club, but they are quickly looking to back that up with another free agent arrival.

Daniel Farke has been pushing for some arrivals this summer to help back up a successful campaign where Premier League survival was confirmed.

Given the history of the club and the success of clubs elsewhere, the Whites will be dreaming of securing European football, and a move for Wilson could get them one step closer to that goal.

However, there’s another potential bargain deal on the horizon for Leeds, as the club eye up another potential free agent signing.

Leeds Continue Pursuits of Brandt and Charles

As Leeds close in on an announcement for Wilson to become the first signing of the summer, having become a free agent after leaving Fulham at the end of his contract, focus shifts to the next set of transfer targets.

Among them is Julian Brandt, as BBC journalist Adam Pope reports that the Elland Road outfit are continuing to explore a deal to sign the 30-year-old this summer.

The playmaker is a free agent after leaving Borussia Dortmund, and has drawn interest from Leeds to complete a potential switch to the Premier League.

The Whites face competition for his signature, with plenty of other teams also being linked with a deal to sign the attacking midfielder for a bargain.

It would add even more experience on top of Wilson, with two players who are now in the peak of their career and capable of competing at the highest level.

It remains to be seen whether Leeds can get a move over the line for Brandt, as the club look to kick on and climb up the table with experience.

Leeds United Transfer Balance

Leeds have departed from previous transfer strategies in going for two players around 30, but the pair will bring plenty of quality and experience, while the lack of a transfer fee will also help justify the moves.

However, there is still a balance to be had, and the club will be keen to avoid loading up the squad full of players in the latter peak of their career.

That’s where a move for Shea Charles comes into play, with the club recently having a £20 million bid rejected for the Southampton ace, with the 22-year-old having plenty of potential to grow further.

It remains to be seen whether any other targets will come under the umbrella of being a signing for the future, but the balance should stand the team in good stead for the future.