What Food Does Ronaldo Not Like? The Secret Diet of a Champion

December 14, 2025 •

3 min read

In a famous press conference moment during the Euro 2020, Cristiano Ronaldo famously removed two bottles of Coca-Cola, holding up a water bottle instead. This incident served as a potent, public example of exactly what food does Ronaldo not like, underscoring his strict avoidance of sugary drinks and processed junk food to maintain peak fitness.

Quick Summary

Cristiano Ronaldo's diet is meticulously planned to exclude sugary foods, processed items, high-fat content, and alcohol, prioritizing whole, natural, and fresh foods for peak performance.

Key Points

No Sugary Foods: Ronaldo completely avoids sweets, desserts, and refined sugars to maintain optimal health and energy levels.
Avoids Fast and Processed Food: The soccer star meticulously avoids fast food, processed products, and instant meals, opting for fresh ingredients instead.
Steers Clear of Alcohol: Ronaldo is almost entirely teetotal, a decision influenced by personal history and his professional commitment to fitness.
Eliminates Sugary Drinks: He famously rejected soda in a press conference and exclusively drinks water for hydration, avoiding all carbonated and sugary beverages.
Favors Healthy Cooking Methods: His meals avoid saturated and trans fats, with food prepared using healthy methods like grilling or baking rather than frying.
Focuses on Whole Foods: Ronaldo prioritizes lean protein, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables to fuel his body for peak athletic performance.

Ronaldo's Dietary Philosophy: Food as Fuel

Cristiano Ronaldo’s career is a testament to the power of discipline, and nowhere is this more evident than in his diet. He views food as necessary fuel for his rigorous training and demanding match schedule. Working with personal dieticians and chefs, his nutrition plan supports muscle recovery, maintains high energy levels, and keeps him in top physical condition. This philosophy directly informs the foods and beverages he actively avoids.

Sweets and Refined Sugar: An Absolute No

Processed sugar is a non-negotiable taboo for Ronaldo, viewed as a source of inflammation and energy crashes. This extends to various sweet treats, such as sweets, candies, cakes, pastries, sugary cereals, and desserts like apple crumble and brownies. His aversion is so strong that a former teammate noted his presence discouraged others from eating desserts.

Fast Food and Processed Products: Banned from the Kitchen

Fast food and heavily processed items are entirely absent from Ronaldo's diet due to chemicals, unhealthy fats, and sodium. His chefs use fresh, high-quality, and organic ingredients. Examples of avoided items include fast-food burgers, instant noodles, frozen pizzas (unless homemade and healthy), and any processed products high in sodium. This commitment is a cornerstone of his longevity in football.

High-Fat and Fried Foods: Performance Blockers

To maintain his physique, Ronaldo avoids fried and high-fat foods with saturated and trans fats. He uses healthier cooking methods and sources fats from avocados, nuts, and olive oil. His former chef stated he uses only coconut oil for cooking.

Alcohol and Sugary Drinks: Water is King

His preference for water is well-known. Ronaldo is a devout teetotaller, a personal decision influenced by his father’s struggles with alcoholism. Avoiding alcohol supports his health and performance.

The Ronaldo Diet vs. The Average Diet

Here's a comparison of Ronaldo's eating habits versus a typical Western diet:


Feature	Cristiano Ronaldo's Diet	Typical Western Diet
Meal Frequency	6 smaller meals spread throughout the day	3 main meals, often with less healthy snacking in between
Carbohydrates	Wholegrain products, quinoa, brown rice, fruits, vegetables	Refined carbs, white bread, processed snacks, high-sugar cereals
Protein	Lean chicken, fish (cod, tuna), eggs, nuts, ham	Often includes processed meats, red meat, and less emphasis on lean protein
Fat Sources	Healthy fats from avocados, olives, nuts, olive oil	Predominantly saturated and trans fats from fast food and fried items
Cooking Method	Grilling, baking, steaming; rarely fried	Frequent frying and deep-frying
Beverages	Water, fresh fruit juices, protein shakes	Sugary sodas, alcohol, and artificially flavored drinks
Sugar	Absolutely avoided	High sugar intake from snacks, desserts, and drinks

How His Discipline Inspires Teammates

Ronaldo's strict diet influences those around him. For example, his return to Manchester United reportedly led teammates to avoid desserts after seeing his healthy plate. This highlights his influence through discipline.

Conclusion: Fueling Longevity Through Conscious Avoidance

The food Ronaldo doesn't like is linked to his commitment to football. He eliminates items like sugary treats, carbonated drinks, fast food, and excessive fats that could hinder his performance and longevity. His diet features high-protein, whole-grain, and fresh produce meals, timed to sustain energy and aid recovery. This disciplined eating, combined with training, is the foundation of his remarkable career and elite performance into his later years. His example shows that peak performance requires a holistic approach, with diet being as crucial as training. For more insights into his longevity, check out this article on Men's Health: How Ronaldo Maintains a Biological Age of Just 28.9 – Inside His Diet and Fitness Secrets.

Frequently Asked Questions

While he maintains extreme discipline, some reports suggest he might have a very rare indulgence. However, his diet is famously strict and consistent, leaving very little room for cheat meals compared to many other athletes.

Ronaldo avoids sugary carbonated drinks because he views them as detrimental to his health, hydration, and fitness. He famously showed his distaste for them at a press conference, promoting water instead.

He replaces junk food with high-protein meals like lean fish and chicken, whole grains, and a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, all prepared with minimal processing.

While his general dietary principles are well-known through interviews and accounts from his nutritionists and chefs, his exact daily meal plan is highly personalized and subject to change based on his training intensity and health goals.

Even when dining at restaurants, Ronaldo opts for healthy choices like steak with a fresh salad and ensures his food is never frozen.

In addition to a high intake of water, he also consumes fresh, natural fruit juices and protein shakes, especially in conjunction with his workout sessions.

Ronaldo avoids sweets and desserts. A former teammate, Lee Grant, noted how Ronaldo's commitment to health inspired others to avoid dessert too.

No, he does not avoid all fat. Ronaldo avoids high-fat foods, particularly saturated and trans fats found in fried and processed items. He incorporates healthy fats from sources like avocados, nuts, and olive oil into his diet.