Who says Messi doesn't work hard?

Messi is a genius with innate talent, while Ronaldo is the symbol of hard work and perseverance. That's a deeply ingrained belief in the minds of many football fans.

Messi still maintains impressive form at the age of 38 - Photo: REUTERS

At 40 years old – two years older than Messi – Ronaldo still maintains a perfect physique with a body fat percentage of only 7%, well-developed muscles, and a clearly defined six-pack.

There are countless details that show how hard Ronaldo trained to reach his current level, as well as his frequent posts showing that he is always working out diligently.

Meanwhile, Messi rarely shows off pictures of himself training. On his social media accounts, the Argentine superstar focuses on images of his family and other everyday activities.

Therefore, a fairly common public opinion is that Messi doesn't need to train to be good, because he is a genius with innate talent.

But these are clearly just unprofessional and unscientific opinions. Contrary to the speculative opinions of the majority of fans, the scientific community has always pursued Messi to understand the formula for the Argentine superstar's arduous training and success.

While Ronaldo is famous for his body fat percentage of just 7%, Messi is nearly identical, consistently around 8-10% according to Pursue Performance. And to maintain that figure, Messi lives a lifestyle just as strict as Ronaldo's.

Although Messi doesn't share much, there is still a lot of information available about his life, lifestyle, training methods, diet, and the hardships he has overcome to get to where he is today.

Here is some information to support that claim:

Radical change: no pizza, no soft drinks.

In the early stages of his career, Messi was addicted to soda, pizza, and Argentinian barbecue. However, after the age of 25, and especially after the 2014 World Cup, he completely changed his diet.

Messi skips soft drinks and replaces them with yerba mate tea to quench his thirst - Photo: EN

Under the guidance of Italian nutritionist Giuliano Poser, Messi embarked on a rigorous and scientific diet: cutting out almost all refined sugar, gluten, and fried foods; replacing them with green vegetables, fresh fruits, whole grains, lean fish, olive oil, mineral water, and anti-inflammatory foods.

He even completely gave up drinking soft drinks and carbonated beverages, and only quenched his thirst with plain water or a type of South American tea (yerba mate).

Optimal training

Unlike players who focus on gym workouts for physical fitness, Messi trains in a minimalist yet extremely precise way.

He focuses on core strength training, balance, improving directional control, and short-distance acceleration.

The ankles, hamstrings, and other crucial muscles involved in collisions are meticulously cared for. In addition, Messi maintains rigorous training in ball control, tight spaces, and body control under high pressure – skills he perfected from a young age.

Messi pursues an optimal training method - Photo: PA

On a typical day, Messi spends about two hours on these exercises in the morning. He only trains with the ball in the afternoon.

Modern and specialized recovery methods

Messi uses a range of modern methods to recover and maintain his physical condition at its peak:

- Cryotherapy (deep cold therapy): helps reduce muscle inflammation and eliminate lactic acid after a match.

- Hyperbaric oxygen chamber (HBOT): enhances cell and muscle tissue regeneration.

- Specialized therapeutic massage: monitoring of weak muscle groups, with a dedicated team of physiotherapists.

-Physical fitness sensor device: measures heart rate, speed, and activity intensity to adjust lesson plans.

- Sleep according to circadian rhythm: fall asleep early, sleep deeply, and allow for the restoration of growth hormones and the nervous system.

Discipline in daily life and recovery

Messi rarely stays up late, parties, or drinks alcohol. Despite a wild youth, for almost 10 years he has lived a private, introverted life, focusing on his family and football.

Messi rarely posts photos of himself in the gym - Photo: INSTAGRAM

The captain of the Argentine national team always wakes up early, trains regularly, and rests scientifically. Teammates have revealed on numerous occasions that Messi arrives at training early and leaves late, despite being the biggest star.

Beyond physical fitness, the Argentinian superstar also trains his motor skills: practicing synchronized eye-foot-arm reflexes, light meditation, and deep breathing techniques to control his cardiovascular system. This is why he remains incredibly calm under pressure – from penalties to nail-biting matches.

And finally, before embracing that highly professional lifestyle, Messi had to overcome a debilitating bone disease that Ronaldo, and most top-level athletes, did not face.

Can a player who "just eats, sleeps, and plays around with the ball" overcome the challenges of genetics, physique, and the immense pressure of every match?

Just because Messi doesn't often show off pictures of himself in the gym doesn't mean he doesn't work hard!

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HUY DANG

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/ai-bao-messi-khong-kho-luyen-20250624103519547.htm