Why Cristiano Ronaldo (41) refuses to drink milk: According to the former chef, his longevity is due to diet and discipline

Cristiano Ronaldo’s former chef has revealed why the 41-year-old superstar refuses milk as part of his strict diet and fitness routine. At 41, Cristiano Ronaldo is still chasing a milestone that once seemed unattainable for any footballer, approaching 1,000 goals in his career after another prolific season for Al-Nassr. His longevity is built on an unusually disciplined approach to training, recovery and nutrition, although one of the strictest rules in his diet concerns the food that many athletes consider a daily source of protein and calcium. According to his former private chef, Giorgio Barone, Ronaldo does not drink milk at all.

Why Ronaldo refuses to drink milk

Milk is a common part of an athlete’s diet because of its protein, calcium and other nutrients, and many athletes use it as part of their recovery routine. But Ronaldo has avoided dairy as part of his long-term approach to nutrition, a decision his former private chef says reflects more than taste or performance preferences.Giorgio Barone, who previously worked as Ronaldo’s personal chef, explained that milk was completely excluded from the striker’s diet because of his views on people consuming milk from other animals.“No milk,” Barone told Covers.com before explaining his reasoning.“Humans are the only animals that drink the milk of other animals. No other animal drinks milk after three months. Calves do not drink milk after the age of three months. Animals do not drink the milk of other animals.”“It doesn’t exist in nature. Only humans drink milk until they are 30, 40, 50 and 60 years old, and that’s wrong in my opinion. We suckle from our mothers like dogs, wolves, cows and donkeys. It’s normal.”“It’s not normal after childhood. It’s against nature.”Barone’s explanation is his own take on nutrition rather than established medical consensus, but it illustrates how intentional Ronaldo has been with the food he consumes throughout his career. Dairy isn’t the only category he avoids, the Portuguese striker is also known to avoid refined sugar, processed foods and alcohol.

What Ronaldo eats all day

Barone described Ronaldo’s diet as balanced rather than based on one food group, with an emphasis on fresh ingredients, lean protein and vegetables. The former chef said the forward eats a little bit of everything as long as it meets the standards of his nutritional routine.“Cristiano Ronaldo’s diet is balanced,” he said. “She eats a little bit of everything, but it’s always healthy.”Breakfast usually includes avocado, coffee and eggs, with no added sugar. Lunch may consist of chicken or fish with vegetables, while dinner is generally lighter, with fish or meat served with vegetables.“Starting with breakfast, he would have avocado with coffee, eggs and no sugar. Absolutely no sugar. Lunch could be chicken, fish and always vegetables. If he needs carbs, he gets them from vegetables, so he doesn’t need anything from flour.”“Nothing like pasta, bread and other types of food. She eats light meals in the evening, usually fish or meat in the form of fillets. It is always accompanied by vegetables.”The broader nutritional approach described in the additional description of Ronald’s routine includes up to six high-protein meals a day, spaced three to four hours apart. Chicken, cod, sea bass, fresh vegetables and avocados take center stage, while quinoa and other whole grains provide the carb sources along with the vegetables Barone mentions. The focus remains on whole foods and consistent meals rather than processed products or sugary snacks.

Ronaldo maintains less than 10% body fat, avoids refined sugar, dairy and focuses on strict recovery routines / Instagram

This routine is designed to support the physical demands of a player who continues to compete at the highest level into his forties. Ronaldo’s body fat has been reported to be below 10 percent, with some accounts putting it at around seven percent, although the exact number may vary depending on the timing and method of measurement.

Training and regeneration for his longevity

Ronaldo’s attitude goes far beyond what he eats. His training combines high-intensity sprinting, plyometrics and explosive strength with Pilates and other forms of conditioning, while recovery has remained an important part of his daily routine.His recovery methods include saunas, ice baths and cryotherapy, with his partner Georgina Rodriguez known to join him in some of these activities.

Ronaldo’s recovery routine includes intense sauna sessions and ice baths to maintain peak fitness and longevity / Instagram

Sleep is another area in which Ronaldo has reportedly taken an unconventional approach. Instead of relying on just one long period overnight, it uses polyphasic sleep to optimize recovery. His routine consists of five 90-minute naps spread throughout the day, a strategy carefully designed to keep metabolic energy levels high and maximize cellular repair between intense workouts.A combination of nutrition, training and recovery has helped Ronaldo remain physically competitive throughout a career spanning more than two decades. His longevity also makes him unusually aware of the small decisions that can affect his preparation, from the food he eats to the time he gives his body to recover between matches.One of the most visible examples of his stance on nutrition came during the 2021 European Championship. At a press conference, Ronaldo moved Coca-Cola bottles away from the table and urged the audience to “drink water”. The gesture attracted huge attention and was followed by a reported drop in Coca-Cola’s market value.

Why Ronaldo’s ex-chef agrees with Haaland on organ meat

Barone also discussed the differences between Ronaldo’s nutritional choices and those of Manchester City striker Erling Haaland, who has talked about including raw milk in his diet. The two approaches differ on dairy, but Barone agreed that Haaland prefers organ meats, which he finds particularly nutritious.“I agree with (Erling Haaland’s diet) eating organs. Liver, heart and brain are all healthy foods. They are superfoods. Cristiano also liked liver. I love it. It’s very rich in iron and it’s important in the diet, so I approve of it for organs, but not for milk.”Ronaldo’s customized routine continues to attract worldwide attention for what he can sustain on the pitch. The 41-year-old forward took his all-time record to 985 official career goals after a masterful performance for Al-Nassr. His last appearance in the Saudi Pro League against Al-Kholood featured a dazzling 15-minute hat-trick to secure a thrilling 5-3 victory. The incredible treble marked the Portuguese icon’s 67th hat-trick of his senior career and extended his unrivaled scoring record even further ahead of arch-rival Lionel Messi.The performance came shortly after Ronaldo was named the winner of the inaugural BOAT, or Ballon d’Or, of All Time award following a worldwide fan poll which selected his 2008 season with Manchester United as the biggest highlight of the campaign. With his updated career total 15 goals short of 1,000, the milestone is now a realistic target as he continues to lead Al-Nassr and Portugal.His pursuit of that record has brought renewed attention to the discipline behind his career, including the strict nutritional choices described by Barone. For Ronaldo, avoiding milk is part of a much bigger routine built around consistency, preparation and the demands of remaining an elite footballer at 41.