Whether you love or loathe him, you’ve got to respect longevity.

Despite recently turning 40, the and icon is still going strong. He may not be playing at the top level following his money-laden move to Saudi Arabia, but he remains a force for his country and intends to play at the next World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico when he'll be 41.

For that dream to be realised, he will adhere rigorously to a super-healthy diet. Ronaldo, who also has a carefully managed sleep routine, once said: "A good workout must be accompanied by a good diet. I eat a high-protein diet, with lots of wholegrain carbohydrates, fruit and vegetables, and I avoid sugary foods."

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Here’s a detailed look at what goes into Ronaldo’s daily consumption and how it keeps him fit and healthy as he enters his 40s…

Ronaldo's meals revolve around natural, fresh and highly nutritious products. His diet features a variety of foods that are full of proteins, healthy fats and complex carbohydrates.

He consumes a lot of chicken, fish (mainly cod), eggs and lean meat. As you would expect, he also eats plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, with a salad being one of his favourite dishes.

He takes on brown rice, sweet potatoes and whole-grain pasta for energy-building carbohydrates. His drinks of choice include plenty of water and natural shakes containing proteins and vitamins. He gets his healthy fats from nuts, olive oil and avocado.

Ronaldo eats every three to four hours to maintain his energy levels, with six small meals a day. For example, he often starts the day with low-fat yoghurt, eggs, cheese and ham.

For lunch, he might tuck into fresh salad with chicken, while a typical later meal will consist of fish with vegetables. One of Ronaldo's most requested dishes is cod with onion, scrambled eggs and thin potatoes, usually prepared by his personal chef. In between main meals, he snacks on fruit and avocado toast.

Ronaldo doesn’t touch fizzy drinks and went teetotal in 2005. When a bottle of Coca-Cola was placed in front of him at a Euro 2020 press conference, he moved it aside and brought up the benefits of drinking water.

He avoids them for several reasons. They contain large amounts of sugar and additives that can affect metabolism, cause inflammation and increase body fat. They can also adversely affect athletic performance.

The combination of no sugary drinks and natural foods ensures Ronaldo’s body fat percentage remains incredibly low. This aids muscle recovery and helps maintain consistent energy levels during the day. It also contributes to his youthful-looking skin and avoids performance-hindering inflammation.

Therefore, it’s no surprise that Ronaldo has inspired many people in the football and beyond to live healthier lifestyles.

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