He may be the greatest player possibly ever to grace the world of football, but that doesn't mean Barcelona star Lionel Messi didn't use to love completely pigging out on sweets, fizzy drinks and chocolate like the rest of us.
Speaking to his home country's news channel, La Cornisa TV, Messi admitted that for years on end he used to eat so much junk food that it sometimes caused him to throw up on the pitch.
"I ate badly for many years: chocolates, fizzy drinks, and everything. That is what made me throw up during games," Messi said.
However, at the time of his poor diet, there were some genuine concerns that the five-time Ballon d'Or winner might be suffering from some sort of illness or be under some serious stress stemming from his rising popularity in the sport.
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"I don't think too much about how I have to act because of constantly being watched. I'm aware that whenever I speak there are many people that listen, that there are repercussions. I always try to think about what I say in order not to generate controversies."
Fortunately now, though, Messi, who welcomed his third son earlier this month, stresses that his dark days of binge eating are now behind him and that his nutrition is second to none nowadays.
"Now I look after myself better. I eat fish, meat, salads. Everything is organised and taken care of, " said the 30-year-old.
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"I've learned to live the way I do, to be myself because at the end of the day it's easier to do it that way."
Words: Jacque Talbot
Featured Image Credit:Topics: Football News, Football, Barcelona, Lionel Messi, Argentina