Cristiano Ronaldo has one unusual dish he always eats to 'keep him strong' at 40 as part of fitness regime

Cristiano Ronaldo always eats one particular dish in order to 'keep himself strong' as part of his fitness regime.

The Real Madrid, Manchester United and Portugal legend turned 40 last month, yet is still hoping to play for his country at the 2026 World Cup.

His career started with Sporting Lisbon as a 17-year-old back in 2002, meaning he has now played professional football for over 22 years.

Ronaldo has spent the last two years playing in the Saudi Pro League for Al Nassr, and was named as the world's top goalscorer - among top division leagues - for 2023.

The main reason behind his longevity is his strict fitness regime, with numerous coaches and team-mates detailing how the Portuguese icon goes the extra mile to stay at the very top of his game.

Ronaldo is believed to prefer a high-protein diet which avoids sugars.

He also places an emphasis on healthy fats, wholegrain, carbohydrates and fruit and vegetables.

The 40-year-old only drinks alcohol on very rare occasions and generally sticks to water.

If he dines out at restaurants, he will typically only order a steak with salad.

But his absolute favourite dish is one that some fans may not be aware of.

He loves eating Bacalhau a Bras - a Portuguese dish made up of salted cod, onions, potatoes and eggs. It can be prepared in as little as 15 minutes.

His own restaurant in Lisbon offers the dish to guests, using his own mother's recipe.

He says that it reminds him of 'my childhood, and it keeps me strong'.

Cristiano Ronaldo is still playing into his 40s for Al Nassr (Image: Getty)

But Ronaldo follows many other key practices in order to keep himself in peak physical condition. He has eight secret 'hacks' in order to continue to maximise performances into his 40s.

A (very) tiring fitness regime

We all have the same hours in a day as Ronaldo but we’re not utilising it very well according to his intense fitness regime. According to multiple online sources, the footballer hits the gym for 25 to 30 minutes of cardio and targeted weights five times a week.

Altogether, that works out at three to four hours a day and no-one is arguing with him there. Back in 2019, the footballer fronted a campaign for SIXPAD, a Japanese tech company that specialises in electric muscle stimulation (EMS) products.

Although we don’t expect to gain the same incredible results after one use, the ab-training device available on Amazon has earned thousands of five-star reviews. One customer wrote: “I use it on my legs and flanks. I'm doing it at a pretty strong level. It's been four months, but I feel that it has tightened little by little.”

‘Magic’ chicken

It won’t come as a surprise that it takes some serious discipline to maintain those abs - and it's not just the gym that Ronaldo has to thank for his physique. The footballer’s diet is just as regimented as his exercise regime and according to multiple sources, he doesn’t follow the whole ‘breakfast, lunch and dinner/tea’ routine known to most.

Instead of the average three meals a day, the footballer opts for six smaller meals instead. Working with a dietician, Ronaldo reportedly sticks to nutrient-dense foods, from fresh fish and avocado to quinoa and fresh fruits. His protein of choice? Chicken - which Ronaldo has been known to call ‘magical’, due to its reported health benefits.

He also avoids alcohol and sugary drinks.

The power of AI

Ronaldo has even invested in the future of fitness. Bioniq is a revolutionary approach to personalised supplements, as the AI-powered business uses blood tests to create bespoke supplements based on clients' data to support individual wellness goals.

Speaking about the partnership, Ronaldo said: "Backing Bioniq goes beyond just an investment opportunity for me - it's about aligning with a shared vision for health, performance, and longevity."

“I have been using their products myself for almost three years. With their personalised health approach, I believe Bioniq has the potential to transform how we care for our bodies and help people reach and maintain their peak performance for longer."

Sleeping like a baby (quite literally)

Ronaldo isn’t exaggerating when he says he sleeps like a baby. The footballer reportedly follows a strict 90-minute nap schedule. The technique is known as ‘polyphasic sleep’ and is designed to break your normal sleep cycle into nap sessions which is similar to how babies kip.

A little help from supplements

It’s not just his diet and exercise regime that is to credit for his incredible physique. Ronaldo has been the face of Herbalife for over a decade and credits the nutritional sports supplement brand for his award-winning performance.

Back in 2013, the brand launched Herbalife24® CR7 Drive in collaboration with Ronaldo, a sports drink designed to meet the nutritional needs of athletes. Now, you can purchase a huge range of products from the Herbalife line on Amazon.

The strange secret behind his smile

It’s not just his admirable physique that garners Ronaldo plenty of attention as his rather charming smile is also particularly eye-catching.

Back in 2014, he bizarrely endorsed a Japanese facial workout device, designed to tone the face and enhance your natural smile. Available on Amazon, it does actually have some pretty decent reviews, with customers saying it has helped to ‘lift sagging jaw lines’. So there you go.

Regular cryotherapy sessions

It has been widely reported that when Ronaldo returned to Manchester United in 2021, he installed an extravagant cryotherapy chamber worth an eye-watering £50,000 into his home. So, is it worth it?

Cryotherapy chambers use liquid nitrogen to freeze the air inside the space to around -200C. The aim is to help to reduce swelling from injury and inflammation, as well as boost blood circulation. The wellness practice is famously used by top athletes for recovery.

Game-changing recovery

It’s not just a strict diet and fitness regime that keeps Ronaldo in tip-top shape, he also reportedly relies on a popular tracker: Whoop. A form of wearable tech, it’s designed to help you to stay on track with your health and fitness goals. It will offer real-time insights into everything, from your sleep patterns to stress levels with professional recommendations on how to unlock your potential.

But that’s not all. Ronaldo is a busy man and just so happens to also be the mastermind behind the ERAKULIS app. Designed to help you to reach your fitness goals, the app offers personalised training plans, nutritional advice, and stress-reduction techniques such as meditational practices. If you're keen to follow in the footsteps of the footballer, you can download the app from the Apple Store now (just don't expect to gain abs quite so quickly).

Additional reporting by Danielle Fowler.