PIZZA THE ACTION
Ronaldo reveals pizza is his guilty pleasure as Man Utd star shares tips on how to stay in shape over 30
CRISTIANO RONALDO's guilty pleasure is a pizza shared with his son.
The football star is renowned for his impeccable condition that has seen him rule as one of the most physically dominant players in the world.
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He was spotted out enjoying a reasonably priced meal with his proud mum Dolores Aveiro last year after she travelled to England to watch his second debut for Manchester United.
But Ronaldo has admitted in the past that even he is a sucker for a cheat meal, with the Portugal legend opting for a pizza to avoid a 'boring' life.
He told YouTube channel : "The key is to take care of your body, train, do your recovery and eat properly.
"Although sometimes I do eat pizza with my son, otherwise it would be boring."
CR7 claimed in 2018 that he has a 'biological age of 23' - and wants to continue playing into his 40s.
Apart from the occasional treat with his boy, Cristiano Jr, Ronaldo sticks to a strict diet and has implemented Pilates-based routines that focus on resistance work to strengthen his core.
Post-match exercise has also become a huge part of his regime, as the Portugal skipper heads straight to the swimming pool after a game.
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But when Ronaldo first came to England, signing for Manchester United for the first time in 2003, he arrived with motivation having been called “too skinny” earlier in his career.
He revealed: "It’s true, I was skinny. I had no muscle.
“So I made a decision at 11 years old, I knew I had a lot of talent, but I decided that I was going to work harder than everybody.
"I started sneaking out of the dormitory at night to go work out. I got bigger and faster.
“I would walk onto the field, and the people who used to whisper, 'Yeah, but he’s so skinny,' now they would be looking at me like it was the end of the world."
Ronaldo returned to Old Trafford at the end of the summer transfer window, 12 years after leaving for Real Madrid.
Ronaldo's top tips
- Hard work: Motivation to be the best is key - which Ronaldo's five Ballons d'Or prove.
- The world is your gym: Don't limit yourself to exercising in one place. Complete your routine at home in the morning or at night.
- Booze ban: No more wild nights out if you want to stay so sculpted.
- You are what you eat: Balanced diet with plenty of protein to fuel your workouts is best. Sugary foods are worst.
- Ronnie says relax: Downtime at home with family and friends is a must, as well as plenty of sleep.
And as one of the highest-paid footballers in the world, he can afford luxuries like a Cryotherapy chamber - for muscle regeneration to help him continue at the top of his game.
The £50,000, walk-in piece of kit works miracles on the body, with Ronaldo having one installed in 2013 after hearing it had worked well for ex-Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery.
Standing in the chamber for around three minutes, liquid nitrogen freezes Ronaldo to between minus 160 and minus 200 degrees Celsius.
Cryotherapy beats muscle soreness and reduces swelling, inflammation or sprains - allowing the Red Devils forward to be ready for the next match or training session sooner.
It helps him recover from his five high-intensity workouts a week, which includes a lot of sprinting.
Though the Portuguese poster-boy insists all you need is a bedroom and spare time to get in shape.
He said: "We do a lot of sprinting drills in training and they can be incorporated into your workout whether you are in the gym or outdoors.
"Try and add it to every workout you do. Fit in exercise wherever you can.
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"You can do an abs workout in your bedroom when you wake up in the morning or before you go to bed.
"If you get into a routine then it makes it easier as it will become a habit."
Ronaldo is not a vegetarian and he does not eat a plant-based diet, but does limit his meat intake because of the higher fat content.
Fish is a key part of his diet with Lisbon speciality Bacalhau a Braz - a mixture of braised cod, onions, thinly sliced potatoes and scrambled eggs - one of his favourites.
Ronaldo has said: "I eat a high protein diet, with lots of whole grain carbs, fruit and vegetables, and avoid sugary food.
"Eat regularly. If you train regularly it’s important to keep energy levels high to fuel your body for better performance.
"I sometimes eat up to six smaller meals a day to make sure I have enough energy to perform each session at top level."
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