Cristiano Ronaldo has completely eliminated milk from his diet because he considers it unnatural for human consumption, according to his former personal chef Giorgio Barone.
The 41-year-old forward, who continues to defy age as he enters his fifth decade of professional football, is set to spearhead Portugal's campaign at this summer's World Cup.
Barone, speaking to covers.com, disclosed that the veteran striker's refusal to consume dairy stems from his belief that humans should not drink milk from other species.
Milk is consumed by more than 80 per cent of the world's population, which works out at roughly 6.5 billion people.
The revelation offers fresh insight into how Ronaldo maintains his famously sculpted physique, which has drawn widespread admiration throughout his extraordinary career.
"No milk," Barone told said. "Humans are the only animals that drink the milk of other animals. No other animal drinks milk after three months.
"Calves don't drink milk after the age of three months. Animals don't drink the milk of other animals."
Cristiano Ronaldo has completely eliminated milk from his diet because he considers it unnatural for human consumption, according to his former personal chef Giorgio Barone
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The chef elaborated on his client's philosophy, explaining that dairy consumption beyond infancy simply does not occur in the natural world.
"It does not exist in nature. Only human beings continue to drink milk up to 30, 40, 50, and 60 years, and in my view it is wrong," Barone said.
"We breastfeed from our mothers, like dogs, wolves, cows and donkeys. It is normal. After infancy it is not normal. It is against nature."
Cristiano Ronaldo retains a remarkable physique amid his footballing career
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Five things to know about Cristiano Ronaldo | GB NEWSBarone provided a detailed breakdown of Ronaldo's daily eating habits, describing a regime built around balance and discipline.
"Starting with breakfast, he would have an avocado with coffee, eggs and no sugar. Absolutely no sugar," the chef explained.
"Lunch could be chicken, fish and always vegetables. If he needs carbohydrates, he gets them through vegetables, so he doesn't need anything made with flour."
The Portuguese captain avoids pasta, bread and similar flour-based products entirely.
Baroke said: "Nothing like pasta, bread and other types of food.
"In the evening, he eats light foods, usually fish or meat in the form of fillet. It's always accompanied by vegetables."
Cristiano Ronaldo has always looked after his body
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Ronaldo's teammates have noted that Bacalhau a Bras, a traditional Portuguese dish featuring scrambled eggs, fried potatoes and salted cod, remains his preferred meal.
Ronaldo's body fat currently measures at a remarkable seven per cent, significantly below the eight to 12 per cent range typically expected of Premier League players.
The forward maintains his exceptional condition through training sessions lasting up to four hours daily, complemented by sauna sessions and ice baths for recovery.
His approach stands in stark contrast to Manchester City striker Erling Haaland, who has revealed that raw milk forms part of his nutritional plan alongside steak and organ meats such as liver and heart.
Barone expressed approval for consuming organs, calling them "superfoods" rich in iron, and confirmed that Ronaldo also enjoys liver.
"For the organs, I approve, but not for the milk," he said.