In the 18 games since last January's Ballon d'Or, Lionel Messi has increased his goal scoring rate by 50% in comparison to the 18 matches before the ceremony. This huge improvement can be explained, according to The Mirror, by a change in diet which saw him lose five kilos by the end of 2014.
After Pep Guardiola left Barca the strict dietary regime which had banned Messi from consuming fizzy drinks, ice cream, and pretty much everything which mere mortals would enjoy, left with him. However, by the start of this season, the Barcelona no.10 was apparently set of regaining his seat as the world's best player and met once again with his old sports nutritionist Giuliano Poser.
Messi y cia papá Jorge, Rodrigo (hermano) y @lucianovietto36 esta mañana en Pordenone (Italia) visitando al Dr Poser pic.twitter.com/fvDVYL7L8N
— Lucas Fabian (@Lucasfabi) April 23, 2015
Poser issued him some strict instructions, which The Mirror describe quite bluntly, 'Messi was told, according to well-informed Argentine journalist Veronica Brunati, to eat only what his body needs, not what it wants.'
There was the obvious ban on alcohol, tobacco, processed foods and the like, which more of an emphasis on fresh produce, as Poser described to an Italian paper:
Vegetables, seasonal fruits and a good mineral water are essential fuels for our muscles. You have to reduce the intake of processed foods or foods contaminated with pesticides, herbicides, antibiotics, medications.
However, there is another aspect which Poser mentions but unfortunately does not elaborate on:
Compound exercises and emotional therapies, with the help of psychotherapists and using Bach flower remedies.
Emotional therapies? Perhaps he has a photo of Cristiano Ronaldo stuck to a dartboard at home.
