Lionel Messi, the standout player for Inter Miami, recently added the prestigious Fifa’s The Best award to his collection after leading Argentina to World Cup victory in December. Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo has been recognized as the player of the month in the Saudi Pro League for his impressive performances with his new team Al-Nassr, after making a dramatic departure from Manchester United.

Cristiano Ronaldo kept up his intense workout routine in his personal gym at home, according to his Instagram posts.

Lionel Messi put in the work at his home gym in Barcelona during the lockdown, just like many other footballers worldwide. Alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi was dedicated to maintaining his fitness with a strict training routine. Despite not having access to top training facilities, Messi showed off his skills with some unique toilet roll juggling before hitting the gym. His fully equipped workout space included treadmills, a spinning machine, and weights to help him stay in shape. He even shared a glimpse of his gym on social media while training with his son, Ciro. Messi was determined to keep his muscle definition and cardio fitness levels high while waiting for the season to resume.

Our first peek into Messi’s at-home training routine was when he wowed us with his impressive toilet-roll juggling on Instagram.

Messi hit the mat to strengthen his core with a little help from his son Ciro. 🏋️‍♂️💪 #FatherSonWorkout #FitnessFun

Incorporating lunges into your workout routine is crucial for strengthening your leg muscles and enhancing your speed, just like Messi.

Messi’s workout space includes a shrine dedicated to Muhammad Ali, complete with shelves for towels and various exercise equipment like weight machines, bars, and mats for core exercises. One particular exercise Messi has been spotted doing involves lifting small dumbbells above his head from his sides. All this is done with the presence of a mini-shrine to the former heavyweight boxing champion, Ali, watching over him.

In his quest to maintain his skills and abilities, Messi’s workout routine focuses on improving his speed. His training regime includes a variety of exercises such as pillar bridges, lunges, hamstring stretches, pillar skips, hurdle hops, split squats, and acceleration drills. These exercises help strengthen his core and leg muscles while also enhancing his multi-directional speed.

Messi stayed motivated and focused during his time in lockdown at home.

After completing his intense speed drills, Messi likes to cool down by using a treadmill.

Messi has not shown any signs of slowing down, and this is due to his dedicated training routine. He incorporates pillar skips, skipping ropes, squats, and lateral movements with daonal cones to keep his leg muscles strong and maintain his agility. With a football pitch in his own garden, Messi can do all of these exercises at home, followed by a cooldown jog on the treadmill.

In terms of his diet, Messi follows a strict regimen to stay in top shape. Italian nutritionalist Giuliano Poser created a personalized plan for him, which involved cutting out meat and pizza. Messi’s diet consists of water, olive oil, whole grains, fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. Poser emphasized the importance of avoiding sugar and refined flours, as they can negatively impact muscle health. By following this diet, Messi is able to perform at his best on the field.

Giuliano Poser is the individual credited with transforming his eating habits.

Messi made the decision to give up meat and his favorite pizza after seeking advice from Poser. Ronaldo, on the other hand, seems to be the epitome of good health and refused to take any time off during the lockdown. He delighted his fans by flaunting his toned physique in his home gym, equipped with various weight machines. Ronaldo began his quarantine in his luxurious mansion in Madeira, complete with a rooftop pool, and later rented another home in the same area. Just like Messi, Ronaldo prioritized core exercises with dumbbells in his indoor gym. However, he also incorporated Pilates into his routine to strengthen his core and stay flexible.

Ronaldo has been proud to share his intense workout sessions on his Instagram account.

During the time spent at home due to the coronavirus lockdown, Ronaldo has been dedicated to maintaining his sculpted abs.

Dumbbells are an essential part of Ronaldo’s core exercise routine, as revealed on his Instagram account @cristianoWORKOUT. Ronaldo once shared in an interview with FourFourTwo that even on days when he lacks motivation, he knows the importance of pushing himself to maintain his peak performance levels. In a recent video posted on Instagram, Ronaldo and his partner, Georgina Rodriguez, were seen engaging in intense sprinting drills up a steep driveway.

Apart from weight training, Ronaldo also incorporates swimming into his fitness regimen to work his arms, core, and leg muscles. To aid in muscle recovery, Ronaldo often indulges in hot and cold baths with massage jets while getting his required eight hours of sleep each night. Additionally, he takes multiple naps throughout the day to ensure proper rest and rejuvenation.

Ronaldo has found great utility in his driveway, using it to push through tough sprinting exercises. (Photo credit: Instagram @cristiano)