Cristiano Ronaldo - What does he do?

Blatter

What kind of workout routine do you think Ronaldo does? And what sort of diet do you think he works with (ratio of carbs,fats and protein). Do you think he's on many supplements? And if so, which ones?

Just wondering, I know it's probably impossible to emulate him, but if you trained and ate the exact same way he does, would you get similar/vastly improved levels of:

- Explosive acceleration and fast sprinting speed.

- Muscular endurance and strength in the lower body.

- Muscular balance and high levels of neuromuscular co-ordination.

- Body awareness and agility, the ability to know where your body is, and be able to move it.

- Good flexibility to avoid injury

- Correct balance between your quadriceps and hamstrings, as well as strength imbalances between your left and right leg.

Here's a recent enough pic of him for those who haven't seen him in a while..



NOTE: This is not a thread about how to look like Cristiano Ronaldo, it is inquiring about what people think Ronaldo does to achieve his excellent footballing attributes. Although I accept the two may come hand in hand.

SanoVitae

SOCCER4LIFE wrote: »

And what sort of diet do you think he works with (ratio of carbs,fats and protein).

Footballers tend to eat more carbs than would be generally recommended on these forums. That's certainly true of the Chelsea team - I read their training and nutrition schedule recently. They do a lot of running (sprinting and jogging) which helps maintain their very low bodyfat levels.

SOCCER4LIFE wrote: »

If you trained and ate the exact same way he does, would you get similar/vastly improved levels of:

- Explosive acceleration and fast sprinting speed.

If you did the same sprinting drills which he does in training, I'm sure your sprinting would improve.

SOCCER4LIFE wrote: »

- Muscular endurance and strength in the lower body.

Again, Ronaldo has clearly been hitting the weights big time since he first arrived at United as a skilful but scrawy 17 year old. I'm sure if you trained as hard as he does, your lower body would get much stronger. The interval traiing he does would help you improve your muscular endurance.

SOCCER4LIFE wrote: »

- Muscular balance and high levels of neuromuscular co-ordination.

What do you mean by muscular balance? Muscular symmetry or the ability to stay balanced?

SOCCER4LIFE wrote: »

- Body awareness and agility, the ability to know where your body is, and be able to move it.

Not sure exactly what you mean by this. Regardless, I doubt his routine (or anyone else's) could help you develop these skills.

SOCCER4LIFE wrote: »

- Good flexibility to avoid injury

I'm sure if you did as much regular stretching as he does, it would help improve your flexibility. Of course, this would depend on how flexible/inflexible you are to begin with. If, for example, you don't do any stretching currently, you'll see big improvements if you introduce any flexibility work regularly.

SOCCER4LIFE wrote: »

- Correct balance between your quadriceps and hamstrings, as well as strength imbalances between your left and right leg.

This would be impossible to predict because we don't know what his program is and what imbalances he may have (if any) and what ones you have.

In short, Ronaldo has a routine designed specifically for his needs, his body and his goals. While most people would benefit from training as hard and regularly as professional athletes, it's impossible to mimic their results, especially if you don't know exactly how they are training in the first place.

Hope that helps,

Paul

Money Shot

SOCCER4LIFE wrote: »

NOTE: This is not a thread about how to look like Cristiano Ronaldo, it is inquiring about what people think Ronaldo does to achieve his excellent footballing attributes. Although I accept the two may come hand in hand.

Might be easier if you did just want to look like him - Some false tan, tin tin hairstyle and shed a load of weigh

Blatter

Thanks for the reply Paul,

What do you mean by muscular balance? Muscular symmetry or the ability to stay balanced?

I assumed that that having good muscular symmetry is a must if your ability to stay balanced is to be maximised. Am open to correction here of course.

In short, Ronaldo has a routine designed specifically for his needs, his body and his goals. While most people would benefit from training as hard and regularly as professional athletes, it's impossible to mimic their results, especially if you don't know exactly how they are training in the first place.

It's the reason why I started this thread, to try and get opinions from fitness experts to try and construct a workout plan and diet that they think he has, that has given him his extraordinary results.

Thanks.

Hanley

SOCCER4LIFE wrote: »

workout plan and diet that .... has given him his extraordinary results.

No... natural talent and lots of football have given him that result...

Blatter

Hanley wrote: »

No... natural talent and lots of football have given him that result...

Sorry, should have said workout plan and diet that have (greatly) contibuted to his extraordinary results.

I think it would be naive to think that Ronaldo results are purely down to lots of football and natural talent.
It's well documented how seriously Ronaldo takes his training(First on the training ground and last to leave, no alcohol etc.)

PCPhoto

may mean nothing but I think I read somewhere that he does Capaoiare .... its spelled wrong I know but it is a brazilian dance/attack martial art.

itsallaboutheL

SOCCER4LIFE wrote: »

I think it would be naive to think that Ronaldo results are purely down to lots of football and natural talent.

i think it would be a fairly sound conclusion to come to myself. Training will only take you so far if you don't have the natural ability you're screwed.

d'Oracle

He does 1000 sit ups a day.

Or at least he said so in an interview.
Probably jokingly.
And it was taken as gospel around the world.

dynamot

I would definitely say that Ronaldo does some supplementary work in the gym that would not necessarily help him with his football (biceps, traps etc). The guy is a poser. If you want to improve your game, stick to specific skills training along with tried and tested fitness frameworks for football ( sprints, core work, plyometrics, flexibility). If you want to be a male model....

Blatter

itsallaboutheL wrote: »

i think it would be a fairly sound conclusion to come to myself. Training will only take you so far if you don't have the natural ability you're screwed.

Some do agree with that concensus, but alot don't. Others believe it's all about self-belief and hard work. That you can be whatever you want to be with the correct guidance and hard work. But that debate is for a whole other thread.

Surely if one adopted Ronaldo's exact diet and workout routine, they would see great improvements, I'm not saying you will be him, but surely you will develop some of his traits and be better of for it?

itsallaboutheL

SOCCER4LIFE wrote: »

Some do agree with that concensus, but alot don't. Others believe it's all about self-belief and hard work. That you can be whatever you want to be with the correct guidance and hard work. But that debate is for a whole other thread.

Surely if one adopted Ronaldo's exact diet and workout routine, the would see immeasurable improvements, I'm not saying you will be him, but surely you will develop some of his traits and be better of for it?

Your second point contradicts your first.

But, yeah, you'd certainly see measureable improvements, assuming you're not already training.

greendom

SOCCER4LIFE wrote: »

What kind of workout routine do you think Ronaldo does? And what sort of diet do you think he works with (ratio of carbs,fats and protein). Do you think he's on many supplements? And if so, which ones?

Just wondering, I know it's probably impossible to emulate him, but if you trained and ate the exact same way he does, would you get similar/vastly improved levels of:

- Explosive acceleration and fast sprinting speed.

- Muscular endurance and strength in the lower body.

- Muscular balance and high levels of neuromuscular co-ordination.

- Body awareness and agility, the ability to know where your body is, and be able to move it.

- Good flexibility to avoid injury

- Correct balance between your quadriceps and hamstrings, as well as strength imbalances between your left and right leg.

Here's a recent enough pic of him for those who haven't seen him in a while..



NOTE: This is not a thread about how to look like Cristiano Ronaldo, it is inquiring about what people think Ronaldo does to achieve his excellent footballing attributes. Although I accept the two may come hand in hand.

Freaky picture - he looks like he's turning into a giraffe - albeit a heavily muscled one.

Hanley

SOCCER4LIFE wrote: »

Sorry, should have said workout plan and diet that have (greatly) contibuted to his extraordinary results.

I think it would be naive to think that Ronaldo results are purely down to lots of football and natural talent.
It's well documented how seriously Ronaldo takes his training(First on the training ground and last to leave, no alcohol etc.)

He was already one of the best players in the world as a skinny 18 year old. Gym work did nothing for that.

I think it would be naive to think that his "extraordinary results" are down to anything other than footballing skill. His touch, control and ability to read the game aren't even second cousins twice removed when it comes to skills which can be influenced by work in the gym or diet.

SOCCER4LIFE wrote: »

Some do agree with that concensus, but alot don't. Others believe it's all about self-belief and hard work. That you can be whatever you want to be with the correct guidance and hard work. But that debate is for a whole other thread.

Yes... one are realists, and the others are ostriches. Care to guess which is which?

Oh wait... can I say that?! I should be saying "anyone can be who they want to be". I've first hand experience in knowing guys who've made it to championship/premiership level football thanks to god given talent and hard work, and guys who've done superhuman levels of work and only made it to say a scholarship level with a US university. Still seriously impressive, but they just didn't have that X factor when it came to making it to the big show.

Surely if one adopted Ronaldo's exact diet and workout routine, they would see great improvements, I'm not saying you will be him, but surely you will develop some of his traits and be better of for it?

Improvements at what? On field ability or appearance?

Yeah a better fitness level and more muscularity will help, but only so far. It'll never make a mediocre player great if they don't have footballing skill.

SanoVitae

SOCCER4LIFE - it seems to me that you're blurring physical improvements and improvements in his footballing skills.

As has been already said, following his exercise routine will most likely get you good results in terms of getting in good shape, but it'll do nothing to improve your soccer skills.

Increased strength will make him a better player though (e.g. harder to knock off the ball). Didier Drogba is another example of a player whose sheer physicality makes him a nightmare to play against. The whole Arsenal team could do with some serious strength because all the skill in the world is never enough when competing against equally skilled, yet much stronger opponents.

Blatter

He was already one of the best players in the world as a skinny 18 year old. Gym work did nothing for that.

Would have to strongly disagree with that, he was no where close to world class when he was a skinny 18 year old.

I think it would be naive to think that his "extraordinary results" are down to anything other than footballing skill. His touch, control and ability to read the game aren't even second cousins twice removed when it comes to skills which can be influenced by work in the gym or diet.

But his superior strength, speed, flexibility, balance and stamina can be attributed to the gym. I think these attributes, along with his finishing ability, sets him apart from the rest IMHO. Ever hear the saying 'Ronaldo is not a great football player, he's a very good football player, that's a great athlete.''

Yes... one are realists, and the others are ostriches. Care to guess which is which?

Oh wait... can I say that?! I should be saying "anyone can be who they want to be". I've first hand experience in knowing guys who've made it to championship/premiership level football thanks to god given talent and hard work, and guys who've done superhuman levels of work and only made it to say a scholarship level with a US university. Still seriously impressive, but they just didn't have that X factor when it came to making it to the big show.

I don't think anyone is born with a natural ability to play football. I think it's all about how frequent you played it from a young age. All of the great players have spent the majority of their youth playing football constantly, Playing hours and hours a day on end. I think this is what makes great players, not 'being born with natural ability' but rather developing footballing skills from a young age and practising them for hours every day. I think the fact that Argentina and Brazil produce so much outstanding talent is a testament to this theory.

SanoVitae

SOCCER4LIFE wrote: »

But his superior strength, speed, flexibility, balance and stamina can be attributed to the gym.

Strength - yes

Speed - no (all the gym work in the world will not turn you into a Usain Bolt)

Flexibility - yes (though I don't think this is one of the factors behind his footballing success)

Stamina - yes (but given the fact that he only plays for himself and not for the team, we never really get to see it!!!)

Blatter

SOCCER4LIFE - it seems to me that you're blurring physical improvements and improvements in his footballing skills.

As has been already said, following his exercise routine will most likely get you good results in terms of getting in good shape, but it'll do nothing to improve your soccer skills.

I know following his workout routine and diet will not develop my first touch, finishing, dribbling etc:). but it will surely make me stronger, faster, explosive burst of accelleration, more flexible, more agile, better stamina etc. I am of the opinion that these attributes combined with his footballing ones, make him the player he is. So my thinking behind it is, if I can match Ronaldo's attributes that he gets from the gym/training/diet, and combine it with my own footballing ability( which is sh!te:P) that I would become a much better player for it.

Increased strength will make him a better player though (e.g. harder to knock off the ball). Didier Drogba is another example of a player whose sheer physicality makes him a nightmare to play against. The whole Arsenal team could do with some serious strength because all the skill in the world is never enough when competing against equally skilled, yet much stronger opponents.

I remember reading that the average weight of the Chelsea team is 13-14 stone and the average weight of the Arsenal team is 10.5-11.5 stone.

And they wonder why they can't compete with them on the pitch:p

SanoVitae

SOCCER4LIFE wrote: »

So my thinking behind it is, if I can match Ronaldo's attributes that he gets from the gym/training/diet, and combine it with my own footballing ability( which is sh!te:P) that I would become a much better player for it.

I don't think anyone on this thread would disagree with that.

It's just that it's his football skills, not his physical attributes, which separates him from other footballers. If it wasn't, then the best footballer would always be the one who was the strongest, quickest, most flexible etc.

It's the same in tennis with Rafa Nadal. As much as his physical strength helps him, it's not responsible for any of the amazing shots he's able to play.

Blatter

Just found his typical weights training workout online, don't know how reliable the source is though...


Total weight lifted during a training session based on 6 reps x 4 sets of:
Squat 150 kgs x 4 x 6 = 3,600 kgs
Bench Press 100 kgs = 2,400 kgs
Clean 75 kgs = 1,800 kgs
Leg Press 200 kgs = 4,800 kgs
Dead Leg 200 kgs = 4,800 kgs
Shoulder Press 70 kgs = 1,680 kgs
Arm Curl 30 kgs = 720 kgs
Tricep Curl 20 kgs = 480 kgs
Pull up 75 kgs = 1,800 kgs
Bench Dip 75 kgs = 1,800 kgs
Bridge x 5 75 kgs = 375 kgs
Total kgs lifted = 24,355 kgs

Does that workout sound about right for him?

Read somewhere else he does HIIT 5 days a week, with 20-30 sprints in each session.

Magic Eight Ball

Ronaldo has a 200kg deadlift and 100kg bench?

SanoVitae

His trap development suggest he does a lot of cleans and deadlifts.

While he has a reputation for being a pretty boy, I'm sure he puts in lots of work when it comes to weights.

Blatter

SanoVitae wrote: »

I don't think anyone on this thread would disagree with that.

It's just that it's his football skills, not his physical attributes, which separates him from other footballers. If it wasn't, then the best footballer would always be the one who was the strongest, quickest, most flexible etc.

It's the same in tennis with Rafa Nadal. As much as his physical strength helps him, it's not responsible for any of the amazing shots he's able to play.

You say it's his footballing attributes that set him apart from the rest but I don't think his actual footballing ability is as good as Messi's or Kaka's. Messi is a far better passer, has a better first touch, better vision. But still, I think Ronaldo makes as much of an impact because his superior physical attributes and this, IMHO brings him to the status of world class. That's just my opinion mind you.

SanoVitae

Magic Eight Ball wrote: »

Ronaldo has a 200kg deadlift and 100kg bench?

Given that Andre Agassi was said to have been able to bench 350 pounds at 33 (http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2003/jul/29/20030729-120028-8894r/?page=2), it's not exactly impossible that Ronaldo can bench 220 pounds at the age of 25.

However his height and physique lends itself more to deadlifting than bench pressing.

brianthebard

SanoVitae wrote: »

His trap development suggest he does a lot of cleans and deadlifts.

While he has a reputation for being a pretty boy, I'm sure he puts in lots of work when it comes to weights.

What traps???

ray jay

SOCCER4LIFE wrote: »

Surely if one adopted Ronaldo's exact diet and workout routine, they would see great improvements, I'm not saying you will be him, but surely you will develop some of his traits and be better of for it?

the great majority of people wouldn't be able to handle the training a top-class athlete does, nor would they have the time for it. Aping michael phelps or jay cutler's routines with the assumption that that's how they got to their level ignores the fact that they had to work up to that level in the first place. It's not like you can just decide to jump from 3500 calories/day and 20 lengths of the pool to eating 12000 cal/day and swimming for hours on end

Remmy

brianthebard wrote: »

What traps???

are you kidding me?the dudes yoked more than a Jim Wendler Ronnie Coleman lovechild..

Blatter

ray jay wrote: »

the great majority of people wouldn't be able to handle the training a top-class athlete does, nor would they have the time for it. Aping michael phelps or jay cutler's routines with the assumption that that's how they got to their level ignores the fact that they had to work up to that level in the first place. It's not like you can just decide to jump from 3500 calories/day and 20 lengths of the pool to eating 12000 cal/day and swimming for hours on end

I do realise this, but man I have a serious amount of time on my hands and would love to try and build up to Ronaldo's level of workout. I am under no illusions that it would be extremely difficult thing to do, and a huge comitment.

Blatter

That workout I posted, is it in line with his strength and physique do you guys reckon?

Remmy

In fairness to his physique I saw a different shot of him and he does have impressive lats considering he's kinda small.

brianthebard

SOCCER4LIFE wrote: »

That workout I posted, is it in line with his strength and physique do you guys reckon?

I don't think anyone can know the answer to that with any sort of accuracy. If you need to get stronger just start a basic strength programme and stop thinking so much about what ronaldo's doing.

kevpants

OP I agree with you on the natural talent thing. It's a myth.

I think what you're trying to achieve is misplaced, just mimicking a successful footballer because it helped him achieve his goals. What do you want to achieve from this?

Just be Cristiano Ronaldo without the skills?

You could go far beyond his workout. Most of the somewhat experienced lifters here could do that weight routine in their sleep. The biggest challenge to Ronaldo is the 50 odd games a season he has to perform in, not his training.

Blatter

kevpants wrote: »

OP I agree with you on the natural talent thing. It's a myth.

I think what you're trying to achieve is misplaced, just mimicking a successful footballer because it helped him achieve his goals. What do you want to achieve from this?

Just be Cristiano Ronaldo without the skills?

You could go far beyond his workout. Most of the somewhat experienced lifters here could do that weight routine in their sleep. The biggest challenge to Ronaldo is the 50 odd games a season he has to perform in, not his training.

Well, I'm a footballer, and just want to maximise my strength, acceleration, balance, agility, flexibility with respect to football and I can't think of a better role model to do this than Ronaldo.

So yeah, I basically want to emulate Cristiano Ronaldo, be as fit and strong as him, and hopefully improve my own footballing skills along the way.

On the talent thing, alot of people don't realise it and accept they can 'never be this or never be that' but it's a fact that we acquire everything through practice and repetition.

TheZ

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outliers_(book)

Hanley

On the practice makes the player thing - agreed, but moot. If you're old enough to post on the internet and form logical coherent arguments, you've almost missed out on the most important developmental phase in making you into a player like Ronaldo.

On his training... it's incredibly high volume. I MIGHT be willing to believe it if that's a pre-season programme that doesn't run for too long. There's no way he could handle that much lifting, HIIT, train and play matches.

And as for gym work not improving your speed?!!?! (and by speed I'm talking about acceleration here...) BULL-SH!T.

Blatter

Hanley wrote: »

On the practice makes the player thing - agreed, but moot. If you're old enough to post on the internet and form logical coherent arguments, you've almost missed out on the most important developmental phase in making you into a player like Ronaldo.

On his training... it's incredibly high volume. I MIGHT be willing to believe it if that's a pre-season programme that doesn't run for too long. There's no way he could handle that much lifting, HIIT, train and play matches.

And as for gym work not improving your speed?!!?! (and by speed I'm talking about acceleration here...) BULL-SH!T.

I would 100% agree with you that Ive missed out on the most important development phase(If I could turn back the clock, I would be 5 again and be playing everyday for hours on end) and have am under no illusions about becoming a ronaldo:pac: but that dosen't stop me from trying to achieve my own maximum potential now and I don't see any better way of doing it than trying to emulate Ronaldo's workout and play football as often as I can.

And Yes I thought doing HIIT makes you faster? And creatine?

Thanks for your opinion on the workout routine..

Hanley

SOCCER4LIFE wrote: »

And Yes I thought doing HIIT makes you faster? And creatine?

Being stronger and more powerful makes you faster.

I'm sure HIIT would have an effect insofar as you're running more frequently, but it probably wouldn't be the best way. Specific speed and running mechaics work would most likely be better, but I know nothing about it so can say no more.

As for creatine.. naaaaaaaahh. Might allow you to more sprints more frequently in a short period of time and maintain a high output, but top speed? I doubt it.

itsallaboutheL

SOCCER4LIFE wrote: »

I would 100% agree with you that Ive missed out on the most important development phase(If I could turn back the clock, I would be 5 again and be playing everyday for hours on end) and have am under no illusions about becoming a ronaldo:pac: but that dosen't stop me from trying to achieve my own maximum potential now and I don't see any better way of doing it than trying to emulate Ronaldo's workout and play football as often as I can.

Dude, you're not a professional sportsman, and you don't seem to be comming from a training background, you can't just adopt the training program of a top class athelete from the get go.

If that worked i'd be doing ryan kennellys bench program.

Blatter

itsallaboutheL wrote: »

Dude, you're not a professional sportsman, and you don't seem to be comming from a training background, you can't just adopt the training program of a top class athelete from the get go.

If that worked i'd be doing ryan kennellys bench program.

I know man, I've already said I'm under no illusions with regards that.
I have a shed load of time and want to work towards his workout, not start at his workout.

Another quick question, how long do you think it will take to build up to his level of cardiovascular fitness? Obviously I'm nt going to be lifting anything near what he does for months, but I always assumed it's a much quicker process to build up your cardiovascular fitness than your strength. I could be completely wrong on this, though.

the drifter

Right ive deleted some posts

Hanley & SOCCER4LIFE let that be the end of it. this thread was actually going pretty well.I like it to remain that way.

Lantus

I would say theres a few factors in his favour to give him that look: -

1/ Probably genetically inclined to be leaner and have a lower BF%
2/ Young, an immediate BF% lower figure
3/ Has some of the best trainers and advisers money can buy for that extra helping hand....

Kev M

I'd say just go ahead and emulate him. I mean loads of bodybuilders/powerlifters start out by just emulating the top guys, and usually learn alot this way, before refining their training philosophies over time. Don't know if I'd believe that's his workout though, looks like a lot to do along with all his other training/matches. And would be skeptical about them being his actual training poundages too, in the same way I'm skeptical about Tiger Woods casually benching 405lbs.

On another more important note, I wonder is Ronaldo stronger than Brad Pitt in fight club...

Mellor

SOCCER4LIFE wrote: »

Would have to strongly disagree with that, he was no where close to world class when he was a skinny 18 year old.

UEFA Team of the Year 2003/2004 season

FYI he was 18/19 this season


IMO, looking at his weight lifted it totally pointless for you. If you are considerable tall, bigger, broader, or skinier, shorter, different proportions, you are going to have different potential in all sorts of lifts.
By all mans use those excercises as a base, aim for your best, don't worrk about his numbers (which I'd doubt tbh)

Kev M wrote:

On another more important note, I wonder is Ronaldo stronger than Brad Pitt in fight club...

http://www.bradpittworkout.com/brad-pitt-fight-club-workout.php

pfft, no leg work, but I suppose he was normally wearing pants in the film.

omniscient_toad

I really don't think you should get too fixated on a "Ronaldo workout", in all likelihood there isn't even such a specific thing, at Manchester and Madrid he's likely surrounded by full time strength and conditioning coaches who will be constantly monitoring him and adjusting all the time depending on how he's responding and what stage of the season it is. There probably is no fixed workout anyone can list.

And on the importance of physical strength/balance etc vs natural ability you only have to compare him to Ade Akinbiyi :



If anything considerably more physically impressive but not even a fraction of the player, still it would make a more unusual target to emulate :P

Blatter

Cheers for the info, I did think about myself having different potential for different lifts, must get a list of all soccer weight workouts and go to a good personal trainer for advice on the ones I'd me most suited for...

UEFA Team of the Year 2003/2004 season

FYI he was 18/19 this season

To be fair, those UEFA teams of the year mean next to nothing.
That season he got in it, United got knocked out against the eventual winners Porto in the last 16, and Ronaldo actually came off early on in the penultimate return leg due to injury.(Don't ask me how I remember this)
So the only games where Ronaldo could have impacted were against Panathinaikos, Stuttgart and Rangers. It's worth noting that Ronaldo actually failed to score in all the games, and was actually hauled off early in the second half in the away fixture at Stuttgart and didn't even play in the return fixture at Old trafford(Again, don't ask me how I remember this, I seem to have this weird ability to remember the details of every game I saw:pac:). Even if he did play unbelievable in those other games, he can be hardly called 'world class'.

If you asked over on the soccer forum I think people would unanimously tell you he wasn't world class back then at all and that he only became World class ever since the 2006 world cup, when he was 21-22.:)

Blatter

omniscient_toad wrote: »

I really don't think you should get too fixated on a "Ronaldo workout", in all likelihood there isn't even such a specific thing, at Manchester and Madrid he's likely surrounded by full time strength and conditioning coaches who will be constantly monitoring him and adjusting all the time depending on how he's responding and what stage of the season it is. There probably is no fixed workout anyone can list.

And on the importance of physical strength/balance etc vs natural ability you only have to compare him to Ade Akinbiyi :



If anything considerably more physically impressive but not even a fraction of the player, still it would make a more unusual target to emulate :P

Man Ade Akinbiyi was carrying way too much muscle for a striker, Just looking at him there now, it would have seriously slowed him down.

I know your not gonna become a great player by just maximising your physical attributes(with respect to soccer) but by becoming as fast and as strong as you can would surely improve any player greatly.

Edwardius

Mellor wrote: »

UEFA Team of the Year 2003/2004 season


http://www.bradpittworkout.com/brad-pitt-fight-club-workout.php

pfft, no leg work, but I suppose he was normally wearing pants in the film.

There's a Brad Pitt workout website? That makes me sad . Wonder if they'll start doing certs.

/off topic
/insomnia

Mellor

SOCCER4LIFE wrote: »

To be fair, those UEFA teams of the year mean next to nothing.
That season he got in it, United got knocked out against the eventual winners Porto in the last 16, and Ronaldo actually came off early on in the penultimate return leg due to injury.(Don't ask me how I remember this)
So the only games where Ronaldo could have impacted were against Panathinaikos, Stuttgart and Rangers. It's worth noting that Ronaldo actually failed to score in all the games, and was actually hauled off early in the second half in the away fixture at Stuttgart and didn't even play in the return fixture at Old trafford(Again, don't ask me how I remember this, I seem to have this weird ability to remember the details of every game I saw:pac:). Even if he did play unbelievable in those other games, he can be hardly called 'world class'.

It's based on matches at european club level, not just champions league matches.

And you are totally missing the point.
It was put to you that he was already damn good before he would of started any sort strength and conditioning program down to nothing more than talent and playing football. Your reply was dismissive and that he wasn't world class until he was older, I was highlighting, while he didn't peak, he was still a class footballer at 18, purely on natural talent and playing loads of football.

Hanley

SOCCER4LIFE wrote: »

Man Ade Akinbiyi was carrying way too much muscle for a striker, Just looking at him there now, it would have seriously slowed him down.

Usain Bolt and most of the NFL running backs might have something to say about that...

dumb_parade

Mellor wrote: »

It's based on matches at european club level, not just champions league matches.

And you are totally missing the point.
It was put to you that he was already damn good before he would of started any sort strength and conditioning program down to nothing more than talent and playing football. Your reply was dismissive and that he wasn't world class until he was older, I was highlighting, while he didn't peak, he was still a class footballer at 18, purely on natural talent and playing loads of football.

I think its safe to say he was a world class 18 year old when compared to his peers. His physical atrributes improved over the next few years but he always had his pace and balance even at that age. An awful lot of it is down to genetics.

GreeBo

Hanley wrote: »

Usain Bolt and most of the NFL running backs might have something to say about that...

Agreed, take a look at the fastest men in the world over the last 10 years...they are hugely muscular men.