Lionel Messi gave up processed food in diet change that triggered Treble-winning season

Doctor Giuliano Poser said Lionel Messi’s diet changes influenced form
Messi cut processed foods from his diet as part of his physical overhaul
Messi now has the treble and is favourite to reclaim the Ballon d’Or
READ: Lionel Messi stars in UEFA Champions League squad of the season

Published:
09:42 GMT, 10 June 2015

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Updated:
12:02 GMT, 10 June 2015

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Alterations Lionel Messi made to his diet were behind the Argentina star’s form resurgence that led Barcelona to the treble-clinching treble, claims his doctor and nutritionist Giuliano Poser.

Messi returned to Poser, who he first visited in 2008, after his form slumped following Argentina’s World Cup final defeat by Germany.

And after a tough start to the season the four-time Ballon d’Or winner is being rewarded for his discipline with fitness and phenomenal form along with the La Liga, Copa del Rey and Champions League titles.

Lionel Messi, on duty with Argentina at Copa America, changed his diet and transform his form, say doctor

Nutritionist Giuliano Poser says his post-World Cup diet alterations brought the superstar back to his best

‘After the World Cup maybe something changed,’ Poser told La Gazzetta dello Sport. ‘Messi has probably realised that he could change something.

‘Leo is a humble guy. He won everything but he still wants to continue to excel for many years.

‘He understood that to do so he had to change something. Leo had the humility to try to do something different in his professional life.’

Barcelona were considered a club in crisis for the first half of the season, off the top of La Liga and with Messi at the centre of dramas behind the scenes with new manager Luis Enrique.

Messi treats himself to a buttery croissant as he enjoys a quiet breakfast with the Champions League trophy

Messi needed to change something and had the humility to try something different, says Dr Poser

But a substantial turnaround leaves Barca with the treble and Messi in sensational form with a goal tally of 58 from 60 matches, and is the red-hot favourite to reclaim the World Player of the Year title lost for the last two years to Cristiano Ronaldo.

‘It is from January going strong, with the exception of the three weeks following the Clasico with Real Madrid on 22 March when he suffered a bruised foot,’ Poser tells the Italian paper.

‘He changed his diet: no more processed food and he replaced it with foods rich in vitamins, minerals, fibre contained in whole grains, fruit, vegetables, fish and olive oil.’