Cristiano Ronaldo’s diet influences Man United teammates and Jose Fonte said it’s the same when he plays for Portugal

It turns out it’s not just Manchester United players who have been inspired by legend Cristiano Ronaldo’s crazily strict diet and seriously shredded body.

In September, goalkeeper Lee Grant told talkSPORT the United squad – prior to Ronaldo’s debut against Newcastle – took one look at the 36-year-old’s plate and decided against having any dessert.

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“Not one player touched the apple crumble and custard, not one player went up for that brownie because everybody was sat down and one of the lads said to me, ‘What has Cristiano got on his plate?’

“So we were having a little goosey gander at what he has got and obviously it is the cleanest, most healthy plate you can imagine.”

And Jose Fonte, Ronaldo’s Portugal teammate, also revealed to talkSPORT the influence of the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s clean living has on those around him.

“One hundred per cent”, the Lille defender told the Breakfast show. “We always have a look at what he’s eating and what he’s doing”.

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“You know he’s the best and you want to replicate what he’s doing because he must be doing something right.

“Obviously as a rule he eats nice and clean, you know the nice quinoas and all this healthy stuff… A lot of eggs, sweet potatoes, the broccoli, he’s into that,” Fonte continued before adding he let’s himself have the occasional cheat meal.

So what are Ronaldo’s guilty pleasures when it comes to eating?

Apparently the forward always reaches for the balcalhau, a traditional Portuguese meal, which is dried and salted cod fish typically served with potatoes, onions, hard boiled eggs, olives and olive oil.

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Ronaldo also apparently enjoys ‘steak with chips and fried egg’ after the games.

“I’ve seen him eating a little bit of everything” Fonte added.

It’s easy to understand why even Ronaldo gives into the temptations as Fonte explained the Portuguese national team food ‘is just incredible.’

“You have to be careful when you go to the national team because when you come back you will be heavier” he laughed.

So maybe then, if one of the world’s best footballers can regularly eat steak and chips and still have the body of a god at the age of 36, there may well be hope for us all.