Messi's favorite meat dish helps him maintain peak performance

Beyond pasta and grilled meat, the breaded and fried milanesa holds a special place in Lionel Messi's heart, helping him sustain his physical condition and top-tier performance.

Many wonder about the daily diet that enables Argentine superstar Lionel Messi to maintain such an enduring physical condition when witnessing his world-class displays on the field. To consistently achieve peak performance, Messi strictly adheres to science-backed nutritional advice from expert Ismael Galancho.

This meticulous physical preparation paid off with his brilliant performance at the 2026 World Cup. In the thrilling semifinal match earlier today, the captain wearing jersey number 10 shone brightly, orchestrating play and leading Argentina to a comeback victory against England.

Speaking to the sports website Marca, he stated his preference for simple meals, only occasionally indulging in sweets. Among his favorite dishes, the forward specifically named grilled meat, pasta, and milanesa. While grilled meat and pasta are well-known to fans, what exactly is milanesa that it has captured the world champion's heart?

Lionel Messi celebrates with teammates after the 2026 World Cup semifinal match between England and Argentina in Atlanta, U.S., on 15/7. Photo: AFP/JiJi

Before moving to play for Inter Miami and Paris Saint-Germain, Lionel Messi spent nearly 20 years with FC Barcelona in Spain's La Liga. Despite this, Messi's definition of "breaded and fried meat fillet" bears little relation to the cuisine of the land of bullfighting (Spain).

In reality, milanesa is a popular dish in Argentina, Messi's homeland. This dish is typically made from beef or chicken, where the meat is pounded thin into a fillet, then coated in flour, egg, and breadcrumbs before being deep-fried until crispy.

Argentine cuisine boasts variations of this dish, from the traditional fried version served with french fries to the renowned "milanesa napolitana", generously topped with tomato sauce, ham, and a layer of rich, melted cheese.

Messi cooking in a 2014 video. Video: Leomessi Instagram

Regarding its origin, the name milanesa originates from Milan, a city in Italy. However, diners would be hard-pressed to order a plate of milanesa and even less likely to find "milanesa napolitana" in Milan, as servers would likely look confused by the spontaneous combination of northern and southern Italian culinary styles. Instead, the authentic dish there is "costoletta alla milanese", a breaded and fried veal chop.

Historically, the dish immigrated to Argentina with Italian settlers from the Lombardy region during the large wave of European migration in the late 19th century, gradually becoming a national favorite. Today's versatility of milanesa allows the meat to be transformed into a pizza base, allowing for creative toppings ranging from bananas to mushrooms, or even tucked into a sandwich for a meal on the go.

The combination of high protein nutritional value, convenience, and diverse versatility are why Lionel Messi chooses milanesa as his energy-boosting meal to sustain his streak of top-tier performance, Mashed reports.