Football players who are vegan: Bayern Munich’s star thriving on a meat-free diet

At the highest level, football is an intensely demanding sport. Constant movement, repeated sprints and physical duels place a heavy strain on players’ energy levels throughout a match. For that reason, a footballer’s diet is typically built around high-energy foods, with meat often seen as a key source of protein to aid recovery and maintain peak condition.

However, a growing number of players have chosen a different path. Some have adopted a plant-based diet, convinced that cutting out meat can enhance their performance and overall fitness. Their displays on the pitch, in many cases, suggest that the approach can be just as effective at the elite level.

In this article, Soccer24.net presents several football players who are vegan, examining how their dietary choices translate into performance on the field.

Football players who are vegan

5. Chris Smalling

Chris Smalling is widely regarded as one of the strongest examples of plant-based longevity in European football. The former Manchester United defender began his transition in 2017, largely influenced by his wife. He initially cut out red meat before removing chicken and fish, with eggs the final product to be excluded from his diet.

Since then, his nutrition has centred on plant-based meals, including vegan pasta dishes and protein sources such as beans, chickpeas, lentils and tofu. The change has also been linked to notable physical improvements. Smalling had struggled with chronic knee tendonitis for more than two years, yet he later revealed that the symptoms faded after adopting a fully vegan diet, which he attributed to reduced inflammation.

Moreover, staff at both Manchester United and AS Roma observed quicker muscle recovery and improved condition. Now playing for Al-Fayha FC, Smalling continues to perform at a high level, offering a clear example of sustained performance through dietary change.

4. Héctor Bellerín

Similar to Chris Smalling, Héctor Bellerín has become one of the most well-documented advocates of veganism in modern football. His transition began in 2017 during pre-season with Arsenal FC, initially as a short three-week experiment aimed at improving his energy levels. However, the results were immediate, and he chose to maintain the diet long-term.

Bellerín’s nutrition is centred on whole plant-based foods, with a focus on legumes such as lentils and chickpeas, alongside seeds, nuts and complex carbohydrates including quinoa and brown rice. He has often pointed out that eliminating animal products helped him avoid the heavy feeling he previously experienced during demanding training periods.

The benefits have also been evident in his physical condition. The Spanish full-back had struggled with recurring ankle inflammation, yet he later revealed that the issue subsided within months of adopting a vegan diet. Now 31, and playing for Real Betis, Bellerín continues to compete at a high level, underlining the potential of plant-based nutrition in elite football.

3. Saúl Ñíguez

Unlike many players who adopt plant-based diets in search of marginal gains, Saúl Ñíguez made the switch out of medical necessity. The turning point came in 2015 during a UEFA Champions League tie against Bayer Leverkusen, when he suffered a heavy blow to the kidney that resulted in internal bleeding and a hematoma.

In the aftermath, Saúl was advised to reassess his diet. High levels of animal protein can place added strain on kidney function, particularly in processing metabolic waste. As a result, he shifted towards a plant-heavy, near-vegan approach, focusing on legumes such as beans and lentils, along with soy-based protein sources.

The adjustment helped reduce the metabolic burden on his kidneys, allowing for more efficient recovery and muscle repair. At his peak with Atlético Madrid, Saúl remained one of the game’s most industrious midfielders, regularly covering over 12 kilometres per match and maintaining remarkable consistency.

2. Jermain Defoe

While most forwards began to lose their sharpness in their early thirties, Jermain Defoe continued to deliver at the highest level well beyond that point. He was still scoring regularly in the Premier League and for England national team at 35, and went on playing until close to 40.

Defoe’s dietary shift played a significant role. Around 2017, during his time at Sunderland AFC and later AFC Bournemouth, he adopted a largely vegan diet. His meals focused on plant-based proteins such as lentils, chickpeas and beans, while he also worked with Quorn, using mycoprotein as a key source of nutrition.

The impact was clear. Defoe once revealed that he completed an entire season at Sunderland without a single muscle injury, despite being among the oldest in the squad. Even at 38, he remained an important figure under Steven Gerrard at Rangers FC, contributing to their 2021 league title. He ultimately retired with 162 Premier League goals, maintaining an impressive scoring record deep into his late thirties.

1. Serge Gnabry

Serge Gnabry first revealed in 2019, in an interview with BILD, that he had begun transitioning towards a vegan lifestyle. Although he no longer follows a strictly vegan diet, the majority of his nutrition remains plant-based. Working closely with the performance staff at Bayern Munich, his meals are built around protein-rich foods such as lentils, peas and plant-based alternatives.

Gnabry has noted that this approach helps him avoid the heavy energy dips often associated with diets high in dairy or red meat. Instead, he has reported feeling sharper and more alert, with improved consistency in his physical condition. The emphasis on plant-based proteins, many of which are rich in antioxidants, has also contributed to maintaining his availability for both club and international duty.

His importance to Bayern remains clear. Gnabry recently signed a long-term contract extension running until 2028 and continues to play a key role in the squad under Vincent Kompany.

Football players who are vegan

5. Chris Smalling

4. Héctor Bellerín

3. Saúl Ñíguez

2. Jermain Defoe

1. Serge Gnabry

Soccer24 has presented some football players who are vegan.

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