Like Vinicius, should you eat pineapple before sport? | OneFootball

Vinicius Jr has dazzled for Brazil at the World Cup, and his habit of eating pineapple before kick-off has caught the eye. L'Équipe notes it has prompted the question of whether to copy it before exercise.

The forward has four goals, one assist and three player-of-the-match awards. Carlo Ancelotti's approach may play a part, but the 25-year-old's physical condition is striking.

Brazilian social media lit up after the 1-1 draw with Morocco on 14 June and the 6-0 win over Haiti on 20 June, when he was seen doing so. He did the same before January's 4-1 Spanish Super Cup final win over Barcelona, when he hit a hat-trick.

Nessan Costello, head of nutrition at Al Ahli in Saudi Arabia, sees pineapple as a sensible ritual, not a performance secret. He says a few small pieces provide roughly five to 10 g of carbohydrates and perhaps 30 to 100 ml of water, while FIFA recommends 30 to 60 g per hour and about five ml per kilogram at the pre-match meal, roughly 375 ml for a 75 kg player.

Vinicius weighs 73 kg and had played 261 minutes before Brazil's last-16 tie with Japan, so matching those targets would take plenty of pineapple. Within the hour before exercise it can work as light energy, though bananas or dates offer more carbohydrates per bite. Pineapple is rich in vitamin C and polyphenols, but try it at home first, as its acidity and fibre can upset some stomachs.

Source: L'Équipe