Can Footballers Really Thrive On A Plant-Based Diet?

As always, the players’ performance is under scrutiny, leading some people to wonder if footballers really can thrive on a plant-based diet. Fortunately, the achievements of these 12 celebrated footballers are proof that it's possible to thrive as a plant-based athlete, both on and off the pitch.

Read more: Are Lewis Hamilton And Kim Kardashian A Plant-Based Power Couple?

Are there any plant-based football players?

Athletes of all kinds are eating more plant foods to improve their performance and recovery. While some remain focused exclusively on the health benefits, others have become advocates for animals, the planet, and veganism itself. Footballers are no exception.

No prominent known vegan players are competing in the 2026 World Cup, though a number of footballers have embraced vegan or plant-based diets in recent years, including early trailblazers like Neil Robinson as well as modern players like Héctor Bellerín.

Héctor Bellerín

Bellerín is one of the most high-profile vegan football players in the world. He was  named Global Champion at the BBC Green Sport Awards last year for his advocacy around plant-based diets, cycling for transportation, tree planting, and green initiatives.

Bellerín has played for Barcelona and Arsenal, as well as the Spanish national team, though he is not competing in this year’s squad at the World Cup. He joined Real Betis, his current club, back in 2022.

Real Betis is one of the top teams in the Spanish football league, and Bellerín serves as the Chief Ambassador for the club’s “Forever Green” initiative, which aims to make its day-to-day running as eco-friendly as possible. Last year, Bellerín championed a new Real Betis kit made from algae and wood pulp, while the Forever Green Initiative has continued to promote recycling, reforestation, and green mobility, such as cycling and public transport.

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