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18/07/2026
The internet is more involved in the FIFA World Cup 2026 this time around because social media has made it more accessible compared to previous years. Even football recluses, or those who don’t care about the sport as much, are treated to the madness this quadrennial sport brings. Before you know it, Shakira’s Dai Dai and CTID’s Haaland (Ha Ha Ha) will start following you everywhere you go like an earworm. Some stars are at the fore as the finals loom closer, and it’s worth checking out their favourite foods.
As the FIFA World Cup 2026 is set to conclude this Sunday, it is worth taking a look at the outstanding players of the season's favourite foods, with some enduring football stars and some new ones. This list includes football stars from the qualifying teams, some from the semi-finals, some from the finals and some honourable mentions overall as well. Spain will meet Argentina in the finals, while England will meet France for the third-place playoff. There are some names who, beyond their strict meals during matches, have favourites that ground them in what is loved universally, from pasta and puddings to steaks and the guilty pleasure of junk food.
After defeating Norway in the quarter-finals of FIFA 2026, the crowd sang the Beatles’ Hey Jude as a tribute to this calm-under-pressure football star. He is loved by the internet, especially the non-football folks, for his wholesome bromance with Norway’s star player, Erling Haaland. As for his favourite food, it is quite British, which he treats himself to now and then, while following a strict diet prepared by his personal chef. Jude Bellingham loves Baked Beans and Eggs. It’s the perfect cheat meal packed with a good source of protein, low in fat and high in fibre.
The G.O.A.T of football, whom many are rooting for to push Argentina to win the FIFA World Cup 2026, Messi’s humility and love for the game know no bounds. So, it is hardly surprising that his favourite foods are grounded in his Argentine origins. He is known to be fond of Asado, featuring a variety of meats with minimal spices, which is a kind of barbecue done in Argentina. He is also known to love Milanesa Napolitana, the one his mother makes. He is also known to have a sweet tooth, and he favours ice cream and the country’s favourite dulce de leche.
Pasta Carbonara is what this French football star loves eating, who is playfully called ‘Dictator Mbappe’ or ‘Mbappe Ditador’ by the internet. He is said to have six small meals a day, with fish, whole grains, and carbs in each. Aside from carbonara, he also loves bolognese and pesto variants. With his joining Real Madrid comes the addition of a Spanish food – Spanish ham with a side of Manchego, which is something that is a part of many cheese tasting boards and charcuterie boards.
For non-football fans, you might know this 19-year-old footballer who plays for Spain from the viral, almost 2-decade-old UNICEF charity photoshoot with Lionel Messi, in which he was just 5 months old while Messi was 20-years-old. At the time it hit the internet, Yamal had expressed his wish to face Messi in the final (and actually defeat Argentina in the World Cup 2026), a wish that will come true this Sunday. He loves his mom’s Arroz Con Pollo Y Salsa De Cacahuete, which, simply put, is a rice-and-chicken dish cooked in peanut sauce.
Like most footballers, the England captain values performance when it comes to food, and he likes simple foods; he keeps his meals nutritionally dense, with ample protein, carbs to fuel him through, and veggies. But off the football field, the ‘hurrikane’, who is a striker for the England team, loves his crispy Chicken Burger as a post-match indulgence. He likes it with a quality brioche bun, with coleslaw inside, cheese and spicy mayo in it.
Unlike the asado every Argentine loves, even Messi, Julián Álvarez or ‘La Araña’ (meaning spider, for his web-shooter goal style) has a more grounded favourite food. He is lovingly known as Messi’s sidekick, who has propelled the team towards the FIFA World Cup 2026, and he loves a Rice Pudding, quite similar to payesh or kheer, called Arroz Con Leche. Multiple sources reveal that he likes the one made by his beloved grandmother, Tita, whose secret is making it sweet with honey and adding caramel instead of cinnamon.
Known for his tremendous talent despite his disorganised nature and concerning diet, Dembélé needed interventions, even from his own teammates, to keep him away from his love for junk food. With a bit of help after he joined PSG from Barcelona, including a private chef and an alarm clock, he started eating better. Even then, he has not quite shed his love for hamburgers and pizzas and recently shared that he loves to indulge in them after some matches, as many players do. In a recent outreach to the star, he mentioned that he liked ‘Thiep’, a Wolof dish from Senegal, West Africa, made with fish, vegetables, and richly seasoned broken rice.
The captain of the Spanish team, who has pushed his team to the FIFA World Cup 2026, might make you think he loves Spanish comfort foods like Empanadas and Rice Pudding, but his taste is more refined. Rodri's actual favourite food is Sushi. He doesn't overindulge in it, but Japanese cuisine is his genuine go-to pick over classic Spanish fare like Tortilla or Paella. It's somehow a fitting choice for a player known for precision and control on the football pitch, as sushi rewards the same discipline, with its emphasis on technique, precision, and minimal fuss.
In a 2016 interview, Mikel Oyarzabal named three dishes that instantly took him back to his childhood, which were his paternal grandmother's meatballs, his maternal grandmother's steak, and his parents' baked fish. More recently, when asked to name just one comfort food, he kept it simple with Tortilla De Patata, stating plainly, ‘me gustan las cosas simples’ (I like simple things). Quite fitting for a Basque forward known more for his quiet efficiency than flash.
Effortlessly a goofball with seemingly no media training, Haaland has won the FIFA World Cup 2026 when it comes to people’s hearts with his wholesomeness. He is quite open about his fondness for food and has shared that he is fond of Steak with Potatoes and Salad, which he shared in a recent video alongside his girlfriend Isabel. He also shared his fondness for Indian food like butter chicken and Garlic Naan. He also loves Lamb Chops.
Turns out the favourite foods of most football stars are not gourmet (maybe one) and fanciful creations that would burn a hole in regular people’s pockets. Most players love foods that are as simple as a wholesome rice pudding, to something as abysmal as junk food. Support your team for the finals, and if you want food ideas, you’ve got some from this list.
If Jude Bellingham can, so can you. Eggs and beans are quintessential English breakfast items that pair well with a side of meat like sausages or bacon, and with toast.
