How Cristiano Ronaldo spends $1m a year on 'hacking' his health

Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the world's greatest footballers, is pulling out all the stops to keep his body in tip-top condition – splashing out a reported $1 million (£820,000/€940,000) a year on health treatments, according to The News International.

And these aren’t your ordinary trips to the spa or a few extra sessions at the gym – CR7 has taken his fitness obsession to a whole new level with some of the most bizarre and cutting-edge treatments in the world.

The 39-year-old Portuguese star, who recently scored his 900th career goal, has always been known for his relentless work ethic and dedication to fitness. But even as he pushes 40, Ronaldo is looking younger and fitter than ever – and now we know why.

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First on the list is Ronaldo's go-to recovery method: cryotherapy. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner reportedly first had a cryotherapy chamber installed in his home back in 2013, costing upwards of £50,000 ($61,000/€57,000), according to the Manchester Evening News. This state-of-the-art machine blasts him with temperatures as low as -200°C to reduce inflammation, speed up muscle recovery, and improve sleep quality.

While he has moved all around European and the Middle East in that time, the chamber is a mainstay in all his homes, according to the Bleacher Report. Ronaldo is said to use the chamber daily after matches or intense training sessions. He spends up to three minutes in the freezing conditions, which can boost blood circulation and reduce fatigue.

But that’s not the only high-tech gadget Ronaldo uses to stay in top shape. He’s also a fan of red light therapy, a treatment popular with elite athletes and biohackers. The process involves exposing his body to low levels of red or near-infrared light to stimulate cellular repair, improve skin elasticity, and even enhance muscle recovery.

Ronaldo also incorporates hyperbaric oxygen therapy into his recovery process. This treatment involves sitting in a pressurized oxygen chamber, which helps increase oxygen levels in the blood, speeds up recovery from injuries, and promotes better overall physical performance, according to Manchester Evening News.

He’s even credited the therapy with helping him recover faster from a knee injury that could’ve ended his career, according to Real Madrid fan page Managing Madrid.

While most people settle for a comfy mattress, Ronaldo took his beauty sleep to a whole new level by investing in a high-tech sleeping system. His special mattress from HOGO is believed to cost a whopping $30,000 (£24,600/€28,200) according to The Sun, and is designed to help improve deep sleep and muscle recovery. It’s even said to regulate temperature and help align the spine.

Photo by Kathyryn Tripp on Unsplash

When it comes to staying injury-free, Ronaldo reportedly relies on platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy. This innovative treatment involves drawing blood from the patient, concentrating the platelets, and injecting them back into the body to promote faster healing of muscles and tendons.

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The procedure is cutting-edge and costs thousands of pounds per session.  It’s particularly popular with elite athletes because it helps heal injuries without surgery.

According to Dr. Hasia, a Dubai-based dermatologist who has built up a large online following, CR7 uses PRP for more than just his injuries. In July 2024, she claimed on her Dr Hasia Podcast that Ronaldo also uses PRP to improve his hairline. "We know that Cristiano Ronaldo loves PRP treatment because it keeps that hair looking perfect," she said.

Water is a necessity, and it's something Ronaldo apparently takes very seriously. The Al-Nassr striker reportedly spends up to $8,000 (£6,500/€7,500) a day on mineral water, according to football training company FC Motivate.

In fact, Ronaldo is such a fan of higher-alkaline mineral water he even launched his own brand URSU in 2023. We imagine his water bill has gone down since he started making his own!

Whether it’s bathing in icy chambers, breathing pure oxygen, or tweaking his sleep schedule to the millisecond, Ronaldo’s dedication to health is unmatched. At nearly 40, he’s still at the peak of his game, thanks to his relentless pursuit of physical perfection.

And while there may not be a fountain of youth, Cristiano Ronaldo has shown us that there is definitely technology out there that can shave years off your physical age – it'll just cost you around $1 million a year to do it.

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