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To cut it at the highest level of the game, footballers need to ensure they keep their fitness levels high. Competing against elite athletes requires a massive amount of work to be put into maintaining a good physique.
While some players are bulky and strong by the time they break into the professional circuit, some need to hit the gym regularly to reach those levels. Over the years, we have seen several young footballers slowly beef up and become sturdier.
It's a lot of work since players have to spend extra hours in the gym and find time for it after training hours. Despite all the challenges, several top footballers have astounded us with their physique.
Without further ado, let's take a look at five players who underwent massive physical transformations.
#5 Marcus Rashford - Manchester United
Marcus Rashford made his Manchester United debut in the 2015-16 season. When he first broke onto the scene, Rashford was a lanky kid whose slender frame allowed him to move swiftly on the pitch. The youngster was keen to impress and started scoring some very important goals against formidable opposition.
Rashford wasn't going to let his chances slip away and his dedication is reflected in his incredible physical transformation. The 23-year-old has added a lot of muscle to his body and has become a robust forward who is difficult to nudge off the ball. Despite adding muscle, Rashford hasn't lost a yard of p
His overall game has improved but the rapid changes in the youngster's physique are reminiscent of Cristiano Ronaldo's physical transformation.
#4 Hulk - Atletico Mineiro
Brazilian striker Hulk has always had a build that fits his name. He is one of the strongest strikers in the world and has maintained a large frame ever since breaking onto the professional circuit.
As a result, 35-year-old is nearly impossible to shake off the ball. He also packs a venomous left-footed strike which could sting or do worse things to a goalkeeper's hands.
Hulk had become quite bulky in recent times. But he used the first Covid-19 lockdown to work on his physique and by September, he was once again showing off his chiseled abs.
Hulk returned to his home country Brazil in January 2021 and is currently playing for Atletico Mineiro. Prior to that, he was at Chinese Super League club Shanghai SIPG who had secured his services in 2016 for £45 million.
#3 Leon Goretzka - Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich signed Leon Goretzka from FC Schalke in 2018. In the past three years, Goretzka has gradually established himself as one of the best box-to-box midfielders on the planet. That the German international has been focused on improving himself is obvious and the results are there for all to see.
Goretzka also underwent a massive physical transformation and is a farcry from the scrawny midfielder the Bavarians signed back in 2018. The German international also put the Covid-19 lockdown to good use to build muscle mass. He currently has one of the best physiques in football.
Goretzka's former Schalke teammate Roman Neustadter, who spoke to The Sun, said he reached out to the midfielder to learn the secrets behind his transformation. Neustader said:
“After I’ve seen his development, I wrote to him directly to send me the exercises he was doing! Even at Schalke we saw that he has the physical abilities to build muscle mass without harming his game.
“Of course, he made the best possible use of the coronavirus break. You can’t just decide for yourself: ‘So, I’m gaining a few pounds of muscle mass’.”
#2 Cristiano Ronaldo - Manchester United
When Cristiano Ronaldo first signed for Manchester United, he was a lean winger. His coaches reportedly used to call him too skinny. But Ronaldo had his eyes set on greatness and as he improved the technical side of his game, he worked on his physique just as intensely.
Ronaldo adopted a strict fitness regime and started a Pilates-based routine to strengthen his core. This is why his body functions as though it belongs to a much younger player. When he showed up for his medicals at Juventus in 2018, doctors reportedly said he had the body of a 20-year-old.
Talking about his physical transformation journey, Ronaldo once said:
"I put it in my mind that my body can improve. With dedication and hard work in the gym I improved a lot on that – at the end of the day it’s down to the person’s mindset."
#1 Adama Traore - Wolverhampton Wanderers
Adama Traore is a nightmare to defend against. Not only is he fleet-footed and pacy, he is also incredibly strong. There are few football players who can match the physicality of the Wolverhampton Wanderers winger.
On being asked about his physique, Traore told La Sexta.
"My training? I don’t do weights. It’s hard to believe, but I don’t do weights. It’s genetic. I exercise, but I gain mass very quickly."
The 25-year-old's shredded physique is quite a departure from his frame during his early days at Barcelona's youth academy. Traore rocked a rather slender frame and wasn't exactly famous for his physique.
