Are there any plant-powered footballers?
From weightlifters to marathon runners, we’re seeing more and more athletes adopting plant-based diets to fuel their performance.
In the Netflix documentary The Game Changers, several famous vegan athletes cite benefits such as enhanced performance, increased energy levels and faster recovery times.
Now that the World Cup is upon us, let’s celebrate some of the vegan footballers proving that a plant-powered diet can give you all the fuel you need.
Nick Woltemade
During Veganuary 2026, Newcastle United player Nick Woltemade shared insights into his predominantly plant-based diet. According to the interview, he mainly eats vegan and tofu is a staple in his diet.
Speaking to his club, he said: “I feel way better. Sometimes on the pitch I used to get cramps, but changing to vegan has helped a lot. I started about two and a half years ago and in that time my career has progressed.”
Héctor Bellerín
Real Betis player Héctor Bellerín has been vegan since 2016. Not only did it help enhance his performance and recovery, it also gave him more energy – something we hear from Veganuary participants a lot!
The change to veganism also gave him a passion for sustainability, and he’s now a vocal advocate for the environment and animals.
Karen Carney
Former Lioness legend Karen Carney is proudly powered by plants. Like many athletes, she found that eating plant-based helped with inflammation and recovery. It even fuelled her performance throughout Strictly Come Dancing, which she went on to win.
Check out Karen Carney’s high-protein burger recipe made in collaboration with Beyond Meat.
Alex Morgan
American player Alex Morgan decided to go vegan in 2017. Although she made the switch for ethical reasons, eating vegan increased her energy levels, improved performance on the pitch and enhanced her recovery. She’s never looked back.
Kevin de Bruyne
Kevin de Bryune previously shared that he enjoys eating plant-based dishes, especially chef Jonny Marsh’s creations.
Although it’s unclear whether his plant-based lifestyle is a permanent change, we do know that his favourite dishes include his homemade spinach and ricotta cannelloni and Jonny Marsh’s infamous beetroot pizza. Yum!
If you want to discover the benefits of a plant-based diet for yourself, take part in our free 31-day challenge. You’ll get our Plant Protein Cookbook, as well as other resources and tips!
