Playing at a World Cup is unforgettable but it requires every ounce of your dedication | Rodrygo

F or a player the World Cup day begins with everyone gathering in the restaurant for breakfast at the scheduled time. Buffet options are determined by the nutritionist, who specifies which food and in what quantities each player can consume. The morning also includes on-field training, usually within the team’s accommodation complex. After that, lunch is likewise personalised, based on each athlete’s body composition and physiological needs. The afternoon is then dedicated to gym sessions and, when necessary, recovery massages, as well as meetings for strategic guidance from the coaching staff and video analysis of the upcoming opponent. Dinner, attended by the whole squad, allows for more relaxed conversation and games such as cards, pool, or dominoes. A final snack wraps up the schedule before the night’s sleep recharges energy levels to repeat the process the next day. And the next. And the next. Sometimes, the daily routine includes slightly different commitments, such as press conferences, exclusive interviews with journalists and content recording for Fifa. Matchdays are taken up by the bus ride to the stadium, the game – perhaps followed by interviews in the mixed zone – and the return to the team base. Flights may be added to a player’s World Cup itinerary for games in different cities. I had the fantastic experience of being at the 2022 World Cup and I am still savouring the memory while dreaming of living it again. …