Lionel Messi: Never without his mate

Football fan? There's no way you haven't seen Lionel Messi or other players like Griezmann, Suarez, Cavani (the list goes on...) enter the pitch with a famous drink. And if you're wondering what Messi's famous drink is, it's mate .

But why is there so much fuss about this infusion and why are all the football players drinking it?

A footballer, yes. But an Argentinian footballer!

Yes, before being a footballer, Leo Messi is first and foremost an Argentinian . Although he grew up in Barcelona, arriving at the Barça youth academy at the age of 13, the flea is nonetheless a native of Rosario.

Among wine and asado, mate is one of the specialties deeply rooted in Argentine culture : it can be found in more than 90% of Argentine homes !

Although this drink is becoming popular around the world for its many benefits (stimulant, antioxidant, fat burner, etc.), it is primarily consumed in South America for the symbols of friendship and sharing that it conveys.

Mate is THE drink of the Barça locker room (but not only!)

The popularity of this drink has been growing in football in recent years... but at some clubs more than others. While PSG and Tottenham players are often seen drinking mate, it's FC Barcelona that is most often associated with this drink.

The fact that we constantly see the club's three star strikers with their mate has something to do with it. Antoine Griezmann , Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez have even earned a nickname from many sports media: the mate trident .

A true symbol of friendship, mate plays a special role within the Catalan squad. This is evidenced by a statement from Antoine Griezmann a few months after his arrival at Barça:

"I offered Messi some mate, we're on the right track."

Antoine Griezmann, October 2019

A calabash in his hand and a thermos under his arm

This strange container that we often see in Messi's hand is simply called a mate.

Yes, you read that right. The container used to drink mate is also called a "mate." For the sake of simplicity and to avoid confusing the drink with its container, it is generally called a " mate calabash ."

This mate gourd is a container used to infuse mate leaves. The infusion is then sipped using a filter straw called a "bombilla."

Why does Messi always have a thermos under his arm?

Since mate can be brewed up to ten times a day, a mate thermos is a bit like any mate lover's best friend. It allows you to brew a small cup of mate at any time of day in just a few seconds!

Want to discover mate?

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