In this episode of Peak Performance for Soccer, Alex is joined by António Pedro Mendes, Head of Nutrition at Sporting Clube de Portugal. António shares his unique journey through European and Middle Eastern football, from FC Paços de Ferreira and FC Porto to Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia, before leading one of the world’s largest and most structured nutrition departments at Sporting CP.

The discussion explores how nutrition supports long-term player development, the practical challenges of implementing daily habits, and the importance of cultural context when working across countries and environments. António dives into how he collaborates with chefs, coaches, and performance staff, and why informal conversations often create more meaningful behaviour change than formal presentations.

He also breaks down his evidence-based approach to supplements, the role of placebo, and why flexibility and consistency matter more than perfect nutrient timing.

This episode is packed with practical insights into the human side of applied sports nutrition — and how elite environments use food, communication, and education to drive performance.