Professional Soccer Player Shares 3 Daily Habits That Fuel His Performance

Have you ever wondered what it takes to perform at the highest level in professional sports? Peak performance goes beyond talent. To give their best, athletes must recover and properly prepare both their minds and bodies daily. Erling Haaland, 25, a professional soccer player for Manchester City, understands just how essential recovery is. In a recent video, he shared a glimpse into his daily routine for optimal athletic performance.

Haaland is the first to admit that he doesn’t always feel like doing the hard things that keep him at his best. But he does them anyway, focusing on consistency, mindset, and the habits that matter most: sleep, nutrition, and recovery. For him, being a professional athlete isn’t a two-hour match; it’s a full-time commitment that demands attention around the clock.

"When I play so many games, I need to do the stretching. I don't have to, but I know my body. I know that I should do it. I don't have to. You don't have to do anything. I don't have to eat healthy. I can eat unhealthy every day if I want to, but it doesn't mean I will do it. It's important to stay focused," he says.

The two hours on the field are the end result of everything done outside of it. Here's how Haaland stays in peak condition.

Related: Performance Coach Shares a Free and Easy Trick to Speed Up Post-Workout Recovery

Stretching and Mobility

Before any intense training, Haaland focuses on stretching and mobility, which he says are big parts of his game. The sessions are only about 10 to 15 minutes long, but they’re crucial for maintenance, injury prevention, and keeping muscles primed for the demands of a long season.

He recalls learning early on in his career the value of consistency. Many players work hard during preseason and then disappear due to injury. For him, steady, manageable effort every day is the key. Picking exercises that benefit his body, and actually sticking with them consistently, is what keeps him performing at his best.

Balance, Stability, and Activation

He spends time on ankle stability and balance exercises, often using tools like a Bosu ball that force the brain and muscles to work together. These small moves may seem minor, but they contribute to explosive sprints, sharp direction changes, and overall injury prevention.

Haaland performs a series of single-leg Bosu balance drills, cross-body kicks, and scorpions.

Hypoxic Chamber Cardio

Staying active off the field is crucial, whether it’s walking, cycling, or other light activity to keep the body moving. He combines cycling with one of his favorite tools—the hypoxic chamber—to simulate high-altitude conditions. By working on the stationary bike in a low-oxygen environment, he challenges his heart and lungs, improving endurance.

"Training in altitude and heat, and humidity is obviously a challenge," Haaland says. "I struggle more in here. When I go out on the pitch, I can run even more. This helps me recover faster between sprints, and that's a good thing because I sprint a lot."

Related: Trainer Reveals 7 Mobility Moves That Instantly Unlock Tight Hamstrings