When Joseph Paintsil looks back on his childhood in Ghana, he remembers a game fueled almost entirely by passion.

There were no pre match nutrition plans. No recovery shakes. No conversations about hydration or sleep. If you were talented enough, you simply played.

“I could eat a heavy meal two hours before a game and nobody cared,” Paintsil tells Men’s Fitness. “Sometimes I’d feel tired and heavy while I was playing, but we didn’t know any different.”

That changed after his move to Europe

While beginning his professional career in Hungary, Paintsil was introduced to Herbalife by a teammate, a moment he now considers one of the biggest turning points in his development as an athlete.

“That was when I really had a taste of nutrition,” he says. “I started using Formula One, CR7 Drive and learning about hydration and recovery. It was all new for me, but over time I felt the difference in my performance.”

For Paintsil, the biggest lesson wasn’t finding a miracle supplement. It was finally understanding that performance begins long before kickoff.

Today, breakfast is the foundation of every training day.

His morning usually starts with oatmeal, milk, bananas, bread with honey and a Herbalife Formula One shake before heading to LA Galaxy training. Before and after sessions, he consistently uses Herbalife CR7 Drive to stay hydrated and aid recovery.

“It’s boring, but brilliant,” Paintsil says of his routine. “Breakfast is something every athlete needs. You have to give your body something before you ask it to perform.”

The consistency has paid off

Earlier in his career, Paintsil battled insomnia that affected both his recovery and his performance. While medications offered only temporary relief, improving his overall nutrition and making recovery a daily priority helped him establish healthier habits.

“My sleeping schedule is much better now,” he says. “My recovery is much better. Sleep is really important because of the way I play. I need energy. I need recovery.”

Asked why Herbalife became the right long term partner, Paintsil points to one athlete who inspired him long before the sponsorship.

“Cristiano Ronaldo,” he says. “Look at how he takes care of himself. It isn’t just about training. It’s about what you put into your body.”

Paintsil says watching elite professionals prioritize nutrition reinforced what he was already experiencing firsthand.

“Nutrition is really important, not only for athletes but for anybody who has goals,” he says. “For me, Herbalife has become part of my daily routine because I trust how it helps my recovery, my hydration and my preparation.”

That preparation extends beyond individual performance

As the new MLS season approaches, Paintsil’s primary goal is helping LA Galaxy return to the playoffs, but his greatest source of pride may be thousands of miles away in Ghana.

Through JP Football Club, the academy he founded, Paintsil currently supports more than 50 young players with housing, education, meals and football training. Construction is also underway on a permanent academy that will allow him to expand those opportunities even further.

“It’s not just about football,” he says. “If football doesn’t work, education has to be there.”

Growing up without access to structured nutrition or professional resources motivated him to build the kind of environment he never had.

“I know how it feels to struggle,” Paintsil says. “Everything I earn, I try to give back. I want these kids to become professionals, but I also want them to become good people who help others.”

Whether discussing recovery, nutrition or life after football, one theme surfaced repeatedly throughout the conversation.

Discipline

“You can have all the talent in the world,” Paintsil says. “Without discipline and hard work, talent is wasted.”

For Paintsil, Herbalife became more than a sponsorship. It became part of the disciplined routine that helped transform natural ability into professional longevity, allowing him to perform at his best while building a legacy that reaches far beyond the soccer field.