Why Messi Drinks This Every Day: The Football World’s Obsession With Yerba Mate

Send us Fan MailWhat is that drink Lionel Messi always seems to have in his hand?In this episode of the Soccer Stories Podcast, Brian McDonough sits down with Jason Triglia, owner of Yerba Crew, to explore the world of yerba mate and its unique connection to football culture.From Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez to Antoine Griezmann and countless players across the global game, yerba mate has become an unmistakable part of life inside locker rooms, training grounds, team buses, and stadiums.Jason breaks down the history of yerba mate, its deep cultural roots in Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Brazil, and why the ritual of sharing mate is about much more than simply drinking caffeine.Brian also gets a hands-on introduction as Jason walks him through a traditional yerba mate preparation, from filling the gourd and positioning the yerba to using the bombilla and properly sharing mate with a group.The conversation also explores how Jason and Yerba Crew are bringing that culture to the United States through mateadas and community events in Philadelphia and beyond.If you've watched Messi arrive at a match carrying his mate and wondered, “What exactly is he drinking?” — this episode tells the story behind one of football's most recognizable traditions.In this episode:• Why so many footballers drink yerba mate• The history and cultural significance of mate• Argentina and Uruguay's obsession with the drink• How to prepare yerba mate traditionally• The etiquette and ritual of sharing mate• Why mate is so closely connected to football culture• How Yerba Crew is building a mate community in PhiladelphiaFollow Yerba Crew: https://yerbacrew.com/pages/matchday?utm_source=sostv&utm_medium=youtube&utm_campaign=matchday2026Subscribe to the Soccer Stories Podcast for conversations exploring the people, cultures, traditions, and stories that make the world of soccer so much bigger than what happens on the pitch.Check out all things State of Soccer TV for more original content!LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/stateofsoccer