Food-Ball World Cup: Where footballers would eat in Cape Town

The 2026 World Cup is in full swing - and we are loving every moment of it... even though Bafana Bafana to Mexico on Thursday night!

To keep the fun and games going between matches, Time Out Cape Town and Virgin Bet South Africa are diving headfirst into the action off the pitch with the Food-Ball World Cup - a content series dedicated to the tastes of Cape Town.

If you missed the first instalment, you can read that here.

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In this instalment of the Food-Ball World Cup, we answer the question: Where would the world's best footballers eat in Cape Town?

From the cafe vibes of Kalk Bay to the hustle and bustle of the Atlantic Seaboard, we take a look at where Messi, Ronaldo, Kane, Mbappe and company might like to enjoy some Cape Town flavours.

Lionel Messi (Inter Miami & Argentina)

Where would you find him? Hiding away in a Kalk Bay cafe

While he may be the most famous footballer in the world, he's not really one for the spotlight. He'd much rather hang out in the peace and quiet of Kalk Bay, enjoying brunch with his family away from the craziness of the crowds. We'd also bet he loves a bit of antique shopping - so he's found his place in this corner of the Mother City.

READ: 13 reasons why Kalk Bay is kiff

Pedri (Barcelona & Spain)

Where would you find him? Chilling under the trees in the Winelands.

We imagine Pedri is as classy off the pitch as he is on it. That's why we can imagine him touring the Winelands, sampling the local produce, and taking a siesta under a tree. A nice cheese-and-wine pairing would be his go-to before heading out for a fine-dining experience in Franschhoek.

READ: The best restaurants in the Winelands

Cristiano Ronaldo (Al-Nassr & Portugal)

Where would you find him? Basking in the sun of the Camps Bay strip

The other most famous footballer in the world loves the limelight... and showing off his six-pack. Camps Bay is where we imagine we'd find this superstar, first running laps up and down the beach shirtless before heading over the road to the strip for something light but high in protein... because the physique must be maintained!

READ: Restaurants with the best views in Cape Town

Marquinhos (PSG & Brazil)

Where would you find him? Grabbing a gatsby in Athlone

To be a rough and tough defender with back-to-back Champions League wins, you need to be eating well - and what better than grabbing a gatsby in Cape Town? Athlone - the home of the gatsby, will be his first port of call. He'll then probably head off to wrestle a seal to keep up appearances (please don't wrestle seals, folks).

READ: Gatsby taste test

Teboho Mokoena (Mamelodi Sundowns & Bafana Bafana)

Where would you find him? Anywhere with ribs and steak

The Bafana Bafana midfielder has admitted in previous interviews that he loves ribs and steak. So do we, Teboho! He'd have no problems in Cape Town finding a good steak, so we reckon he will be all over the place getting his meaty fix. Keep eating that protein, we need you at your physical best in the Americas.

READ: The best steaks in Cape Town

Harry Kane (Bayern Munich & England)

Where would you find him? At a family-run eatery in the suburbs

The down-to-earth family man of the footballing world may be a star on the pitch, but when it comes to his time off, it's all about relaxing with the family. He won't be found living it up on the Atlantic Seaboard; he's chilling in the suburbs grabbing a hearty meal with the family, supporting local. Spur, anyone?

Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid & France)

Where would you find him? Living it up on Bree Street

Mr Cool, Kylian Mbappe, would want to hang out with the other cool kids, so Bree Street it is. We can see him tucking into a burger and fries on First Thursdays before striking up a conversation with locals about art, getting all nostalgic about his PSG days (yes, they've won two Champions Leagues since he left). He'd likely end up at a nearby pub to drown his sorrows.

READ: The best restaurants on Bree Street

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18 June 2026: Czechia v South Africa (Competition closing date: 16 June @ 10am)
10 July 2026: Quarter-Final 2 (Competition closing date: 8 July @ 10am)
19 July 2026: Final (Competition closing date: 17 July @ 10am)

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