A lot has changed for Joseph Paintsil since growing up in Ghana.
LA Galaxy Winger Has become one of Major League Soccer’s most explosive attacking players, helping lead the club to the 2024 MLS Cup championship, while establishing himself as a key contributor for both club and country. In his first season with the Galaxy, Paintsil recorded 15 goals and 11 assists in all competitions, including four goals during the club’s Championship playoff run. He even scored in the cup final, helping the Galaxy clinch a record sixth title.
Today, the team returns to action Friday against crosstown rivals LAFC, with the daily focus being on performance. through our long-term partnership With Herbalife, Paintsil has created habits around hydration, recovery, nutrition and sleep that help him maintain the speed and explosiveness that are hallmarks of his game.
This is a far cry from his upbringing where those factors weren’t even a thought.
“There was nothing about nutrition,” Paintsil says. “It wasn’t like, ‘You need to eat this. You need to take this supplement.’ You can also eat heavy and just go and play (soccer). “People care, but they don’t really care that much about what you put in your body.”
This perspective has stayed with him throughout his career, which has taken him from Ghana to Europe and eventually to MLS. This has also become one of the driving forces behind this JP Football ClubAn initiative designed to provide young athletes with access to resources and education they have never had before.
Nutrition Habits That Boost LA Galaxy Star Joseph Paintsil
Paintsil was not introduced to sports nutrition until he moved abroad. While playing in Hungary, he was introduced to Herbalife products through someone who encouraged him to try them. At the time, he had heard the name before, but structured nutrition was not something that was part of his development as a young player.
“So when I didn’t know Herbalife, I was using Herbalife,” Paintsil says with a laugh.
What started as a curiosity eventually became part of their everyday routine. As his understanding of performance evolved, so did his appreciation of the role nutrition plays in recovery, hydration and maintaining energy through tough weather.
“We’ve been sponsored by Herbalife for over 10 years in our club,” says Paintsil. “So it’s really helped me with how I should eat, what I should put in my body…”
Looking back, this is one of the biggest differences between the player who grew up in Ghana and the player who now competes at the highest level in North America.
“We learned about nutrition in school, but we never applied it,” he says.
protecting your greatest weapon
The modern game demands more aggressive players than ever before. Wingers are tasked with repeatedly running, defending, creating scoring opportunities and maintaining that level of intensity for 90 minutes.
Paintsil has built his career specifically around one physical characteristic.
“My speed is the weapon I really have,” he says.
That speed has helped make him one of MLS’s most dangerous attacking threats for the Galaxy. Since arriving in Los Angeles, he has contributed 44 goals in all competitions while becoming a central part of one of the league’s most dynamic offenses.
Additionally, his training philosophy looks different from that of many athletes.
“I don’t want to lift too much weight,” he explains. “The more I gain weight, the more I limit my range of motion.”
Instead, Paintsil focuses on balance. Strength training is important, but maintaining mobility, speed and explosiveness is a priority. Core training has become one of the foundations of that approach.
The same level of attention is given to recovery. He follows a structured evening routine that includes a set dinner schedule, recovery supplements, and consistent sleep habits.
“The last time I eat is around 9:30,” he says. “And then for my sleep schedule. It’s always around 11:30.”
creating something bigger than football
While Paintsil continues to chase trophies and championships, some of his most meaningful work now happens away from the field.
JP Football Club was created to provide opportunities to young players in Ghana who lack access to education, training resources and nutritional support.
“JP Football is something I really opened up just to provide access,” Paintsil says. “Some players don’t have access to schooling, don’t even have access to that kind of taste of nutrition.”
The mission is personal because he has lived the reality himself. He understands what it’s like to pursue a dream without access to the resources that many athletes take for granted. That’s why introducing young players to concepts like hydration, recovery and nutrition is as important as teaching them the game.
The Foundation recently completed their first competitive season in the Ghanaian second division, finishing 10th in their debut campaign. For Paintsil, the standings are secondary to the lessons the players are learning.
“It’s not just about football,” he says. “It’s also about what you embrace.”
creating opportunities he never had
Ask Paintsil what he’s most proud of, and the answer has nothing to do with goals, assists or championships.
“The proudest thing I’ve done is finding these kids and giving them opportunities,” he says. “The proudest thing I’ve done is put a smile on their faces.”
It says a lot for a player who has won league titles, represented Ghana at international level and scored on one of the biggest stages of North American football.
For Paintsil, success is no longer measured only by what he achieved on the field. It is also measured by what he leaves behind.
Growing up, he never had access to the performance education that now shapes his career. Through the Jaypee Football Foundation, he is ensuring that the next generation doesn’t have to learn these lessons as late as he did.
And if the smiles on the faces of those young players are any indication, that impact could last longer than any trophy.
Joseph Paintsil’s Speed and Conditioning Training Plan
Warm-up (10 minutes)
- Light jogging – 3 minutes
- High knees – 30 seconds
- Butt Kicks – 30 seconds
- Walking Lunges – 10 per leg
- Leg swing – 15 on each side
- Lateral Shuffle – 2 x 20 yards
Speed and Acceleration Circuit: complete 3 rounds
sprint start
- 5 x 20-yard sprints
- recovery walk back
Lateral Shuffle for Sprint
- move 10 yards
- Explode in a 20-yard sprint
- 4 reps on each side
single-leg bounds
Rest 90 seconds between rounds.
Conditioning Block: repeat 5 times
- 30 second run
- 90 second jogging
This simulates the repeated high-intensity bursts required by attacking players throughout the match.
Core Circuit: 3 rounds
- Plank Hold – 60 seconds
- Side Plank – 30 seconds on each side
- Dead Bugs – 15 reps
- Russian Twist – 20 reps
- Mountaineer – 30 seconds
This is consistent with Paintsil’s emphasis on core strength as the foundation for maintaining speed and endurance.
recovery finisher
- Walking Cooldown – 5 minutes
- Hip Flexor Stretch – 60 seconds each side
- Hamstring Stretch – 60 seconds each side
- Quad Stretch – 60 seconds on each side
- Foam Rolling – 5 minutes
Joseph Paintsil’s Match-Day Nutrition Strategy
Breakfast
Pre-match lunch
recovery preferences
Follow Joseph on Instagram: @joe_paintsil
