Ever since the World Cup, everyone has become obsessed with Lionel Messi drinking yerba mate.
He has played a huge role in making mate more popular worldwide and has likely gotten a lot of people to try it. But with that, has also led many people to wonder what yerba mate Messi drinks.
What Yerba Mate Does Messi Drink?
It's no question anymore that Messi drinks the Uruguayan yerba mate brand, Canarias. More specifically - Canarias Serena - a yerba blended with other herbs such as linden flower, mint, lemon balm, and passionflower. This is the brand that Messi and the Argentine football team brought 1100 pounds of to the 2022 World Cup.
Messi has also been seen with Canarias Edicion Especial in his matera (leather carrying bag). A variety of Canarias that is aged longer and made of specially selected leaves.
But that's not all...
His team once gifted him a bag of yerba that many mistook for Canarias. But when you look closer, you can clearly tell the bag is Rei Verde Export Traditional.
Here's a video of ours so you can see for yourself:
Now in 2026, Argentina's National Football team has also accepted a sponsorship by the Brazilian yerba mate company, Baldo, who produces Canarias. So we can maybe assume Messi also drinks the yerba, Baldo.
One thing for sure though is despite being of Argentine descent, Messi prefers Uruguayan brands more. And this isn't just speculation. He said it himself on a podcast!
What Is Messi’s Yerba Mate Setup?
Aside from the yerba he drinks, Messi's setup is something to be admired. Because if you've ever seen it, it's a work of art. However, it's not cheap.
Mate Gourd
Most of the mate gourds you'll see Messi with are made by a specialty shop in Uruguay - Bresciani Plateria Criolla. They offer gourds plated in real silver and gold and offer personalized pieces. They have also made gourds for other footballers like Darwin Nunez and Alexis MacAllister.
I even bought one from Bresciani to see just how great it is and it is definitely higher-quality craftsmanship. Everything about it is as great as they can be from the rim, engravings, leather, stitching, etc. But it did run me about $500. Cost varies depending on the amount of customizations.
Aside from an actual calabash gourd, he also has a collab with Stanley for their stainless steel cups. Although he is never really seen using it outside of when advertising for them.
Bombilla
Messi's bombilla also comes from the same shop and is plated in silver or gold as well. It's a typical spoon bombillon but has a lot of weight to it. The engravings are also heavily detailed which is lovely to look at. The straw alone costs around $150-$200 depending on customizations.
Thermos
With Messi being a prominent figure in the yerba mate world, Stanley also partnered with him on their Mate System thermos - releasing three different limited editions.
This specific thermos is highly regarded in the mate community. Not just for it's name and design, but specifically for it's precision pour spout. Do you have to get this thermos? No. But it is one of the only ones that can pour the way it does. And Messi can always be spotted with the Mate System in his matera.
Why Messi Drinks Yerba Mate
Born in Rosario, Argentina, Messi grew up in a country where mate is woven into everyday life.
Argentine Culture
In Argentina, people drink yerba mate at home, at work, with friends, before training, after meals, and everywhere in between. It’s not treated like a trendy “health drink" like it is in the United States. Instead, it's seen as a everyday ritual like how preparing coffee in the morning is for some.
That’s why you’ll often see Messi drinking mate while traveling, arriving at games, relaxing with teammates, or spending time with his family.
Physical Performance
There’s also a practical reason athletes like Messi may drink it. Yerba mate naturally contains caffeine and other stimulants, vitamins, and minerals, which can all help support alertness, focus, and energy.
Unlike chugging an energy drink, mate is usually sipped over time, making it more of a steady ritual than a quick hit.
How To Start Drinking Mate Like Messi
If you want to drink yerba mate like Messi, don’t overcomplicate it.
You don’t need a fancy setup, ten different accessories, or the exact brand he’s holding in one photo. The traditional mate setup is simple: loose-leaf yerba mate, a gourd, a bombilla, and hot water.
That’s it.
For beginners, the biggest mistake is buying random pieces separately without knowing if they work well together. A good starter setup should be easy to use, easy to clean, and beginner-friendly enough that your first mate doesn’t taste overly bitter or get clogged every two seconds.
Here’s what I recommend starting with:
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Mate Gourd - this is the cup used to prepare and drink mate. Traditional calabash gourds give you the most authentic South American experience, while stainless steel gourds are easier to maintain and don’t require curing.
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Bombilla - this is the filtered straw used to drink mate. A good spoon bombilla helps filter the yerba properly so you can sip without constantly pulling leaves through the straw.
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Loose-leaf yerba mate - skip the canned stuff if your goal is to drink mate the traditional way. Messi isn’t walking around with a sparkling yerba drink. He’s drinking the actual loose-leaf.
- Thermos (recommended) - yerba mate is meant to be refilled many times, so having hot water at all times is part of the ritual. It's not mandatory, but it is convenient to have a thermos.
Ready to start drinking mate the traditional way?
Explore our yerba mate starter kits if you want everything in one place, or shop our mate gourds for ones as fancy as Messi's but for a much better price.
