Once a wide-eyed kid from Rafaela, Argentina, Lucas Aveldaño chased soccer dreams on the local fields, dreaming of glory. But alongside his passion for football, another fire simmered: the art of cooking, a gift he inherited from his mother, Clara. Just as he does today in the Hyrox circuit — a German high-intensity fitness blend of CrossFit and running — he imagined cooking with that same intensity, preparing meals that could score just as powerfully as a goal.
Destiny led Lucas to a spot he now calls paradise, the island of Mallorca. In 2015, he began a new chapter with RCD Mallorca, playing 41 of 42 games that season and quickly becoming a captain. Yet it wasn’t just the game that captured his heart; Mallorca itself cast a spell. “When I first came to Mallorca, I fell in love, and I just knew I’d eventually settle down here. It’s a magical place and I have the privilege of enjoying it every single day. There’s the beach, the Mediterranean, and the mountains: for me, it’s the perfect combination.”” says the well-traveled 39-year-old.
By 2019, with his cleats nearly hung up, Lucas turned to his culinary passion, opening “Maleva,” a grillhouse dedicated to premium cuts of Argentine meat. The flavor of success led to his next venture, “La Milanesería by Popular,” specializing in classic Argentine milanesas, empanadas, and provoletas, filling the air with a taste of home.
“I’ve loved cooking since I was a kid, and I honed my skills through a few courses. But mostly, I learned by doing and by tasting — that’s the key. It’s a lot like football because there’s constant pressure, things happen every day, and you can never relax.”
As if running two successful eateries wasn’t enough, Lucas also found a new athletic outlet in Hyrox, recently placing in the top ten at a tournament in Poland. It keeps me grounded,” he says. “I’m always looking to stay fit, and my next goal is to make the podium.”
Today, Lucas Aveldaño balances it all — football memories, culinary passion, and athletic achievements. He embodies what it means to combine grit with joy, a life lived with purpose on Mallorca’s sunny shores.
As he says: “Life as an athlete is defined by effort and sacrifice. It’s a journey where talent alone isn’t enough — it requires professionalism and discipline.”
Text by Sebastian Cerutti
