In the ultra-fit lifestyle of Major League Soccer players, Minnesota United striker Christian Ramirez faced accusations when spotted with a little paper bag before the Loons’ match against New York City FC in June.

“People were like, ‘You can’t be getting McDonald’s the day before the game,’ ” Ramirez said. “I was like, “Uh, I didn’t grab McDonalds.”

From a health-food standpoint, the bag’s contents were no more nutritious. But from a tradition point of view, the small vanilla-glazed donut with sprinkles has been required sustenance to boost Ramirez’s game.

United’s leading scorer held plans to visit a Southern California bakery and keep his routine alive before the Loons (10-16-6) play the L.A. Galaxy (7-17-8) at StubHub Center on Sunday evening.

Ramirez began the tradition in 2015 when the club was in the lower-level North American Soccer League. Before a July game against Ottawa, he randomly ate a donut before he was reinserted into the Loons starting lineup.

Ramirez scored in the 1-1 draw, and his now-wife Valerie suggested he have another donut before the next game.

He scored in the following game and went on to score in seven straight matches. He hasn’t looked back since.

He routinely picks up the $1 confection for his post-lunch dessert from Lunds & Byerly’s in downtown Minneapolis the day before the game. If not there, he will swing by Glam Doll. Sometimes he will pick one up at Hans’ Bakery when at the club’s training grounds at the National Sports Center in Blaine.

On the road, he hits up Dunkin’ Donuts or other mom-and-pop shops. It’s always a vanilla-glazed donut with sprinkles. The guilty-pleasure habit hasn’t hindered him at the MLS level. His 14 goals are tied for seventh-most in MLS this season.

Ramirez was bummed to miss out on a call-up to the U.S. national team this summer, but his debut season in MLS has held plenty of highlights, even as a hamstring injury sidelined him for four games.

When he scored in a 3-2 win over Montreal on Sept. 16, he tucked the ball under his shirt to dedicate the goal to the baby he and Valerie are expecting. In a thrilling 3-2 comeback over Atlanta on Oct. 3, he deflected a Sam Nicholson shot into the net to tie the game in the 90th minute.

If Ramirez scores Sunday in his first MLS game near his hometown of Garden Grove, Calif., it will serve as another high point. It’ll also likely come with a bit of a sugar high.