Dietary and Ergogenic Supplementation to Improve Elite Soccer Players’ Performance

Abstract

Background: Soccer is an extremely competitive sport, where the most match important moments can be defined in detail. Use of ergogenic supplements can be crucial to improve the performance of a high-performance athlete. Therefore, knowing which ergogenic supplements are important for soccer players can be an interesting strategy to maintain high level in this sport until final and decisive moments of the match. In addition, other supplements, such as dietary supplements, have been studied and increasingly referenced in the scientific literature. But, what if ergogenic supplements were combined with dietary supplements? This review brings some recommendations to improve performance of soccer athletes on the field through dietary and/or ergogenic supplements that can be used simultaneously. Summary: Soccer is a competitive sport, where the match important moments can be defined in detail. Thus, use of ergogenic supplements covered in this review can improve performance of elite soccer players maintaining high level in the match until final moments, such as creatine 3–5 g day⁻¹, caffeine 3–6 mg kg⁻¹ BW around 60 min before the match, sodium bicarbonate 0.1–0.4 g kg⁻¹ BW starting from 30 to 180 min before the match, β-alanine 3.2 and 6.4 g day⁻¹ provided in the sustained-release tablets divided into 4 times a day, and nitrate-rich beetroot juice 60 g in 200 mL of water (6 mmol of NO3⁻ L) around 120 min before match or training, including a combination possible with taurine 50 mg kg⁻¹ BW day⁻¹, citrulline 1.2–3.4 g day⁻¹, and arginine 1.2–6 g day⁻¹. Key Messages: Soccer athletes can combine ergogenic and dietary supplements to improve their performance on the field. The ergogenic and dietary supplements used in a scientifically recommended dose did not demonstrate relevant side effects. The use of various evidence-based supplements can add up to further improvement in the performance of the elite soccer players.