Best Supplements For Soccer Players to Buy in 2024
Are supplements for soccer players truly beneficial or just marketing hype? This is a common question that many soccer players have, from youth all the way to the professional level, because the sports supplement industry often markets products with promises of improved performance, faster recovery, and increased endurance.
For soccer players, who have a high physical and mental demand, supplements can be beneficial if chosen wisely and used correctly. However supplements are exactly what they sound like, something you use to supplement into your daily routine, not make a primary focus.
As a soccer player, coach, graduate in kinesiology, and certified nutritionist, I can confidently say that most recommended supplements are not worth it because the majority of your nutritional needs can and should be met through a well-balanced diet.
In this blog I will share with you the best supplements for soccer players that are actually worth your money, the role of dietary supplements, as well as explain common misconceptions.
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The Best Supplements for Footballers
The supplements on this list are not your typical supplements that you will see on every other list because these focus more on holistic, nutrient-dense options that go beyond the standard protein powders, BCAAs, or energy gels. These choices are carefully selected to provide benefits that align more closely with natural, whole-food sources, aiming to support energy, mental clarity, immunity, and recovery in a balanced way.
Rather than isolated nutrients, like most recommended supplements, these supplements come from foods and sources that offer a broader range of benefits and nutrients in their most bioavailable forms.
Yerba Mate Tea
Yerba Mate Tea
$16.99
The best way to consume any form of caffeine is by drinking Yerba Mate Tea, a natural stimulant that can help to improve mental focus and reduce fatigue. Yerba mate also contains theobromine, and theophylline, which are known for their energy-boosting effects, as well as antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds that can help to reduce inflammation in the body.
Yerba Mate is a great alternative to coffee or energy drinks because it can be much healthier, depending on what type of Yerba Mate Tea you consume. You may have seen many of your favorite professional players, like Messi above, drinking Yerba Mate in a special cup called “Mate” and with a special straw called a “Bombilla.”
This is because “Mate” is a very popular drink in South America, especially in places like Argentina and Uruguay, and nowadays it is also very popular in Europe because of the large number of South American players in European leagues.
Grass-Fed Beef Organs
Grass-Fed Beef Organs
$36.10
Organ capsules are a great source of nutrients for footballers and this is nature’s real multivitamin. Organs are some of the most nutrient-dense foods and ancient civilizations and tribes treasured the organs of the animals they ate.
Even apex predators like Wolves are known to eat the organs of their prey first before eating the muscle meats because they can smell how nutrient dense they are. Ideally, you should be eating fresh organs, but in some places, it is hard to get them, or they may be too expensive.
This is where supplementing with an organ capsule can be helpful. By investing in a trusted organ capsule supplement, you will also be able to experience the many benefits of beef organs which include increased energy levels, improved physical performance, decreased muscle soreness, and improved recovery.
If you have been using a regular multivitamin, I suggest trying out organ capsules instead, especially if you are not able to get a hold of fresh organs. Organs, such as the heart, liver, pancreas, spleen, and more are the ultimate multivitamins from nature because the nutrients in these superfoods come in their most bioavailable forms, which means your body is able to absorb the nutrients easily for proper storage or usage.
As with all of your meat and beef products, ideally you want to make sure that organs are also 100% grass-fed and grass-finished for the best quality.
Functional Mushrooms
Mushroom Complex
$37.99
Mushroom complex sports supplements can contain various types of mushrooms, such as Chaga, cordyceps, reishi, lion’s mane, or a combined capsule with a bit of each. These mushrooms contain beta-glucans, which can help improve immune function and reduce inflammation, and they also contain polysaccharides, which can help to improve energy levels and brain function
As with most of the sports supplements on this list, it is best to get these mushrooms fresh if possible, but since that may be hard based on your location, supplementing with a mushroom complex can be a great way to incorporate mushrooms into your nutrition plan.
Redmond Re-lyte Electrolyte Powder Mix
Electrolytes are important for maintaining fluid balance, improving hydration levels, and for proper muscle and nerve function. The Electrolyte Powder Mix from Redmond is a natural choice and the best electrolyte powder on the market, as it contains real sea salt and trace minerals that can help to replenish electrolytes lost through sweat.
This powder mix is a great way to stay hydrated and energized during intense exercise, training sessions, or games, and it is a much healthier and better alternative to traditional sports drinks.
Beetroot Juice or Powder
Beetroot Juice or Powder
$34.95
Beetroot juice supplementation has become very popular among soccer players in recent years because it is packed with antioxidants and nitrates, which can help improve athletic performance and recovery.
In the body, nitrates are converted into nitric oxide, a vasodilator, which means it opens up blood vessels to help improve blood flow and circulation. This means that beet juice can help improve blood flow and more.
Grass-Fed Protein Powders
Grass-Fed Protein Powders
$37.99
Most soccer players know that to recover properly and to help rebuild muscle they need to be consuming enough protein daily. As a result, most players think that they have to invest in protein powders and protein shakes to make sure they reach that protein intake.
However, spending money on protein powders is not necessary because to get enough protein players should eat whole foods that are not only packed with protein but with many other essential nutrients, such as eggs, red meats, lean meats, seafood, and raw dairy. Players should focus on consuming protein, and all other nutrients, from real whole foods because the protein is more bioavailable and even if you are able to find a decent protein powder, there is still a lot processing needed.
If you absolutely feel like you need a protein powder supplement there are some tips that can help you make the best decision. Look for a protein powder that is made with grass-fed and grass-finished whey protein and with as few ingredients as possible like the option above.
The Role of Supplements in Soccer Performance
Using dietary supplements can be beneficial for some players, but only if they have other parts of their life fixed first. Dietary supplements are not a priority, but they can add value, especially the supplements on this list, which are supplements that are not as talked about as more mainstream supplements you might have heard of before.
Once you have fixed the following aspects of your life and performance on and off the field, then you can begin to think about using some of the supplements on this list.
- Football Training
- Athletic Training
- Injury Prevention
- Foot Function
- Mitochondria Function
- Sleep
- Nutrition
- Hydration
- Breath work
- Mindset
- EMF Exposure
- Relationship with Nature
The Truth About Supplements
The supplements that will be discussed in this blog are not the typical dietary supplements that you may have heard of before that everyone recommends such as protein shakes, fish oil, creatine, beta-alanine, amino acids, vitamins, energy gels, and all of these mainstream supplements.
These supplements are crucial nutrients for our bodies, except the energy gels, and we do need them. However, it’s best to get these nutrients from a well balanced diet that includes nutrient dense whole foods. One way to get closer to being a high performance athlete is by getting all of your nutrients from real food and not using supplements.
This is because in nature these molecules are mixed with other vitamins, trace minerals, and coenzymes that must all work together which is why nature designed them combined, not in isolated forms like in pills.If there is a legitimate reason why you can’t get a certain nutrient then supplementing with a high quality brand of a mainstream supplement is better than not getting that nutrient at all, but ideally you should be getting all of your nutrients from real foods.
Summary
To summarize, supplements can be a great way to boost performance and recovery, but only if you are taking care of every other aspect of your life first. Supplements are not a priority, they are simply a supplement to everything you are already doing, but investing in the right ones can have tremendous benefits.
In this blog I explained the role of supplements in athletic performance and recovery, the truth about supplements, as well as listed some of the best supplements that are actually worth trying out.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I begin improving my soccer skills right now?
As mentioned in this post, improving every aspect of your life and performance and using some supplements on this list can help you improve your soccer skills, but I also recommend checking out our post on the best soccer training drills. If you are looking to accelerate your progress, contact us or sign an interest form for our private training program.
What are the best supplements to improve athletic performance and increase muscle mass for soccer players?
The best way to improve athletic performance and increase muscle mass is improving every aspect of your life that affects these things. The first section of this blog explains exactly what things you should focus on first before thinking you need supplements to improve either of these things.
What are the best pre workout nutritional supplements for match day performance?
The best pre workout supplements from this list will include the yerba mate tea, the mushrooms, and the beet root powder. You can try them all and see what works best for you.
What is the best whey protein shake supplement for soccer players?
If you want to drink whey protein shakes as a soccer player consider getting grass-fed protein options as it is more high quality protein. Ideally, you should be getting your protein from real food.
