Caffeine can help footballers do more high-intensity work without higher perceived effort
27 May 2026
A 2026 review of 20 studies found caffeine can help footballers repeat hard runs and sprints, but the gain is not free: effort may feel similar while lactate and blood sugar rise.
The study titled “Does acute caffeine ingestion improve high-intensity interval exercise performance?” brought together 20 studies with 320 adults. Each person used caffeine on one day and a placebo on another. The tests covered several sports. Football matches ask players to sprint, press, recover, and go again, so the broader exercise evidence is relevant.
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