Background: Calf muscle stiffness is a risk factor of football player injury. This randomized controlled trial involved a comparison of manual muscle release (MMR) and fascia gun release (FGR) and cryotherapy. Methods: The selection of methods was randomized (simple random sampling in sealed envelopes) to Group A (MMR + cryotherapy, n=15) or Group B (FGR + cryotherapy, n=15) in which there were 30 professional male football players (age range 18-25 years) with calf stiffness. Interventions: 5 sessions alternating on 10 days; MMR/FGR in the first 10 minutes of the session and 15 minutes of cryotherapy. Outcomes Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain, dorsiflexion ROM of the ankle (goniometer), pre/post-intervention. Analysis: SPSS v24; t-paired/t-independent (p<0.05), Shapiro-Wilk test of normality. Results: The results of both groups were significantly improved (Group A: VAS D1.86, ROM D6.27; Group B: VAS D1.93, ROM D6.13; all p<0.0001). Between groups Group B better (VAS F=9.877, ROM F=83.50, p<0.0001). No adverse events. Conclusion: FGR is better than cryotherapy in the reduction of calf stiffness.