As previous literature updates, I have performed a PubCrawler search looking for football articles in NCBI Medline (PubMed) and GenBank databases.

Following studies were retrieved for this week:

1 The Evolution of Match Running Performance in the Top Two Spanish Soccer Leagues: A Comparative Four-Season Study

Reference: J Funct Morphol Kinesiol. 2025 Jan 10;10(1):27. doi: 10.3390/jfmk10010027.
Authors: Tomás García-Calvo, David Lobo-Triviño, Javier Raya-González, Roberto López Del Campo, Ricardo Resta, Eduard Pons, José Carlos Ponce-Bordón
Download link: https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5142/10/1/27
Summary: This study uniquely examines the evolution of match running performance in official matches over four consecutive seasons (2019/2020-2022/23) within Spain’s top two professional soccer leagues (LaLiga). By analyzing differences between competitive league standards (First Division vs. Second Division), this research provides critical insights into how competition levels influence physical performance trends over time. A total of 6784 match observations were recorded from 95 teams competing in the First and Second Divisions (LaLiga). Performance metrics included total distance (TD), high-speed running (HSR, >21 km·h-1), very high-speed running (VHSR, 21.1-24 km·h-1), sprint distance (Sprint, >24 km·h-1), the number of HSR efforts (Nº. Sprints > 21 km·h-1), and sprint efforts (Nº. Sprints > 24 km·h-1), all analyzed using a computerized tracking system (TRACAB, ChyronHego, New York, NY, USA). The primary findings indicated significantly higher match running performance in First Division matches compared to Second Division matches across all variables (p < 0.001). Furthermore, match running performance significantly increased over the four seasons in both leagues, with notably higher values during the 2021/22 and 2022/23 seasons for all physical performance metrics (p < 0.001). This study contributes to understanding the temporal evolution of soccer match performance across competition levels. The findings emphasize the importance of periodic performance monitoring and adapting training loads increasing high-intensity distances to align with escalating physical demands in modern soccer, offering valuable guidance for coaches and performance analysts.

2 Content Validity of a New Soccer (Football) Return-to-Play Test: The RONDO-TEST

Reference: J Funct Morphol Kinesiol. 2024 Dec 25;10(1):3. doi: 10.3390/jfmk10010003.
Authors: Sergi Matas, Carlos Lalín, Francisco Corbi, Antoni Planas-Anzano, José M Moya, Sebastià Mas-Alòs, Xavier Peirau-Terés
Download link: https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5142/10/1/3
Summary: The aim was to assess the content validity of a new field test on general and soccer-specific motor skills before return to play. The RONDO-TEST was assessed by a Delphi panel for its content validity. It included a survey to evaluate 16 items related to the test consisting of four 10 m lines which cross over at their mid-point, resulting in eight 5 m sectors that include locomotor skills (speeding, moving sideways, side cutting, and jumping) and soccer-specific technical skills (dribbling, slalom course, and kicking/passing). The content validity was calculated with the Aiken’s V coefficient of acceptance at 0.69 and 95% of confidence interval. Eight experts participated in the Delphi and agreed on the administration procedures after three rounds of suggestions. Major changes included the order of execution and the descriptions of the sectors. The results showed consensus (V = 1, maximum acceptance) for the clarity of instructions, the relevance of the skills to be evaluated, the order of execution, the materials and the relevance of measuring total and partial sector times. The RONDO-TEST may be feasible and simple to administer and evaluate technical functional skills (actions) and condition-related abilities (e.g., the ability to repeat the test, fatigue curve, etc.), which are relevant aspects for return to play under optimum conditions.

3 The Acute Effects Of Hip Thrust and Glute Bridge Exercises With Different Loads on Sprint Performance and Horizontal Force-Velocity Profile in Adolescent Soccer Players: A Post-Activation Performance Enhancement Approach

Reference: Eur J Sport Sci. 2025 Feb;25(2):e12255. doi: 10.1002/ejsc.12255.
Authors: Salih Çabuk, İzzet İnce
Download link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11745155/pdf/EJSC-25-e12255.pdf
Summary: This study examines the acute effects of post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) with different loads (84% and 60% 1-RM) and exercises (hip thrust; HT and glute bridge; GB) on sprint performance (SP) and horizontal force-velocity (HF-V) profile components in adolescent male soccer players. The participants were randomly assigned to three groups: hip thrust group (HTG; n = 13), glute bridge group (GBG; n = 13), and control group (CG; n = 14). Sprint tests at distances of 10, 20, and 30 m were conducted pre-PAPE and post-PAPE protocols with a 7 min rest period. HTG and GBG executed HT and GB exercises at 84% and 60% of their 1-RM loads. Hedge’s g was computed to assess within-group (pre-PAPE vs. post-PAPE) comparisons (Within-ES) and between-group (post-PAPE protocols) comparisons (Between-ES). PAPE protocols at 84% and 60% 1-RM loads demonstrated moderate effects on F0rel, Pmaxrel, FVslope, and DRF and small effects on V0, RFmax, and S20m in both HTG and GBG. Conversely, the CG exhibited trivial effects across parameters. Compared to the HTG 84% 1-RM protocol, the GBG 84% 1-RM protocol showed small effects on V0 and S10m. The HTG 60% 1-RM protocol had a small effect on RFmax compared to both GBG 84% and 60% 1-RM protocols. Both HTG and GBG 84% and 60% 1-RM protocols demonstrated small effects on S30m compared to the CG. These findings suggest that GB exercises may offer a viable alternative to HT exercises for eliciting PAPE effects, particularly in enhancing SP and related mechanics in adolescent soccer players.

4 Does Core Training Improve Agility Performance in Soccer Players With Groin Pain? A Randomized, Single-Blind Study

Reference: Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2025 Jan 17:1-8. doi: 10.1123/ijspp.2024-0259. Online ahead of print.
Authors: Fatma Chaari, Abderrahmane Rahmani, Nicolas Peyrot, Mohamed A Harrabi, Thouraya Fendri, Haithem Rebai, Sébastien Boyas, Sonia Sahli
Summary: Agility is crucial for soccer players, and core training can improve it. One study showed significant agility improvements after an intervention including core training for athletes with groin pain. However, it is unclear if these improvements resulted specifically from the core exercises or the entire program. Additionally, the study lacked a control group, making the findings inconclusive. The current study aimed to explore the effect of core training, previously reported in the context of groin-pain rehabilitation, on agility performance in soccer players with groin pain. Twenty soccer players with groin pain volunteered to participate. They were randomly assigned to a core training group (n = 10) and a control group (n = 10). Before and immediately after that period, agility performance (T test and Edgren Side Step Test) and self-reported outcomes (Copenhagen Hip and Groin Outcome Score) were assessed in both groups. No significant session × group interaction was observed in agility T test (F = 2.55; P = .12; ηp2=.12) and Edgren Side Step Test (F = 3.18; P = .09; ηp2=.15) performances. Besides, Copenhagen Hip and Groin Outcome scores showed significant improvements (P = .007 to <.001) in the core training group following the 12 weeks of core training and compared with the control group. The results showed that soccer players with groin pain who received or did not receive core training showed similar agility performance. However, significant improvements in self-reported outcomes were observed in soccer players compared with the control group. Clinicians and coaches should therefore consider core training when designing training and rehabilitation programs for this population to enhance recovery.

5 Proximal iliotibial band tear: a case report in an amateur football player

Reference: Acta Ortop Mex. 2025 Jan-Feb;39(1):44-46. [Article in Spanish]
Authors: V S Takahashi, P H Segatt, D A Pires, M L Duarte
Summary: The iliotibial band originates from the iliac crest and the hip joint capsule, extending along the entire lateral surface until it inserts onto tuberculum anterolateralis tibiae on the anterolateral tibia. It acts as an agonist of the anterior cruciate ligament. In short, the iliotibial band primarily contributes to the lateral stabilization of the knee joint. One of the main causes of iliotibial band tear is sports-related injuries. Isolated iliotibial band tear is rare due to the specific requirement of pure varus stress for its occurrence, involving a combination of knee joint flexion with internal rotation. Diagnosing this condition is challenging due to its rarity and difficult clinical suspicion. We present a case of 51-year-old male patient, amateur football player, with proximal iliotibial band tear. The clinical presentation, radiographic and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) findings, treatment and return to play are discussed.

6 A Narrative Review of the Velocity and Acceleration Profile in Football: The Influence of Playing Position

Reference: Sports (Basel). 2025 Jan 10;13(1):18. doi: 10.3390/sports13010018.
Authors: Charles Cotteret, Ángel González-de-la-Flor, Jaime Prieto Bermejo, Jaime Almazán Polo, Sergio L Jiménez Saiz
Download link: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4663/13/1/18
Summary: To enhance athletic performance and reduce the risk of injury, load quantification has allowed for a better understanding of the individual characteristics of the physical demands on soccer players during training or competition. In this regard, it appears crucial to summarize scientific evidence to provide useful information and future directions related to the speed and acceleration profiles of male soccer players. This review aims to evaluate the findings reflected in the available literature on both profiles in football, synthesizing and discussing data from scientific articles, while providing insights into quantification methods, employed thresholds, tracking systems, terminology, playing position, and microcycle day. Therefore, it is hoped that this narrative review can support objective decision-making in practice for coaches, sports scientists, and medical teams regarding individualized load management and the appropriate selection of metrics, to explore current trends in soccer player profiles.

7 Severe Injuries of Former Portuguese Football Players: A Post-Career Burden?

Reference: Sports (Basel). 2025 Jan 9;13(1):17. doi: 10.3390/sports13010017.
Authors: Eduardo Teixeira, Carlos Silva, Félix Romero, Mauro Miguel, António Vicente
Download link: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4663/13/1/17#:~:text=4.-,Conclusions,%2Fankle%20level%20(17.2%25).
Summary: Football players have a high injury risk due to the physical demands of their profession, which can negatively affect their quality of life (QoL) in the long term. The aim of this study is to characterize the severe injuries that former Portuguese football players suffered throughout their professional careers and investigate the resulting impacts on the physical domain of QoL after retirement. This study includes 84 former Portuguese football players (48.8 ± 8.2 years) who underwent reform between 1988 and 2018 and played in professional leagues (15.2 ± 3.2 years of career duration), namely, first division leagues (n = 43) and secondary division leagues (n = 41). Quantitative and qualitative interview data are used by a validated interview guide and from results of the physical domain obtained by the application of the World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaire (WHOQOL-Bref). Former players had 2.1 ± 1.5 severe injuries throughout their careers. The most common injuries involve the knee (47.5%) and foot/ankle (17.2%), with the anatomical area of the knee as the most likely to require surgical intervention (60%). The association between tactical-positional status and the incidence of severe injuries is significant, with defenders sustaining less severe injuries throughout their careers. This study found a statistically significant linear model (F(1.82) = 8.089, p < 0.006) that explains 7.9% of the variation in the physical domain of QoL (R2ajuste = 0.079). For each severe injury sustained throughout a career, there is an estimated decrease of 2.7 values in QoL perception in the physical domain. The higher the number of severe injuries sustained during a career, the lower the perception of QoL in the physical domain of former players in their post-career. These findings highlight the need to optimize training programs and injury prevention and recovery protocols for long-term QoL improvement in the physical domain of football players.

8 Assessing Nutritional Knowledge and Physical Health Among Football Players: A Pilot Study from Three Sports Clubs in Western Romania

Reference: Sports (Basel). 2025 Jan 9;13(1):16. doi: 10.3390/sports13010016.
Authors: Gabriel Roberto Marconi, Brigitte Osser, Gyongyi Osser, Caius Calin Miuța, Csongor Toth, Viorel Petru Ardelean, Anca Dicu, Corina Dalia Toderescu, Laura Ioana Bondar
Download link: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4663/13/1/16
Summary: Football players require optimal nutrition and physical fitness to enhance their performance and maintain their health. Understanding the relationships among nutritional knowledge, dietary habits, physical health, and substance use in athletes is essential for developing effective strategies. This study investigates these factors in male football players aged 16-33 years. The study involved 60 male football players from three teams in Liga4Arad. A mixed-methods approach was used, incorporating a self-developed pilot questionnaire and internationally validated instruments. The reliability of the questionnaire was confirmed using Guttman’s λ2. The questionnaire assessed nutritional knowledge, eating habits, substance use, and physical health parameters, including body fat percentage and training frequency. Spearman’s correlation was used to analyze the data and explore the interrelationships between these factors. It is important to note that the pilot questionnaire used in this study was self-developed and not previously validated in this specific context. Nutritional knowledge was positively correlated with healthier eating habits (ρ = 0.675, p < 0.001). Intensive training and higher physical activity levels were both associated with improved body composition and lower body fat (ρ = 0.341, p = 0.006). Supplement use was moderately correlated with alcohol consumption (ρ = 0.548, p < 0.001) and weakly correlated with smoking (ρ = 0.348, p = 0.007). The study highlights a strong relationship between nutritional knowledge and healthier eating habits among football players, as well as the significant role of frequent intense training in reducing body fat percentages and enhancing physical fitness. Additionally, the findings suggest a moderate association between dietary supplement use and alcohol consumption, underscoring the need for tailored interventions to address substance use and its impact on players‘ health behaviors and performance.

9 Associations between injury occurrence and environmental temperatures in the Australian and German professional football leagues

Reference: Environ Epidemiol. 2025 Jan 22;9(1):e364. doi: 10.1097/EE9.0000000000000364. eCollection 2025 Feb.
Authors: Edgar Schwarz, Rob Duffield, Donna Lu, Hugh Fullagar, Karen Aus der Fünten, Sabrina Skorski, Tobias Tröß, Abed Hadji, Tim Meyer
Download link: https://journals.lww.com/environepidem/fulltext/2025/02000/associations_between_injury_occurrence_and.11.aspx
Summary: A cross-sectional analysis was performed to investigate associations between environmental temperatures and injury occurrence in two professional male football (soccer) leagues. Data from seven seasons of the German Bundesliga (2142 matches) and four seasons of the Australian A-League (470 matches) were included. Injuries were collated via media reports for the Bundesliga and via team staff reports in the A-League and comprised injury incidence, mechanisms (contact, noncontact), locations (e.g., ankle, knee, and thigh), and types (e.g., muscle and tendon, joint and ligament). Weather data included ambient air temperature (temperature or T) and wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT), which were collected from online sources retrospectively. Generalized linear mixed models were analyzed to examine associations between temperature or WBGT and injury occurrence for each league, respectively. Additionally, matches were grouped into categories of 5°C temperature steps to compare for injury occurrence. Results showed no relationship existed between either temperature or WBGT and any injury occurrence, mechanisms, locations or types for the Bundesliga (P > 0.10). A trend for an increase in injury occurrence in higher WBGT existed in the A-League (P = 0.05). Comparisons between 5°C temperature categories showed no significant differences for injury occurrence for either temperature or WBGT in either League (P > 0.05). Within the observed temperature ranges (-11.2 to 37.1°C T; -12.2 to 29.6°C WBGT) environmental temperature had no relationship with the rate or type of injury occurrence in professional football. Nevertheless, the number of matches at extreme heat within this study was limited and other factors (e.g., playing intensity, season stage, ground conditions) likely co-influence the relationship with injuries.

10 Acute Effects of Foam Rolling and Stretching on Physical Performance and Self-Perceived Fatigue in Young Football Players

Reference: J Funct Morphol Kinesiol. 2025 Jan 17;10(1):36. doi: 10.3390/jfmk10010036.
Authors: Elzan Bibić, Valentin Barišić, Borko Katanić, Andrii Chernozub, Nebojša Trajković
Download link: https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5142/10/1/36
Summary: The aim of this study was to examine the acute effects of foam rolling and traditional stretch treatments on physical performance and self-perceived fatigue in youth football players. The sample of participants consisted of 20 youth football players from the Serbia Under-17 league. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups, the Foam group (age: 16.6 ± 1.5 years) or the Stretch group (age: 16.9 ± 1.0 years), with each group consisting of 10 participants. The first measurement (I) was conducted before the match; then, the football players played the match, which was followed by the second measurement (II), and afterward, the groups performed their foam and stretch activities. The third measurement (III) was conducted 2 h after the recovery interventions, and the fourth measurement (IV) was conducted 24 h after the match. Players were tested for the following: linear sprints at 5 m, 10 m, and 20 m, squat jumps (SJs), countermovement jumps (CMJs), and arm-driven countermovement jumps (ACMJs). Participants also completed self-assessment questionnaires on fatigue (Hooper scales) and perceived exertion (Borg scales). A 2 × 4 split-plot ANOVA revealed that there were no differences between the foam rolling and stretching treatments in any parameter of physical performance or self-perceived fatigue. However, a separate within-group analysis showed that the Foam group achieved significantly better sprint times in the third and fourth measurements (2 and 24 h post-match, respectively) compared to measurements taken immediately after the football match. Regarding self-perceived parameters, foam rolling reduced fatigue and stress at 2 and 24 h post-match. On the other hand, the stretching treatment only affected the stress parameter, which was reduced 24 h after the football match. These findings indicate that although there were no significant differences between treatments, foam rolling demonstrated certain advantages compared to stretching. Specifically, foam rolling may offer benefits in enhancing subjective recovery and reducing perceived exertion in young football players. However, these conclusions should be interpreted with caution, as the study was cross-sectional and involved a small sample of young football players.

11 Effects of a 10-week athletic performance program on match performance variables in male professional football players

Reference: Front Sports Act Living. 2025 Jan 8:6:1496895. doi: 10.3389/fspor.2024.1496895. eCollection 2024. DOI: 10.3389/fspor.2024.1496895
Authors: Sergio Jiménez Rubio, José L Estévez Rodríguez, Victor Escamilla Galindo, Sergio L Jiménez-Sáiz, Juan Del Coso
Download link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11750791/pdf/fspor-06-1496895.pdf
Summary: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of an Athletic Performance Program (APP), implemented as a complement to the usual training routines of a professional football team, on match performance variables in professional football players. The APP was designed to target mobility, stability, strength, multidirectional and sprint skills, which are critical for performance during competitive matches. A prospective quasi-experimental study was conducted over three consecutive seasons. Fifty-four professional football players were randomly allocated into a control group (CG, n = 25) and an experimental group (EG, n = 29). During the in-season period, both groups followed the standard training routines prescribed by the coaching staff. Additionally, the CG performed a general supplementary physical fitness program five times per week, while the EG undertook the APP with the same frequency. The APP included indoor track sessions and micro-doses of on-field stimuli, focusing on specific performance attributes. The interventions lasted 10 weeks. Performance metrics were assessed pre- and post-intervention using GPS to measure match-related variables (total running distance, sprint distance, number of sprints, and peak running speed) and countermovement jump tests to evaluate vertical jumping ability. A two-way ANOVA (2 × 2; group and time) was employed to analyze the effects of the interventions and their interaction. Significant group × time interaction effects were observed for total running distance (F = 51.853, P < 0.001), sprint distance (F = 197.610, P < 0.001), number of sprints (F = 86.923, P < 0.001), and peak running speed (F = 81.351, P < 0.001) during matches. Post-hoc pairwise comparisons revealed that only the EG showed improvements across all performance variables: total running distance (117.5 ± 5.20 to 123.1 ± 3.5 m/min, P < 0.001), sprint distance (6.45 ± 1.43 to 8.35 ± 1.22 m/min, P < 0.001), number of sprints (0.14 ± 0.03 to 0.16 ± 0.03 sprint/min, P < 0.001), and peak running speed (31.1 ± 1.3 to 32.1 ± 1.0 km/h, P < 0.001). Conversely, the CG exhibited significant declines in these metrics post-intervention (P < 0.001). The findings demonstrate that integrating a 10-week multicomponent Athletic Performance Program into traditional training routines is effective in enhancing match performance variables, particularly in high-intensity actions such as sprints and running speed. The APP’s focus on mobility, stability, strength, and sprint-specific skills likely contributed to these improvements, highlighting the importance of targeted supplementary training for optimizing athletic performance in professional football players. The observed decline in the CG emphasizes the need for specialized interventions to maintain and improve performance during the season.

12 Normative and limit values of speed, endurance and power tests results of young football players

Reference: Front Physiol. 2025 Jan 8:15:1502694. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2024.1502694. eCollection 2024.
Authors: Michał Nowak, Marta Szymanek-Pilarczyk, Artur Stolarczyk, Łukasz Oleksy, Jarosław Muracki, Jacek Wąsik
Download link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11751035/pdf/fphys-15-1502694.pdf
Summary: This study aimed to assess the development of speed, endurance and power in young football players and to create percentile charts and tables for standardized assessment. Cross-sectional data were collected from 495 male players aged 12-16 years at RKS Raków Częstochowa Academy in 2018-2022. Players participated in a systematic training in which running time 5 m, 10 m, 30 m, lower limb power (standing long jump), and Maximum Aerobic Speed (MAS) were measured using the 30-15 Intermittent Fitness Test. All tests were performed under constant environmental conditions by qualified personnel. Statistical analysis included ANOVA and percentile distribution for P3, P10, P25, P50, P75, P90, P97. Results indicated that the most significant improvements occurred between the ages of 13 and 14, with increased speed over all distances and a significant increase in power. Percentile tables were developed, highlighting improvements in speed 5 m: 0.087-0.126 s; 10 m 0.162-0.215 s; 30 m: 0.438-0.719 s and power in the long jump test: 31-48 cm. Improvements in MAS ranged from 0.3 to 0.6 m/s across the percentiles. The results highlight the need for individual training programs tailored to the biological maturity of players. The developed percentile charts and tables offer a valuable tool for coaches and sports scientists to monitor progress, optimize training loads, and minimize the risk of injury, providing a frame of reference for assessing the physical development of young soccer players. Future research should focus on extending these charts and tables to other age groups and genders to refine training methodologies further.

13 Extreme heat risk and the potential implications for the scheduling of football matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Reference: Int J Biometeorol. 2025 Jan 25. doi: 10.1007/s00484-025-02852-4. Online ahead of print.
Authors: Donal Mullan, Iestyn Barr, Neil Brannigan, Nuala Flood, Oliver R Gibson, Catherine Hambly, Alan T Kennedy-Asser, Aimée C Kielt, Tom Matthews, Madeleine Orr
Download link: https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00484-025-02852-4.pdf
Summary: Climate change is making extreme heat events more frequent and intense. This negatively impacts many aspects of society, including organised sport. As the world’s most watched sporting event, the FIFA World Cup commands particular attention around the threat of extreme heat. The 2022 tournament in Qatar was moved from summer to winter in response to this threat, and now attention turns to the 2026 tournament in North America with extreme heat risk across many of the 16 host locations. We examine this risk by modelling wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) – a widely used measure of heat stress – for the host locations using hourly meteorological data for the period 2003-2022. Our results show that 14 out of 16 host locations exceed WBGTs of 28 °C, with four (nine) exceeding this threshold more than half the time during afternoons across the mean (hottest year) of the 20 year record. This threshold is important as the level beyond which some football governing bodies recommend match delay or postponement. A climatically sound argument is therefore presented to reschedule kick-off times outside the hottest afternoon hours for the host locations with highest heat risk at which no indoor air conditioned environment exists – primarily Miami and Monterrey, but also Philadelphia, Kansas City, Boston and New York. This study highlights the need to carefully assess heat risk ahead of major sporting events to help inform any potential interventions needed in the scheduling of matches and competitions in a warming climate.

14 Return to competition after ACL reconstruction: Factors influencing rates and timing in Swedish football players

Reference: Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2025 Jan 26. doi: 10.1002/ksa.12579.
Authors: Alexander Sandon, Joanna Kvist, Henrik Hedevik, Magnus Forssblad
Download link: https://esskajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ksa.12579
Summary: The aim was to investigate the rate and timing for return to football league games after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) in Swedish players, examining associations with sex, age, level, graft and additional ACL surgery. Data from the Swedish National Knee Registry (SNKLR) and the Swedish Football Association’s IT System (FOGIS) were used. The study cohort comprised 971 football players, 64% males, who underwent primary ACLR. Demographics, graft type and surgical information were extracted from the SNKLR and game participation from FOGIS. Follow-up for return to competition (RTC) was conducted for 36 months, while additional ACLR follow-up was 3-7 years. Statistical analyses, including Kaplan-Meier survival curves and relative risk calculations, were employed to assess factors influencing RTC rates and timing. Out of 971 players analyzed, 53% RTC within 3 years with no difference between males and females, at a mean of 15 months (median 14 months) from surgery to the first game. Eleven (2%) players RTC < 6 months from ACLR, 62 (12%) 6-9 months, 125 (24%) 9-12 months and 331 (63%) >12 months. Patellar tendon (PT) grafts demonstrated superior performance, showing quicker returns and higher RTC rates (p = 0.005) compared to hamstring (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.63 [0.48-0.84]) and quadriceps tendon grafts (HR: 0.53 [0.30-0.93]). Players competing in higher divisions pre-injury experienced significantly swifter and higher RTC rates (p < 0.001). Ninety-five (10%) had a registered additional ACLR. Players who RTC did not exhibit a significantly higher rate of revision (35 [7%] vs. 25 [5%]). However, those who returned faced a heightened risk of contralateral ACLRs compared to those who did not RTC (32 [6%] vs. 4 [1%] RR 1.72 [1.59-1.96], p < 0.001). The study reveals that 53% of football players RTC after ACLR, predominantly after more than 12 months. The RTC was higher and faster in high-level players and those receiving a PT graft. The slow RTC may contribute to the relatively low rate of additional ACLRs.

15 International youth football research developments: A CiteSpace-based bibliometric analysis

Reference: Heliyon. 2025 Jan 2;11(1):e41663. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2025.e41663. eCollection 2025 Jan 15.
Authors: Wenlu Yu, Wengao Liao, Ya Zhong, Yishi Guan
Download link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11758203/pdf/main.pdf
Summary: With the vigorous development of football, research on youth football has garnered significant attention from scholars, leading to an increase in published findings. However, there is currently no comprehensive retrospective study that examines the status, hotspots, and trends of research in this field. This study employed Cite Space, a visual bibliometric software, to systematically review and analyze 1637 articles from the Web of Science (WOS) and China Knowledge Infrastructure Project (CNKI) databases up to January 2024. The primary objective was to examine the sources, authors, institutions, regions, citations, as well as keywords, and clustering of these articles to identify the global research hotspots and trends in youth football. The study concluded that the number of research articles in this field has been decreasing annually, and the research hotspots are exhibiting a gradual downward trend. The primary research institutions are comprehensive universities, supplemented by research centers and hospitals. The United States, the United Kingdom, Spain, and China have produced substantial research results in this area, and collaboration among researchers is relatively strong, indicating a positive development trajectory. Current research hotspots include sports monitoring and evaluation, sports injury and risk, talent identification and development, sports performance, the integration of sports and education, school football, and youth training systems. This finding provides a comprehensive overview of the research landscape in this field and presents opportunities for researchers to pursue further in-depth investigations.

16 Duration, score, and timing: factors influencing the success of offensive transitions in top, marginal, and emerging football leagues

Reference: Front Sports Act Living. 2025 Jan 10:6:1462932. doi: 10.3389/fspor.2024.1462932.eCollection 2024.
Authors: Pedro Eusebio, Pablo Prieto-González, Rui Marcelino
Download link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11757885/pdf/fspor-06-1462932.pdf
Summary: The study aimed to increase our understanding of offensive transitions in football, focusing on the time spent executing them and how it is influenced by the period in which they occur and the instant score. The objective is to understand its temporal variables and how they influence the unfolding of the scoreline during a match. This study analyzes 1,649 goals resulting from offensive transitions in 1,151 games across three leagues categories: Top, Marginal, and Emerging leagues. Multinomial logistic regression was performed to understand associations and predictors between the variables: „duration of a transition“, „Time of offensive transition occur“ and the „score at the moment“. The research reveals that, across all league categories, the last 15 min of the first and second halves, have the highest frequency of successful offensive transitions, particularly on the last 15 min of matches. In Top leagues, 69% of offensive transitions last for 9 s or more, with slower transitions more prevalent towards the end of games. In Marginal leagues, 41% of successful transitions took 13 s or longer, while in Emerging leagues, 53% of successful offensive transitions occurred when the game was not in a 0-0 state. The results show associations between all variables in Top Leagues. No associations were found in Marginal leagues. Associations between duration of the transition and the time of the game they occur were found on Emerging Leagues. These findings underscore the importance of tailored strategic plans for offensive transitions, to optimize scoring opportunities and performances.

17 Need-supportive coaching and engagement in Chinese high school football players: a serial mediation model

Reference: Front Psychol. 2025 Jan 10:15:1466985. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1466985. eCollection 2024.
Authors: Chuantong Jiang, Norsilawati Abdul Razak, Nelfianty Mohd Rasyid
Download link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11759281/pdf/fpsyg-15-1466985.pdf
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between need-supportive coaching behavior, subjective task value, goal orientation, and engagement among Chinese high school football players and propose four research hypotheses better to understand the determinants and mechanisms of athlete engagement. Participants were 385 Chinese high school football players (228 boys; 157 girls; Mage = 16.07 years; SD = 1.15; range = 14-19 years) on 20 teams from 45 high schools using a proportional stratified random sampling method. Participants filled out previously validated questionnaires, including the Interpersonal Behaviors Questionnaire (IBQ), Subjective Task Value (STV), The Task and Ego Orientations Questionnaire (TEOSQ), and Athlete Engagement Questionnaire (AEQ). To address the hypothesis testing, this study utilized structural equation modeling (SEM) to analyze the proposed multiple mediation model. The research results indicated that need-supportive coaching behavior had a significant direct (β = 0.121, Z = 3.667, p < 0.001) and indirect (β = 0.209, Z = 5.500, p < 0.001) effect on athlete engagement. Moreover, need-supportive coaching behavior positively predicted athlete engagement through subjective task value (β = 0.128, Z = 4.000, p < 0.001) and task orientation (β = 0.053, Z = 3.118, p < 0.001). Also, subjective task value and task orientation sequentially mediated the relationship between need-supportive coaching behavior and athlete engagement (β = 0.028, Z = 3.500, p < 0.001). The findings demonstrate that need-supportive coaching behavior, subjective task value, and task orientation are important factors in promoting athlete engagement. The study implies that encouraging and guiding coaches to adopt a need-supportive coaching style is an effective motivational strategy, which can not only directly predict athlete engagement, but also indirectly influence athlete engagement through subjective task value and task orientation.

18 The people’s game: evolutionary perspectives on the behavioural neuroscience of football fandom

Reference: Front Psychol. 2025 Jan 10:15:1517295. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1517295. eCollection 2024.
Authors: Matt Butler, Gurjot Brar, Riadh Abed, Henry O’Connell
Download link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11758463/pdf/fpsyg-15-1517295.pdf
Summary: Association football (soccer) is the world’s most popular sport. Transculturally, fans invest significant resources following their teams, suggesting underlying psychological universals with evolutionary origins. Although evolutionary science can help illuminate the ultimate causes of human behaviour, there have been limited modern evolutionary perspectives on football fandom. In this paper, we consider evolutionary perspectives on football fandom from a behavioural neuroscientific standpoint. We discuss how the appeal of football may arise through the low-scoring and highly variable outcomes of games; we relate this to the neuroscience of reward prediction errors and motivation. We highlight recent research on the psychobiological responses to ritual, including endorphin release, which may reduce anxiety and facilitate group bonding. We discuss the prosocial and anxiety-sublimating effects of the matchday ritual and argue that football may be a special case whereby ritual behaviour does have a small effect on the outcome of interest. We discuss the psychology of ingroup and outgroup effects of fandom and argue that, although resource scarcity can sometimes lead to aggression, that larger inter-group effects can be positive. We comment on the socioemotional developmental aspects of football fandom, and note how group identification may lead to displays of sacrifice. We finish with a discussion of whether, in the era of social prescribing, football could be seen as a psychiatrist’s tool. We conclude with suggestions on how the positive aspects of football can be emphasised through evolutionary perspectives, and how future research on football fandom may inform evolutionary understanding of humans writ large.

19 Use of AI methods to assessment of lower limb peak torque in deaf and hearing football players group

Reference: Acta Bioeng Biomech. 2025 Jan 27;26(3):123-134. doi: 10.37190/abb-02474-2024-02. Print 2024 Sep 1.
Authors: Adam Michał Szulc, Piotr Prokopowicz, Dariusz Mikołajewski
Summary: Monitoring and assessing the level of lower limb motor skills using the Biodex System plays an important role in the training of football players and in post-traumatic rehabilitation. The aim of this study was to build and test an artificial intelligence-based model to assess the peak torque of the lower limb extensors and flexors. The model was based on real-world results in three groups: hearing (n = 19) and deaf football players (n = 28) and non-training deaf pupils (n = 46). The research used a 4-layer forward CNN neural network with two hidden layers with typical normalization for small data sets and Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) based on MatlabR2023a software with Neural Networks and Deep Learning toolkits and semiautomated learning algorithm selection using ML.NET. The 70-90% accuracy shown in the article is sufficient here. AI provides a highly accurate, objective and efficient means of assessing neuromuscular performance, which can improve injury prevention and rehabilitation strategies. The high accuracy shows that AI-based models can help with this, but their wider practical implementation requires further cross-disciplinary research. AI, and in particular MLP and CNN can support both training methods and various gaming aspects. The contribution of the research is to use an innovative approach to derive computational rules/guidelines from an explicitly given dataset and then identify the relevant physiological torque of the lower limb extensors and flexors in the knee joint. The model complements existing methodologies for describing physiology of peak torque of lower limbs with using fuzzy logic, with a so-called dynamic norm built into the model.

20 Illnesses and Diseases Constitute a Quarter of Medical Conditions in an Under-21 National Football Team

Reference: J Sport Rehabil. 2025 Jan 28:1-6. doi: 10.1123/jsr.2023-0279. Online ahead of print.
Author: Panu H Nordback
Summary: There is a minimal number of studies of under-21-year-old national football teams, and the literature is injury centric. Particularly, current knowledge is deficient regarding noninjurious medical conditions, such as illnesses and diseases. The objectives of this study were to analyze the descriptive characteristics of injuries and illnesses or diseases encountered in an under-21 football team during 2 European championship qualification tournaments. Medical records of 2 consecutive men’s Union of European Football Associations European Under-21 Championship qualification competition tournaments were retrospectively analyzed for the study from September 2015 to October 2018. All match- and training-related injuries, illnesses, and diseases were analyzed and further categorized. In the 20 international caps played within 13 separate events, the players encountered 81 injuries and 26 other conditions, illnesses, or diseases requiring medical attention. In total, 25 injuries and 5 diseases led to attendance inability. The incidence of injury was 0.6 per match and disease 0.3 per day. Many overuse injuries appeared during prematch training and in relation to previous history. Twenty-four percent of all medical conditions during 2 qualification tournaments were illnesses or diseases. The injury and disease incidences were low and mild or moderate rather than severe. A variety of illnesses and diseases constitute a quarter of conditions requiring medical attention in an under-21 national football team. Attendance at under-21 national team events can be stated as safe as the incidence and severity rates are low.

21 East Asian expatriate football players and national team success: Chinese, Japanese, and South Korean players in Europe (2000-2024)

Reference: Sci Rep. 2025 Jan 29;15(1):3707. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-80953-7.
Authors: Le Luo, Yangke Tang, Xiaohan Li, Ge Sun, Enkai Guo, Hanbing Xu
Summary: This study investigated the influence of Chinese, Japanese, and South Korean football players‘ participation in European leagues on their national teams‘ FIFA rankings from 2000 to 2024. Utilizing data from 22,972 matches featuring 392 players across 36 European leagues and 12 tournaments or cup competitions, survival and conditional process analyses were conducted to explore the relationships between expatriate player counts, appearances, playing time, and FIFA rankings. The results demonstrated a significant correlation between the number of expatriate players, particularly in top-tier leagues, and national team rankings. Notably, Japanese and South Korean players exhibited longer durations of participation and higher rates of advancement to elite European leagues compared to Chinese players. Furthermore, the conditional process analysis revealed an indirect effect of expatriate player count on FIFA rankings, mediated by increased appearances and playing time, with the strongest influence observed in the Big Five leagues. These findings underscore the importance of international exposure for advancing East Asian football and provide insights for policymakers on effectively nurturing young talents for international careers.

22 Salt and Nutritional Content of Foods Advertised During Televised Professional Football Games

Reference: JAMA Netw Open. 2025 Jan 2;8(1):e2457307. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.57307.
Authors: Lara Al-Zoubaidi, Nadya Vinsdata, R Eric Heidel, Paul J Hauptman
Download link: https://watermark.silverchair.com/alzoubaidi_2025_ld_240289_1737643780.99263.pdf?token=AQECAHi208BE49Ooan9kkhW_Ercy7Dm3ZL_9Cf3qfKAc485ysgAAAzYwggMyBgkqhkiG9w0BBwagggMjMIIDHwIBADCCAxgGCSqGSIb3DQEHATAeBglghkgBZQMEAS4wEQQMzEEmpccGiL-A6KHzAgEQgIIC6UqsWzP5ecyVFG8GuCFtG6XvSVrdty_R1GZFPKZyviYyrUsl6voXfnnGwEroXCNuUne-bPj3oQXi3WrESeM5OPuaEn9JLme3z9360OM_Eql3yiwy8jWrNO7LwRf3eWkZ8BDbIGbQQby0dDlZfVRHyiG30gE2gnxmkWadLW-RHFiIRP903q_WFsX-SMDHT6cK7La4KDVzn09JuUNmVEJWGmzYAUG-TcLUBfkTPGCu8TrB_qcuasma9RngsiJ89QLUIojljLMWa1zi-4OrKl5Fuq8cBnVEnZwBsNa5J_iPSMTcV7cP_nxXCpA08FLQC-ralYkgNcH0dEUc58h8f-ZRi8l7tH7cgp-E1t7gRbRkwUqjR0qnIzvnfwrD-5YNhPQTqhqhJey9aEppsFr8Q0jPOo-gsFDKMpwZNAvN3l0ik2fDKkRFJ-yYgGGBGNwnW9_XqEdhpdJnT_vjDybnxOjLbt0at32VwTdYit7dDHDTw9-zGN3YCezuVFJjMSpUR8P1x9owl5hR8F7xeiY_Y2CIHTmfgVyI-j6LWjaK72oxF3sKx2qChafQ9LuQumvigGDQUZmu8KPcqdto_xflrkIjOjiDKJq_ECuZox8dA3cLVSD29xp-AffW9yPRfbRqk3PBEhTR4EEGDBVu0xkRIs8tYrWzHi0SlhDYrADoUWrctmbVW8JKlSxv2t22e-0G36xYXSzXbPnNfGscprVDGdwTGcV7ER5XYUs9KlRCf44bvU4P3gr1Zy24UhoztDOhjBwHirZ6cukkA8rV67Xzj7g3iFZeh-ces1e_kinGWVvQ9NdAhcVf6gvatGs65NVxWv3ba_Nj1YqPUQUctL7rmGUvN_A-nwvMiWsOCNiVzrgNkP2f7du-M8t_Wumn5avBo3Shy4vmpTKvTCgLziu_Dy7VLZdy4tLA72iRlkUTmlqgYtPdl_hSXckThK-db1y7RchVk_XsKibmT3aGatJyX3VjIsy2lQVhF6SNTqk

23 Goal-line oracles: Exploring accuracy of wisdom of the crowd for football predictions

Reference: PLoS One. 2025 Jan 31;20(1):e0312487. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0312487. eCollection 2025.
Authors: Jens Koed Madsen
Download link: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0312487
Summary: Football’s inherent volatility and low-scoring nature present unique challenges for predicting outcomes. This study investigates the efficacy of Wisdom of the Crowd in forecasting football match outcomes as well as expected goals (XG) across a Premier League season. Participants predicted team goal counts, which were then compared to actual expected goals (XG) and match results. Results across 760 team predictions reveal that while Wisdom of the Crowd accurately predicts XG on average, it overestimates ‚big-6‘ teams and underestimates others, hinting at inherent biases. Notably, however, collective crowd predictions outperform individual estimates consistently, affirming the power of collective intelligence. Furthermore, when tested against betting odds, Wisdom of the Crowd demonstrates limited profitability, indicating its potential as a supplementary rather than sole prediction tool. These findings underscore the nuanced dynamics of football prediction and highlight the utility of collective wisdom in navigating its complexities. Overall, this study contributes insights into crowd prediction dynamics and underscores its potential in football analytics, shedding light on its implications for decision-making and understanding group behaviour in sports forecasting contexts.

24 Isokinetic strength and jumping abilities of teenage soccer players playing in different field positions

Reference: Acta Bioeng Biomech. 2025 Jan 27;26(3):13-23. doi: 10.37190/abb-02470-2024-02. Print 2024 Sep 1.
Authors: Michał Górski, Adrian Wilk, Anna Pastuszak, Michał Starczewski, Bartłomiej Michalak, Michael T Lane, Krzysztof Buśko
Download link: https://sciendo.com/article/10.37190/abb-02470-2024-02
Summary: Soccer is a sport being performed in a very dynamic manner. It requires soccer players to be able to develop high muscle force in a very short period of time. The aim of the study was to evaluate the strength and jumping abilities of young soccer players playing in different positions on the field. The study included 49 adolescent soccer players: 6 goalkeepers, 15 defenders, 17 midfielders and 11 strikers. We measured peak torques (PT), total work (TW), and average power (AP) developed by the knee flexors and extensors under isokinetic conditions at angular velocities of 60°⋅s-1, 180°⋅s-1 and 300°⋅s-1 on a Biodex dynamometer, and jump height (H) and maximum power (P max) on a force plate. PT, AP, TW, and P max scores were normalized relative to body mass. There were no statistically significant differences between measurements of basic somatic characteristics (body height and body weight), age and biological age as well as PT, AP, TW, H, and P max in players from different positions on the field. Unlike defenders, midfielders showed a significant correlation of isokinetic tests indices with jump height (r = 0.54÷0.84) and maximum relative power (r = 0.55÷0.76). The differences in correlations are probably due to the different tasks and activities that players in different positions on the field perform during the game.

25 Heart rate and blood pressure in soccer players differing in sports qualification

Reference: Wiad Lek. 2024;77(12):2426-2434. doi: 10.36740/WLek/195549.
Authors: Yevhen Mykhaliuk, Yehor Horokhovskyi, Anatolii Bosenko, Oleg Bazylchuk, Mykhailo Khoroshukha, Nadiia Orlyk, Mariia Topchii
Summary: The aim was to investigate the effects of exercise training on heart rate and blood pressure in soccer players of different skill levels. 693 soccer players with different sports qualifications were studied. Heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) were measured at rest at the beginning of the preparatory phase of the training cycle. HR in elite soccer players is 64.4±0.83 bpm, bradycardia occurs in 47.4%, tachycardia in 5.3%, hypotonic state of systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure in 9.0% and 8.3%, hypertensive state of SBP and DBP in 41.4% and 17.3%, respectively. HR in advanced soccer players is 67.5±0.5 bpm, bradycardia occurs in 36.0%, tachycardia in 8.6%, hypotonic state of SBP and DBP occurs in 11.1% and 32.9%, hypotonic state of DBP in 9.1%, and hypertensive state of DBP in 13.7%. The HR in intermediate soccer players is 71.3±0.73 bpm. Players with bradycardia in this group were found 21.3%, and with tachycardia 17.8%. Hypotonic state of SBP was found in 17.2% of players, and hypertonic state in 19.0%. Hypotonic state of DBP was found in 19.5% and hypertensive state in 8.6% of players. Bradycardia and hypertensive state of SBP are significantly more frequent in elite players than in intermediate players. Considering the presence of 12.9% of athletes with BP ≥ 140/90 mmHg among advanced soccer players, it is recommended to perform additional examinations, including daily BP monitoring, as well as to make adjustments in the training and rehabilitation process.