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 Associations Between Nutrition Knowledge, Body Composition, and Cardiopulmonary Exercise Performance in Adolescent Football Players
Reference: Sports (Basel). 2026 Jun 5;14(6):231. doi: 10.3390/sports14060231.
Authors: Andreea Simina Dumitrescu, Alexandru Alexandru, Sorin-Ovidiu Brîndescu
Download link: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4663/14/6/231
Summary: Optimizing physical performance in youth football requires a comprehensive understanding of the interplay among behavioural factors, structural body composition, and functional cardiorespiratory capacity. While sports nutrition knowledge is hypothesized to influence athletic development, its concurrent relationships with regional body compartments and objective cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) metrics remain poorly characterized in adolescent athletes. A cross-sectional study approach analysed body composition via bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), maximal cardiorespiratory testing, and sports nutrition knowledge evaluation using the Nutrition for Sport Knowledge Questionnaire (NSKQ). Structural associations and functional predictive capacities were analysed. The cohort demonstrated an average VO2max of 51.18 ± 16.67 mL/kg/min and a mean total nutrition knowledge score of 43.56 ± 18.06 out of 81 (53.8%). Total and domain-specific nutrition knowledge scores were not associated with body mass index (BMI), fat-free mass (FFM), or fat-free mass percentage (FFM%). Higher nutrition knowledge scores were independently associated with superior VO2max and anaerobic threshold (AT) metrics. Exploratory geographic analyses revealed that rural-residing participants possessed significantly higher cardiorespiratory performance values and greater baseline nutrition knowledge profiles than their urban peers. In adolescent male football players, sports nutrition knowledge was not associated with static body composition measures but showed exploratory positive associations with selected cardiorespiratory fitness markers. These findings should be interpreted as cross-sectional and hypothesis-generating, as some potential confounding mediators were not assessed. These findings suggest that higher sports nutrition literacy may serve as a starting point for performance-supportive behaviours and metabolic conditioning, to some degree, warranting future interventional studies.
#2 Assessment of Internal Load and External Load in Senior Football Players: Differences Between Competitive Levels
Reference: J Funct Morphol Kinesiol. 2026 Jun 19;11(2):242. doi: 10.3390/jfmk11020242.
Authors: Diogo Tereso, José M Gamonales, Víctor Hernández-Beltrán, Rui Paulo
Download link: https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5142/11/2/242
Summary: Football is an intermittent sport characterized by high physical and physiological demands, which may be influenced by the competitive level. Understanding differences in match load is fundamental for optimizing training planning, fatigue management, and athlete performance and injury prevention. This study aimed to evaluate and compare external and internal load in senior football players in Portugal across five distinct competitive levels. Wimu ProTM (Hudl, Lincoln, NE, USA) and Garmin Heart Rate bands (Garmin International Inc., Olathe, KS, USA) were used to quantify and evaluate the external and internal load of the players. A total of 96 athletes were assessed, with ages ranging from 19 to 36 years (mean: 24.28 ± 4.72), who were divided into five competition levels (1st Division (n = 19), 2nd Division (n = 21), 3rd Division (n = 14), 4th Division (n = 20), and Regional Division (n = 22). Significant differences were observed between competitive levels across several external load variables (p > 0.001). The 3rd Division and 4th Division showed higher values in variables associated with reactive and high-intensity actions (p < 0.001; effect size: 0.287), whereas the 2nd Division exhibited a more controlled load profile. Regarding internal load, significant differences were only observed in average heart rate during the second half (p = 0.043; effect size: 0.085), indicating distinct capacities to maintain physiological intensity under fatigue. It can be concluded that competitive level influences load profiles in football, although the differences do not follow a linear pattern. External and internal loads demonstrate greater discriminatory capacity between competitive levels than internal load.
#3 ACL reconstruction in football players: A nationwide Swedish registry study of anteromedial versus transtibial femoral tunnel techniques
Reference: J Exp Orthop. 2026 Jun 23;13(2):e70818. doi: 10.1002/jeo2.70818. eCollection 2026 Apr.
Author: Alexander Sandon
Download link: https://esskajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/jeo2.70818
Summary: The aim was too compare anteromedial (AM) portal versus transtibial (TT) femoral drilling techniques in football players undergoing anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), focusing on return-to-competition (RTC), match exposure, patient-reported outcomes (PROMs) and reinjury risk. This nationwide cohort study linked the Swedish Knee Ligament Registry with the Swedish Football Association to capture surgical details, verified football participation, and longitudinal PROMs. All index ACLRs in registered football players from 2017-2023 were included. Outcomes were RTC, match exposure, Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score and EuroQol 5 dimension score scores at pre-op, 1, 2 and 5 years, and revision, contralateral, or any second ACL reconstruction. Analyses used t-tests and χ 2 tests, and Cox regression adjusted for age, sex, injured side, and meniscal and cartilage injury. A total of 7169 football players were included (AM 6,653; TT 516). Group differences at baseline were small but present (e.g., more women and left-sided injuries in TT; more meniscal repair and cartilage injury in AM). RTC rates were similar (55.2% AM vs. 56.8% TT), as were time to RTC, total matches played, matches after RTC, seasons played, and competitive level before and after injury. PROMs showed modest 1-year differences favouring AM that were not observed at 2 years. No differences were observed at 5 years, although based on limited TT data. Reinjury rates were comparable (revision 6.7% AM vs. 7.4% TT; contralateral 4.6% vs. 4.8%; any second ACLR 11.0% vs. 11.8%). Adjusted Cox models showed no association between portal technique and revision (hazard ratio [HR] 0.878, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.63-1.23) or any second ACLR (HR 0.906, 95% CI 0.70-1.18), with similar findings in RTC-only analyses. In a nationwide cohort of football players, AM and TT femoral drilling techniques yielded similar real-world outcomes: comparable reinjury risk, RTC rates and timing, match exposure, competitive trajectory, and PROMs. For football players undergoing primary ACL reconstruction, both AM and TT techniques are acceptable options.
#4 Assessing mental fatigue in football: a systematic review
Reference: Front Sports Act Living. 2026 Jun 9:8:1861469. doi: 10.3389/fspor.2026.1861469. eCollection 2026.
Authors: Diogo Aveiro, Francisco Campos, Rita Neves Rodrigues, Fernando Martins, John Kiely
Download link: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sports-and-active-living/articles/10.3389/fspor.2026.1861469/full
Summary: Mental fatigue is a psychophysiological state that can impair cognitive, technical, tactical, and physical performance in football. Despite growing interest in this topic, there is currently no standardized approach for assessing and monitoring mental fatigue in football contexts. This systematic review aimed to (i) synthesize the evidence regarding the effects of mental fatigue on football performance and (ii) identify the methodologies currently used to induce, detect, and analyze mental fatigue in football. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, a systematic search was conducted in the PubMed, Web of Science, SportDiscus, Scopus, and Springer Nature Link. Studies published between 1 January 2014 and 15 May 2026 in English, Portuguese, Spanish or French were included. Methodological quality was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Twenty-eight studies met the eligibility criteria. The findings showed that mental fatigue generally impairs football performance, particularly decision-making, technical execution, tactical behavior, attention, and perceived exertion. However, the magnitude and consistency of these effects varied according to the type of performance outcome assessed and the methodological approaches used across studies. Subjective assessment tools, such as visual analogue scales and perceived workload measures, were the most commonly used methods, whereas objective approaches, including eye-tracking systems, functional near-infrared spectroscopy, and psychomotor vigilance tests, were less frequently applied. Overall, substantial methodological heterogeneity and the absence of standardized assessment protocols limited comparisons between studies and reduced the practical app licability of findings. Current evidence suggests that mental fatigue negatively affects multiple dimensions of football performance, although methodological inconsistencies remain substantial. There is a clear need for standardized, ecologically valid assessment and monitoring protocols integrating both subjective and objective measures to improve performance management and recovery strategies in football.
#5 Longitudinal event-sampling dataset of football fans across five countries during the 2024 European championship
Reference: Sci Data. 2026 Jun 23;13(1):935. doi: 10.1038/s41597-026-07643-z.
Authors: Hannes M Petrowsky, Yannik A Escher, Lea Boecker et al.
Summary: This dataset was collected during the UEFA EURO football championship in 2024. It provides match-contingent experience sampling data, including (a) individual-level variables such as life satisfaction, (b) interpersonal variables such as prosocial intent, and (c) broader societal variables such as political trust. The data points are nested in a sample of N = 1,012 individuals from five countries (England, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland). Using an event-sampling method with four to eight measurement waves (depending on how far the national team progressed in the tournament), we captured time-sensitive fluctuations in a total of m = 30 variables in response to the national team’s objective (i.e., win, draw, loss) and perceived success. In addition, the dataset contains moderating variables including Big-5 personality traits, conspiracy and free-will beliefs, or alcohol consumption and betting behaviors, and detailed match-specific data (e.g., shots on target, yellow cards, attendance). Our data descriptor portrays the methodological approach, data collection procedures, and available variables, and outlines how the data may be used for future research.
#6 Continental Performance Profiles in Elite Youth Football: A Multidimensional Analysis of Physical, Technical-Tactical, Spatial, and Passing Network Performance Across U-17 and U-20 World Cups
Reference: Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2026 Jun 23:1-9. doi: 10.1123/ijspp.2026-0108. Online ahead of print.
Authors: Xudong Yang, Wonwoo Ju, Kongyun Huang, Bingnan Gong, Changjing Zhou, Miguel Ángel Gómez Ruano
Summary: The present study aimed to construct a multidimensional performance profile of men’s elite youth national teams from the 6 continental confederations (AFC, CAF, CONCACAF, CONMEBOL, OFC, and UEFA) by examining physical, technical-tactical, spatial, and passing network characteristics at the 2023 FIFA U-17 and U-20 World Cups. Data from 174 match observations and 943 player observations were analyzed using mixed-effects models. At U-17, confederation-related differences were observed across physical, spatial, and passing-related domains. AFC players covered more total distance than CONMEBOL (P = .006, effect size [ES] = 1.55), while CAF players reached higher top speeds than OFC (P = .030, ES = 0.87) and showed greater team length in the middle and defensive thirds (mean difference [MD] = 3.55 to 10.19 m, P = .004-.040). UEFA showed stronger passing-related profiles than OFC, including higher pass and line-break completion (MD = 0.17 to 0.28, P ≤.005) and higher passing network density, global efficiency, and average clustering coefficient (MD = 0.08 to 0.16, P = .004-.036). At U-20, physical and most spatial differences were limited, whereas passing network differences persisted, with OFC teams showing lower density than all other confederations (MD = -0.17 to -0.11, P < .001-.018) and lower global efficiency than CONCACAF, UEFA, and CAF teams (MD = -0.09 to -0.08, P = .005-.012). Confederation-related profiles were more prominent at U-17 but became less evident in physical and spatial domains by U-20, whereas passing-related differences persisted and highlighted collective passing organization as an important feature of elite youth football development.
#7 Anterior cruciate ligament revision risk is associated with mismatch between hamstring graft size and body size in football players
Reference: Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2026 Jun 23. doi: 10.1002/ksa.70477. Online ahead of print.
Authors: Alexander Sandon, Karl Eriksson, Magnus Forssblad, Björn Barenius
Download link: https://esskajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ksa.70477
Summary: The aim was to evaluate the association between hamstring autograft diameter and the risk of revision anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) in football players, and to determine whether this relationship differs according to sex and height. A nationwide registry-linked cohort was assembled by combining the Swedish Knee Ligament Registry and the Swedish Football Association’s competition database. Football players undergoing primary index ACLR with hamstring autograft between 2014 and 2023 were eligible. Graft diameter was categorised ≤7.5, 8.0, 8.5, ≥9.0 mm with ≥9.0 mm as the reference group. Estimated adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for revision were calculated with Cox models, stratified by sex and predefined height groups, a secondary analysis restricted to players who returned to official match play (RTC) were also performed. A total of 9448 players were included, 6127 (65%) men. During follow-up, 771 revision ACLR occurred (8.2%). Crude revision risk decreased stepwise with increasing graft diameter: 10.4% for ≤7.5 mm, 9.5% for 8.0 mm, 8.5% for 8.5 mm, and 6.2% for ≥9.0 mm. Among men, diameter-related risk differences were concentrated in taller players. In those 176-184 cm, grafts ≤7.5 mm showed a 2.27-fold higher adjusted hazard of revision (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.30-3.94) compared with ≥9.0 mm. In players ≥185 cm, hazards were elevated for both ≤7.5 mm (HR 2.86, 95% CI 1.19-6.85) and 8.0 mm grafts (HR 1.98, 95% CI 1.14-3.42). No significant graft-diameter effect was identified in men ≤175 cm, nor in any height stratum among women. Findings were consistent in the subgroup restricted to players who returned to official competition. Smaller hamstring autografts are associated with increased revision ACLR risk in tall male football players, whereas no clear graft-diameter effect is observed in women or shorter men. These findings suggest that graft diameter may be best interpreted in relation to patient height rather than applied as a universal threshold.
#8 Biomechanical phenotypes of 90° change of direction in football players: Unsupervised machine learning in anterior cruciate ligament injury prevention
Reference: Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2026 Jun 22. doi: 10.1002/ksa.70475. Online ahead of print.
Authors: Francesco Della Villa, Alessandro Ghibellini, Matthew Buckthorpe et al.
Download link: https://esskajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ksa.70475
Summary: Neuromuscular and biomechanical deficits contribute to anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury risk in football. Artificial intelligence (AI) could be adopted to analyse large datasets of complex multidirectional movements, aiding to unravel hidden biomechanical profiles. This study aimed to identify clusters of features describing the 90° change of direction (COD) task in football players-that is, biomechanical phenotypes-through unsupervised machine learning algorithms. One thousand and two healthy football players (mean age: 16.3 years) from the ‚CutTheACL‘ project performed a series of 90° COD tasks. Two-dimensional (2D) kinematics and ground reaction forces (GRF) were extracted from three high-speed cameras and one embedded force platform (VICON, AMTI). Unsupervised agglomerative clustering was performed to inspect the full dataset including kinematics, kinetics and 2D scoring system variables for each of the 6008 trials. The Silhouette coefficient was used to inspect the goodness of cluster differentiation. The Kruskal-Wallis and χ2 tests were performed to identify statistical differences among the clusters (p < 0.05). Four clusters with distinct biomechanical traits (phenotype) emerged (silhouette = 0.43). The clusters‘ interpretation was simplified according to GRFs and ACL-injury risk related 2D kinematics: Cluster 0 ‚low forces, poor movement control‘; Cluster 1 ‚low forces, acceptable movement control‘; Cluster 2 ‚high forces, poor movement control‘; Cluster 3 ‚high forces, acceptable movement control‘. Statistically significant differences emerged among all clusters (p < 0.001). Four biomechanical COD phenotypes with distinct neuromuscular control and force profiles were identified through unsupervised clustering. Such an approach might offer a foundation to inspect young football players‘ motion and target primary ACL injury prevention.
#9 Goals, cheers, and gamma-GT: Do football tournaments affect laboratory parameters?
Reference: Front Public Health. 2026 Jun 4:14:1839877. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1839877. eCollection 2026.
Authors: Marlene Hollenstein, Van-Lin Nguyen, Thomas Szekeres, Klaus G Schmetterer
Download link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13275681/pdf/fpubh-14-1839877.pdf
Summary: Major international football tournaments are mass gathering events associated with increased alcohol consumption, emotional stress, and healthcare utilization. While acute health effects have been described in emergency settings, their impact on routine laboratory parameters at the population level remains unclear. We conducted a retrospective analysis of 564,316 laboratory measurements obtained within predefined observation windows surrounding 19 UEFA European Championships and FIFA World Cups (2004–2023) at a large tertiary care center. Event periods (tournament days) were compared with temporally adjacent reference periods. Primary outcomes included liver-related parameters (ALAT, ASAT, GGT), with secondary analyses of inflammatory markers (CRP, WBC) and exploratory assessment of pancreatic enzymes. Outcomes were evaluated as proportions above the upper limit of normal (ULN) and distributional measures. Statistical comparisons were performed using χ2 and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests, with false discovery rate correction applied as a sensitivity analysis. Proportions of values exceeding the ULN were comparable between event and reference periods for ALAT (15.9% vs. 16.3%, p < 0.001), ASAT (11.4% vs. 11.7%, p = 0.031), and GGT (26.3% vs. 27.0%, p < 0.001), with only minimal absolute differences. CRP was slightly lower during event periods (40.1% vs. 41.0%, p < 0.001), while WBC showed no difference (24.4% vs. 24.4%, p = 0.93). Distributional analyses demonstrated largely overlapping patterns without systematic shifts. No consistent effects were observed across tournament context, including time zone differences, match relevance, or tournament phase. False discovery rate correction did not materially alter the interpretation of the findings. Despite strong behavioral and biological plausibility, major football tournaments were not associated with clinically meaningful changes in routine laboratory parameters at the population level. These findings reveal population-level buffering of event-related behavioral effects in routine laboratory data, demonstrating methodological limits of opportunistic surveillance for subtle mass gathering impacts and highlighting epidemiological resilience to transient exposures.
#10 Methodological approaches in video analysis studies of hamstring injuries in football: a systematic review
Reference: Sci Med Footb. 2026 Jun 20:1-22. doi: 10.1080/24733938.2026.2691453. Online ahead of print.
Authors: Alessandro Pellegrini, Francesco Della Villa, Matteo Zago
Summary: This systematic review examined how video analysis has been applied to study hamstring injuries (HSIs) in football, with a focus on methodological procedures, reporting practices, and classification systems. A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar (last search: 12 December 2024). Observational studies of professional players of either sex that used video footage to analyze HSIs were eligible. Two reviewers independently screened records and extracted data. Risk of bias was assessed using the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist for Analytical Cross-Sectional Studies and the QA-SIVAS tool. Data were synthesized narratively according to methodological domains and descriptive variables.Out of 215 records, 11 studies met the inclusion criteria, encompassing 399 HSIs in total. All studies involved professional players, with only one including female athletes. Six studies investigated HSIs exclusively, while five included multiple injury types. Methodological quality varied, with frequent limitations in observer training, coding procedures, inter/intra-rater reliability, diagnostic confirmation, and study design clarity. Statistical analyses were mostly descriptive. Injury mechanism (non-contact or indirect contact) was most consistently reported, whereas injury-inciting activities were heterogeneously defined, particularly at the situational pattern level (run- and stretch-type) and their football-specific subcategories. Biomechanics and contextual factors were inconsistently addressed.The lack of standardized procedures limits comparability and generalizability across studies and may restrict the ability to derive clinically meaningful conclusions. This review highlights the need for more rigorous and consistent reporting practice in video-based research on HSIs in football and provides a structured visual synthesis of the methodological domains identified in the literature.
#11 Self-talk levels in male individuals aged 18 and over who actively play soccer
Reference: BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2026 Jul 3. doi: 10.1186/s13102-026-01859-7. Online ahead of print.
Authors: Veysel Temel, Hikmet Çekceoğlu
Summary: The aim of this study was to determine the levels of self-talk among male football players aged 18 and over who are actively playing football, and to examine whether these levels differed according to variables such as age, education, team type, position, duration of football playing, weekly sports day, willingness to work with a sports psychologist, perception of the benefit of a sports psychologist, and preference for sharing problems. The study included 167 male football players (age range = 18-33, mean age = 23.8, SD = 4.2) who were actively playing football during the 2022-2023 season. Data were collected using the Self-Talk Scale (SPS). Mann-Whitney U tests were used for two-group comparisons, Kruskal-Wallis H tests for three-or-more-group comparisons, and Spearman correlation for continuous variables, as normality was violated. The Cronbach’s Alpha reliability coefficient of the scale was found to be 0.96. The mean self-talk score of the participants was 5.12/7, indicating a moderate-to-high level of self-talk. The analysis revealed that although the Kruskal-Wallis test indicated an overall age difference (p = .043, ε² = .059), post-hoc pairwise comparisons with Bonferroni correction were not significant (all p > .005). For team type, a significant overall difference was observed (p = .031, ε² = .042), but post-hoc comparisons did not remain significant after Bonferroni adjustment (p = .024, adjusted α = .017) ; this finding should be considered exploratory due to the small professional group size (n=8). For problem sharing preference, the overall Kruskal-Wallis test was significant (p = .029, ε² = .054), but post-hoc comparisons with Bonferroni correction did not reach statistical significance (all p > .003). No significant differences were found in the variables of position, education level, duration of playing football, and weekly sports days (p > .05). In the correlation analysis, a negative correlation was found between years of playing football and self-talk (ρ = -.19, p = .014), and a positive correlation was found between weekly sports days and self-talk (ρ = .22, p = .005). The level of self-talk among male individuals who actively play football is moderate-to-high. Age, team level, awareness of sports psychology, and family support were determining factors in the level of self-talk; while position, education, and duration of sports experience were not determining factors. The findings provide evidence-based recommendations for coaches and sports psychologists to develop psychological skills training programs, particularly for young and amateur players.
#12 Infrared thermography to assess fatigue, injury risk factors and recovery in soccer: a systematic review of original studies
Reference: Front Physiol. 2026 Jun 18:17:1835464. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2026.1835464. eCollection 2026.
Authors: Yehinson Barajas Ramón, Julio Calleja-González, José Luaces-Carreño, Álvaro Velarde-Sotres
Download link: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/physiology/articles/10.3389/fphys.2026.1835464/full
Summary: Recovery after a training session or match is a key factor in injury prevention and sports performance. The purpose of this systematic review was to analyze and consolidate the available scientific evidence from the main databases on the use of infrared thermography in the assessment of fatigue, injury risk factors, and recovery in soccer players. The literature search was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines and the PICOS model until June 30, 2025, in the main scientific databases (ScienceDirect, EMBASE, Web of Science (WOS), Cochrane Library, SciELO, MEDLINE/PubMed, SPORTDiscus, and Scopus). The risk of bias and methodological quality were assessed using the Cochrane Handbook guidelines and the PEDro scale.“ The initial literature search yielded a total of 510 records. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, the final sample consisted of 20 studies, which were of high methodological quality. The results showed the effects of infrared thermography in assessing fatigue, identifying injury risk factors, and monitoring recovery processes in soccer players. The studies also systematically reported the characterization of the population, the assessment methods used, the variables analyzed, the methodological design, the main results, and the effects of the intervention. Infrared thermography shows promise as a valid, reliable, and non-invasive tool for assessing skin temperature, reflecting temperature changes in response to physiological processes. It allows for the analysis of structural or metabolic fatigue and thermal asymmetries. Therefore, thermography could be used to design individualized recovery protocols.
#13 Personality profiles of youth elite soccer players: sport-specific traits, playing position differences, and coaches‘ subjective evaluations
Reference: Sci Med Footb. 2026 Jul 2:1-10. doi: 10.1080/24733938.2026.2686323. Online ahead of print.
Authors: Chloé Leprince, Mathéo Maurin, Christopher Carling, Mildred Loiseau Taupin
Summary: In sport, interest in processes and practices related to talent identification through psychological dimensions is increasing. However, few studies have explored standardized measures of psychological variables, such as personality, in youth elite populations. Moreover, the relationship between these psychological variables and performance criteria remains poorly understood. The objective of this study was to examine, using the Big Five model, the personality of a large sample of elite youth soccer players. It also examined whether personality traits varied across playing positions and the potential relationship between national coaches‘ ‚performance‘ evaluations (players deemed to have potential to become an international player versus no potential to become an international player) and players‘ personality traits. All 451 players aged 14 to 19 years selected by the federation for its national youth teams were recruited. The Brief Big Five questionnaire was administered. Performance was measured using a subjective rating system developed by coaches. Conscientiousness and emotional stability dimensions distinguished elite soccer players compared to the standard population. Moreover, conscientiousness, extraversion and agreeableness dimensions significantly differed according to playing position. Finally, extraversion was significantly higher in players with potential. These results constitute the initial phase of a longitudinal study of talent identification processes and practices that integrates players‘ psychological dimensions.
#14 Relationships between knee muscle strength and functional performance in professional soccer players
Reference: Front Sports Act Living. 2026 Jun 17:8:1832191. doi: 10.3389/fspor.2026.1832191. eCollection 2026.
Authors: Tamiris Beppler Martins, Raphael Schmidt de Mesquita, Thiago da Silva de Jesus et al.
Download link: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sports-and-active-living/articles/10.3389/fspor.2026.1832191/full?cmid=6fad8810-dd6f-40b0-a921-3f848858a7e8
Summary: Functional tests such as the Modified Star Excursion Balance Test (mSEBT), hop tests, and jump tests are widely used to monitor performance, neuromuscular function, and readiness in soccer players; however, their relationship with knee muscle strength remains unclear. This cross-sectional study investigated the associations between commonly used functional test outcomes and isokinetic quadriceps and hamstrings peak torque at 60°/s in professional male soccer players. Forty asymptomatic athletes completed the functional test battery, and isokinetic data were available for 38 players. The assessment included the mSEBT, single-leg hop for distance, bilateral hop, bilateral vertical jump, and single-leg vertical jump. Concentric isokinetic peak torque of the quadriceps and hamstrings was assessed at 60°/s using a Biodex System 4 dynamometer. Limb Symmetry Indices were calculated for strength and functional measures. Bilateral vertical jump height showed moderate correlations with quadriceps peak torque, whereas single-leg vertical jump performance showed weak, side-specific associations with right hamstrings torque and left quadriceps torque. No meaningful correlations were found between single-leg hop performance and knee muscle strength. Strong inter-limb associations were observed for the mSEBT and single-leg hop test, but these tests were not significantly associated with one another. Functional symmetry indices were high, although they were not associated with quadriceps strength symmetry. These findings indicate that functional tests reflect distinct neuromuscular attributes and should not be considered interchangeable with isolated measures of knee muscle strength. Therefore, return-to-sport and performance-monitoring decisions should integrate task-specific functional testing with objective strength assessment.
#15 Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injury Mechanisms in Men’s Major League Soccer: A Systematic Video Analysis
Reference: Cureus. 2026 May 31;18(5):e110002. doi: 10.7759/cureus.110002. eCollection 2026 May.
Authors: Casey A Clarke, Shawn A Moore, Ronak J Mahatme, Anish Gangavaram, Nishanth Muthusamy, Paul P McMillan, Brian M Grawe
Download link: https://www.cureus.com/articles/498211-anterior-cruciate-ligament-acl-injury-mechanisms-in-mens-major-league-soccer-a-systematic-video-analysis#!/
Summary: Introduction Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are common in professional soccer; however, limited research has described the situational mechanisms of injury in men’s major league soccer (MLS) in the United States and Canada. Understanding these mechanisms is essential for developing targeted prevention and rehabilitation strategies. Objective This study aims to identify situational patterns and positional characteristics associated with ACL injuries in MLS players. Methods Across five and a half MLS seasons, 65 ACL injuries were identified. Video footage was available for 33 injuries, which were analyzed to determine the mechanism of injury, player activity at the time of injury, knee position, and external factors, including field type, month of injury, and timing within the game. Results Non-contact injuries were most common (64%), followed by direct (21%) and indirect-contact (15%) injuries. Injuries most frequently occurred during defensive pressing (76%) and offensive driving (58%). Knee valgus (82%) and flexion (85%) were the predominant positions at the time of injury. All indirect-contact injuries involved force applied to the upper body, increasing stress on the knee. Injuries occurred more commonly on grass fields during the second half or overtime (61%) and demonstrated a bimodal distribution across the season. Overall, 79% of ACL injuries occurred without direct contact to the affected knee. Conclusion ACL injuries in MLS primarily result from non-contact or indirect-contact mechanisms, often during pressing or driving movements, with the knee loaded in valgus and flexion. These findings can inform sport-specific prevention strategies aimed at reducing ACL injury risk and prolonging athlete participation in professional soccer.
#16 Quadriceps Injuries in Major League Soccer: A 10-Year Analysis of Injury Rate, Return-to-Play, and Performance Metrics
Reference: Arthrosc Sports Med Rehabil. 2026 Apr 30;8(3):e70022. doi: 10.1002/ars2.70022. eCollection 2026 Jun.
Authors: Brian Forsythe, Catherine Hand, Camden Bohn et al.
Download link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13307218/pdf/ARS2-8-e70022.pdf
Summary: The purpose was to evaluate quadriceps injury rates, return-to-play (RTP) durations, and postinjury performance in Major League Soccer (MLS) athletes with quadriceps injuries. Data from MLS players with quadriceps injuries (2010-2021) were analyzed using the MLS Injury Surveillance database. Injury rates, RTP times, and reinjury rates were compared across 2 periods (2010-2015 vs 2016-2021). Uninjured players matched 2:1 by position, age, and experience served as controls. Postinjury performance metrics including games played, minutes played, goals, assists, and clean sheets were compared longitudinally across 3 seasons. A total of 1550 MLS players were included. The average age of injured players was 25.57 ± 4.03 years. Injury rates slightly decreased from 7.70% (2010-2015) to 6.51% (2016-2021, P = .111). RTP times significantly increased from 14.4 to 23.0 days (P < .001). Reinjury rates declined from 5.08% (2010-2015) to 0.82% (2016-2021) (P = .098). RTP after reinjury was longer in 2016-2021 but nonsignificant (P = .647). Game-related injuries had shorter RTP (16.4 vs 20.7 days, P = .030). Acute contact injuries resulted in shorter RTP (9.55 days) compared with noncontact (27.0 days) or chronic injuries (16.2 days, P < .001). Weather at the time of injury influenced RTP, with shorter durations in rainy/snowy conditions (11.0 vs 18.75 days, P < .0001). Field type had no significant impact (P = .361). Defenders experienced significant declines in minutes played per season and at 3 years after injury (P = .002, P = .004, respectively). No significant differences were found in goals, assists, or clean sheets. In this study, reductions in injury and reinjury rates were not statistically significant. Longer RTP durations may reflect a cautious recovery approach or may also reflect end-of-season timing or off-season transitions. Position-specific rehabilitation, particularly for defenders, may enhance outcomes.
#17 Position-dependent white matter microstructural differences in amateur soccer players: a multi-shell diffusion MRI study
Reference: Neuroradiology. 2026 Jun 30. doi: 10.1007/s00234-026-04087-5. Online ahead of print.
Authors: Demet Küçük, Hamza Küçük, Barış Genç, Kerim Aslan, Hüseyin Akan
Download link: https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00234-026-04087-5.pdf
Summary: The aim was to exploratorily evaluate whether long-term exposure to repetitive subconcussive head impacts is associated with position-related patterns of white matter microstructural variation in amateur soccer players using multi-shell diffusion MRI. This prospective observational study included 43 male amateur soccer players (defenders, n = 17; midfielders, n = 14; goalkeepers, n = 12), aged 18-27 years, each with ≥ 10 years of playing experience. Player position was defined as the primary registered position reported by the participant’s club and confirmed by self-report as the predominant playing role over the preceding decade. Participants reporting frequent position switching or hybrid tactical roles were excluded to reduce positional overlap. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) metrics were analyzed using tract-based spatial statistics. Given the modest sample size and the use of player position as an indirect proxy for repetitive head-impact exposure, the analytical framework was defined a priori as exploratory and hypothesis-generating. Defenders demonstrated more widespread white matter microstructural differences compared with midfielders, characterized by reduced fractional anisotropy and neurite density index and increased radial and mean diffusivity across multiple association, projection, and commissural tracts (P < 0.05, TFCE-corrected). Comparisons involving goalkeepers revealed fewer and more spatially restricted alterations. No cerebral microhemorrhages were detected on susceptibility-weighted imaging. Neurocognitive performance did not differ significantly among groups. Within the constraints of an exploratory design and operational position definitions, multi-shell diffusion MRI identified position-associated patterns of white matter microstructural variation in amateur soccer players, with defenders showing more extensive alterations. These findings should be interpreted cautiously and primarily serve to inform future studies employing larger samples, objective exposure metrics, and longitudinal designs.
#18 Gastrocnemius medialis muscle architecture and its relationship with countermovement jump performance differ between male academy soccer players and control participants
Reference: Eur J Appl Physiol. 2026 Jun 29. doi: 10.1007/s00421-026-06311-9. Online ahead of print.
Authors: David C Robshaw, Conall F Murtagh, Barry Drust, Robert M Erskine
Download link: https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00421-026-06311-9.pdf
Summary: The aims of this study were to investigate gastrocnemius medialis (GM) muscle properties in male academy soccer players (ASP) and age- and sex-matched control participants (CON); and to explore the relationships between GM characteristics and jump performance. Thirty-four participants (ASP, n = 22, age 18.8 ± 1.4 years, height 1.82 ± 0.08 m, mass 75.1 ± 5.9 kg; and CON, n = 12, 22.2 ± 2.9 years, 1.75 ± 0.05 m, 71.6 ± 7.4 kg) completed the following assessments: ultrasound measurements of GM anatomical cross-sectional area (ACSA), volume, muscle thickness (MT), fascicle pennation angle (θp) and fascicle length (Lf); isokinetic dynamometry measurements of isometric plantar flexion and dorsiflexion maximum voluntary torque; and unilateral and bilateral, vertical and horizontal, countermovement jumps (CMJ), and bilateral drop jumps on a force platform. θp (17.4° ± 2.5° vs. 14.3° ± 1.2°, P < 0.001); unilateral horizontal CMJ peak power (30.14 ± 3.53 vs. 23.18 ± 3.72 W kg- 1); and projectile range during unilateral (104 ± 16 vs. 89 ± 12 cm, P = 0.006) and bilateral (140 ± 14 vs. 129 ± 14 cm, P = 0.041) horizontal CMJ were greater in ASP vs. CON. In ASP alone, Lf correlated inversely with vertical CMJ performance but positively with horizontal CMJ performance (R2 ≥ 0.200, P ≤ 0.042). Conversely, θp correlated positively with vertical CMJ performance but inversely with horizontal CMJ performance (R2 ≥ 0.194, P ≤ 0.044). In CON only, ACSA, MT, volume and Lf all correlated inversely with vertical CMJ performance (R2 ≥ 0.366, P ≤ 0.037). The opposing θp and Lf correlations with vertical and horizontal CMJ jump performance in ASP suggest GM architecture influences CMJ performance in a direction-specific manner in this population, while the different correlation patterns between ASP and CON suggest that GM architecture contributes to CMJ performance differently in these two populations.
#19 Immediate impact of hip and sacroiliac diagonal mobilization and proprioceptive exercise on Y-balance performance and force-plate postural metrics in youth male soccer players: an exploratory study
Reference: Front Physiol. 2026 Jun 12:17:1767331. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2026.1767331. eCollection 2026.
Authors: Paulina Hallmann, Julia Stachura, Rafał Studnicki
Download link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13303379/pdf/fphys-17-1767331.pdf
Summary: This exploratory randomized crossover trial compared the immediate effects of diagonal hip/sacroiliac mobilization, a proprioceptive exercise sequence, and a sham manual-contact condition on surrogate measures of static and dynamic balance in youth male soccer players. Fifteen male soccer players aged 11-13 years completed all three conditions in randomized order. Before and immediately after each session, participants performed bipodal and single-leg K-Force force-plate tests and the Lower Quarter Y-Balance Test. The dominant-limb Y-Balance composite was treated as the principal dynamic-balance endpoint, whereas the remaining Y-Balance variables and force-plate measures were considered secondary/exploratory outcomes. Most outcomes showed no consistent condition × time effect. For the secondary/exploratory bipodal force-plate battery, a nominal interaction was observed for eyes-closed right-foot center-of-pressure (COP) surface area (p = 0.021, ηp² = 0.24), reflecting greater sway after mobilization than after control (Δ = +133 mm²), a potentially destabilizing rather than beneficial change. In eyes-closed single-leg stance, COP surface asymmetry also showed a nominal interaction (p = 0.013, ηp² = 0.27); proprioceptive exercise reduced asymmetry versus control (Δ = -25.5 percentage points; p = 0.015, dz = 0.71). For the principal dynamic-balance endpoint, the dominant-limb Y-Balance composite showed a condition × time interaction (p = 0.029, ηp² = 0.22); compared with control, mobilization attenuated the post-session decline (Δ = +10.4 percentage points; p = 0.008, dz = 0.81). A single session of diagonal mobilization or proprioceptive exercise did not produce generalized acute improvements across the balance battery. The only between-condition signal that remained statistically significant after within-outcome adjustment was preservation of the dominant-limb Y-Balance composite after mobilization versus control. The force-plate findings were isolated exploratory results and do not support meaningful warm-up or injury-prevention claims.
#20 Technical Trends in Management of ACL Reconstructions in 2025: A Major League Soccer Team Physicians Survey
Reference: Orthop J Sports Med. 2026 Jun 24;14(6):23259671261444300. doi: 10.1177/23259671261444300. eCollection 2026 Jun.
Authors: Matthew Varano, Henry Eilen, Catherine Hand et al.
Download link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13305388/pdf/10.1177_23259671261444300.pdf
Summary: The optimal graft choice for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) remains a subject of ongoing debate. In practice, graft selection in ACLR is multifactorial, with patient characteristics, activity level, and surgeon preference/training background all playing a crucial role in the clinical decision-making process. While graft trends have been reported across select professional sports leagues, none have focused specifically on professional soccer. The aim was to report current trends in graft preference for ACLR among Major League Soccer (MLS) surgeons. A 39-question survey was distributed to 27 orthopaedic surgeons affiliated with MLS teams in January 2025. The questionnaire captured each respondent’s preferences regarding ACLR management in both the general population and high-level/professional soccer athletes. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize responses. Surgeons averaged 7.7 years caring for MLS teams and performed a mean of 80 ± 27 ACLRs annually. In primary ACLR for professional soccer athletes, the bone-patellar tendon-bone (BPTB) autograft was preferred (74%), followed by the quadriceps tendon (QT) autograft (22.2%). The hamstring tendon (HT) autograft was uncommon (3.7%). Similar trends were reported for the general population: BPTB autograft (70%), QT autograft (22.2%), and HT autograft (3.7%). For revision procedures, QT autograft was favored (48.2%), followed by BPTB autograft (25.9%) and BPTB allograft (11.1%). Contralateral autografts were more common in revisions (44.4%) than in primary cases (7.4%). Lateral extra-articular augmentation (LEA) was performed in 31.5% of primary cases and 76% of revision cases; iliotibial band tenodesis was favored over anterolateral ligament reconstruction (74.1% vs 25.9%). LEA utilization increased compared with 5 years prior (6.4% vs 29.4%). Among orthopaedic surgeons caring for MLS athletes, BPTB autografts were the preferred graft for primary ACLR. QT autografts were preferred over HT autografts in primary ACLR, and QT autografts were most commonly used in revision surgery. HT autografts were rarely used in primary ACLR and were not preferred in revision scenarios. LEA procedures were widely used among professional soccer athletes.
#21 The effect of sport-specific virtual reality training for soccer players on cognitive performance and related brain processing
Reference: J Sports Sci. 2026 Jun 28:1-14. doi: 10.1080/02640414.2026.2692300. Online ahead of print.
Authors: Andrea Casella, Camilla Panacci, Margherita Filosa et al.
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of sport-specific training in virtual reality (VR) on perceptual and cognitive abilities and their neurophysiological correlates in young soccer players. Twenty-four young semi-elite soccer athletes were assigned to an experimental (Exp) or control (Ctr) group. Participants‘ cognitive functions were tested before and after an 8-week standard soccer training using a visuomotor cognitive task during electrophysiological (EEG) recordings. The Exp group in the last 30 minutes of each training session performed the VR training aimed at improving processing speed, cognitive flexibility, and working memory. While the cognitive task allowed to measure response speed and accuracy, the EEG permitted to measure the event-related potential (ERP) evoked by the cognitive task. Results showed that both response speed and accuracy were improved in the Exp group only, and this effect could be explained by increased sensorimotor integration in prefrontal areas indexed by the prefrontal P1 (pP1) component and increased post-perceptual cognitive processing as decision-making in parietal areas indexed by the P3 component. These results support the effectiveness of VR in enhancing cognitive functions, highlighting the technology’s potential for innovative training for soccer.
#22 Body fat estimation in the Mexican women’s national soccer team: a cross-sectional agreement study between a derived Mexican Football Federation anthropometric equation and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry
Reference: J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2026 Dec 31;23(1):2690002. doi: 10.1080/15502783.2026.2690002. Epub 2026 Jun 27.
Authors: Carlos Abraham Herrera-Amante, Israel Ríos-Limas, Wiliam Carvajal-Veitía et al.
Download link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13312831/pdf/RSSN_23_2690002.pdf
Summary: Precise assessment of body composition is fundamental for monitoring training adaptations, guiding nutritional strategies, and informing performance-related decision-making in elite female soccer. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is considered a reference method; however, its limited accessibility restricts routine use in high-performance settings. Existing anthropometric equations often lack population-specific validation, particularly for elite Mexican female soccer players. This study aimed to derive and internally validate an anthropometric equation for estimating body fat percentage (%BF) and to evaluate its agreement with DXA. Twenty-seven elite players from the Mexican Women’s National Team underwent DXA assessment and International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK)-standardized anthropometry during a training camp. Sample-size adequacy was assessed a posteriori. A multiple linear regression model was derived using the sum of eight skinfolds (Σ8SF) and waist girth (WG) as predictors. Regression assumptions were verified through residual diagnostics, and multicollinearity was assessed using variance inflation factors. Predictive performance was evaluated using mean absolute error (MAE), root mean square error (RMSE), and standard error of estimate (SEE). Agreement with DXA was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Bland-Altman analysis. Internal validation was performed using leave-one-out cross-validation (LOOCV). The six historical anthropometric equations were additionally refitted to the present sample to enable a like-for-like comparison of predictor structures. The Mexican Footbal Federation equation (%BF = 0.12 × Σ8SF +0.39 × WG – 17.0) demonstrated moderate agreement with DXA (ICC = 0.71; mean bias: -0.05%; 95% LOA: -4.61% to +4.70%). The model explained 54% of the variance in DXA %BF (R² = 0.54; R²-adjusted = 0.50) and showed acceptable predictive performance (LOOCV Q² = 0.50; RMSE = 2.33%; MAE = 1.86%; SEE = 2.47%). After refitting each of the six historical anthropometric equations to the present sample, the Mexican Footbal Federation predictor combination retained the lowest RMSE (2.33% vs. 2.55-2.93%) and the highest ICC (0.71 vs. 0.44-0.63), supporting that the model’s advantage stems from its predictor structure rather than calibration on the test data. The Mexican Football Federation equation provides a population-specific, field-applicable tool for estimating %BF in elite Mexican female soccer players. External validation in larger and more diverse cohorts is required before its widespread application.
#23 Associations among age, playing position, dribbling, agility, and passing skills in elite youth football players graduating from a high-performance academy: an observational study
Reference: BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2026 Jul 3. doi: 10.1186/s13102-026-01842-2. Online ahead of print.
Authors: Aykut Eren Canüzmez, Hikmet Vurgun, Mehmet Zeki Özkol
Download link: https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s13102-026-01842-2_reference.pdf
Summary: Developing technical and motor skills during adolescence is critical for long-term football performance. This study aimed to examine the relationships between passing skill, dribbling skill, and agility performance in elite young football players and to determine whether these relationships differ according to playing position and age group. A total of 242 male football players aged between U14 and U19, competing in the academy teams of four professional clubs, participated in the study. Dribbling performance and agility were assessed using the Illinois Dribbling Test (IDT) and Illinois Agility Test (IAT), respectively, while passing skill was evaluated using the Loughborough Passing Test (LPT). Analysis of variance, Pearson correlation, and regression analyses were used to analyze the data. Pearson correlation analysis revealed a moderate and significant relationship between dribbling performance and agility (r = .482, p < .001, 95% CI [0.38, 0.57]). In addition, dribbling performance was significantly and positively correlated with passing skill (r = .234, p < .001, 95% CI [0.11, 0.35]), and agility performance showed a low but significant positive correlation with passing skill (r = .154, p = .016, 95% CI [0.03, 0.27]). Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that dribbling and agility performances together explained a low but significant proportion of the variance in passing skill [F(2,239) = 7.207, p < .001, R² = 0.057].In conclusion, monitoring the development of elite youth football players using objective and quantitative performance indicators is of great importance for coaches and sports scientists. The findings indicate that passing, dribbling, and agility performances are significantly interrelated across all age categories, highlighting the integrated nature of technical and motor skill development in youth football. Based on these findings, incorporating passing, dribbling, and agility skills together within youth football training programs appears to be important for supporting holistic technical and motor skill development.
#24 AI-based performance feedback and coaching effectiveness: a moderated mediation model in football
Reference: Sci Rep. 2026 Jul 3. doi: 10.1038/s41598-026-59780-5. Online ahead of print.
Authors: Xiaohui Jiang, Yitong Zhang, Hao Liu
Download link: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-59780-5_reference.pdf
Summary: Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative tool in professional sports coaching, yet its impact on psychological and strategic coaching outcomes remains insufficiently understood. This study investigates the influence of AI-Based Performance Feedback (AIPF) on Coaching Effectiveness (CE), incorporating Tactical Awareness (TA) and Coaching Self-Efficacy (CSE) as mediators and Coaching Tenure Perception (CTP) as a moderator. Using data from 512 professional football coaches in Henan, China, Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling was employed to test a moderated mediation model. The results reveal that AIPF significantly predicts CE both directly (β = 0.74, p < .001) and indirectly through TA (β = 0.61, p < .001) and CSE (β = 0.55, p < .001), indicating partial mediation. Technology Acceptance and Coach Digital Literacy were identified as significant antecedents of AIPF, indicating that coaches‘ acceptance of AI tools and digital competence support engagement with AI-based feedback rather than directly predicting CE. Additionally, CTP significantly moderated the AIPF-TA relationship (β = 0.11, p = .018), suggesting that coaches with higher perceived tenure derive greater tactical insights from AI feedback. These findings provide theoretical contributions to the fields of educational technology and coaching psychology and offer practical implications for designing AI-driven coaching interventions that are both personalized and psychologically grounded.
#25 A TabNet-SHAP framework with stability-weighted multi-method feature selection for muscle injury prediction in professional football
Reference: Sci Rep. 2026 Jul 2. doi: 10.1038/s41598-026-54749-w. Online ahead of print.
Author: Wenbo Rao
Download link: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-54749-w_reference.pdf
Summary: Muscle injuries account for approximately 31% of all time-loss injuries in professional football, yet existing prediction models are constrained by small sample sizes, dependence on proprietary physiological data, limited interpretability, and inadequate temporal validation designs. This study develops an interpretable, strictly prospective prediction framework trained on 438,219 player-season records sourced from Transfermarkt, spanning 15 seasons (2010/11-2024/25) across 32 leagues. To ensure temporal integrity, all predictive features are constructed exclusively from prior-season data, and models are evaluated under a chronological hold-out design in which earlier seasons serve as training data and the two most recent seasons constitute the test set. We propose a multi-method stability-weighted feature selection (MSFS) strategy that cascades filter-based redundancy removal, four-method ensemble voting, and cross-validation stability verification, reducing 57 candidate features to a robust subset. Under cost-sensitive learning designed for severe class imbalance (6.2% positive rate), TabNet attains the highest discrimination among five candidate classifiers with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.812 (95% CI: 0.804-0.820), outperforming XGBoost (0.806), LightGBM (0.803), long short-term memory network (LSTM) (0.789), and logistic regression (0.761). Ablation experiments confirm that stability-verified feature selection and metaheuristic hyperparameter optimisation yield complementary performance gains, and direct comparison with Bayesian optimisation demonstrates that the detective behaviour algorithm provides competitive tuning across architectures. A seven-layer Shapley additive explanations (SHAP) interpretability analysis reveals that under the prospective design, injury history emerges as the most important feature category (33%), surpassing market-and-career features (29%), confirming that the temporal correction elevates genuine recurrence risk over reporting-related proxies. A two-stage risk architecture is identified in which market-and-career features establish a baseline risk stratum, whereas historical injury burden acts as a multiplicative amplifier among predisposed individuals. Individual-level decompositions further indicate that substitution-based rotation patterns are associated with attenuated age-related risk elevation. Sensitivity analyses excluding market value features quantify the extent to which predictive performance reflects genuine injury risk versus differential reporting completeness across leagues. These findings demonstrate that publicly accessible transfer-market data, combined with attention-based deep tabular learning and rigorous temporal validation, can support meaningful and interpretable injury risk stratification without proprietary monitoring systems.
#26 Cognitive performance in youth football players: Evidence from spectral and temporal EEG analyses
Reference: Psychol Sport Exerc. 2026 Jul 2:103201. doi: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2026.103201. Online ahead of print.
Authors: Pedro Delgado, Francisco Tavares, Pedro Passos, Hugo Alexandre Ferreira
Summary: This study investigated behavioral and electrophysiological indices of cognitive performance in elite youth football players across mid-adolescence, interpreted through the Neural Efficiency Hypothesis (NEH) as a conceptual lens. Participants completed four cognitive tasks, the Tower of Hanoi (ToH), N-back, Iowa Gambling Task (IGT), and Sustained Attention to Response Task (SART), while electroencephalography (EEG) was recorded to extract power spectral density (PSD) and event-related potentials (ERPs). Behavioral results revealed no significant differences between younger and older players, suggesting relative stability in executive, attentional, and decision-making abilities during this developmental window. PSD analyses showed consistent region-specific modulations across tasks, including reduced frontal power and lower parietal beta and gamma activity, with the SART eliciting relatively higher alpha, beta, and gamma power consistent with its sustained attention demands. ERP amplitudes were largely stable across groups, with task- and lobe-specific effects such as enhanced occipital P2 activity during the IGT and reduced occipital N2/P2 amplitudes during the SART, reflecting differentiated neural recruitment for evaluative and inhibitory control processes. Brain-behavior correlations were modest but task-relevant. Overall, cortical activation patterns were strongly task-dependent yet descriptively stable across mid-adolescence. These findings provide a comprehensive baseline characterization of neural and cognitive function in elite youth athletes, informing future large-scale investigations of neural efficiency and developmental trajectories in sport contexts.