The Aging Curve: How Age Affects Physical Performance in Elite Football
<b>Background:</b> In elite football, understanding how age impacts players' physical performance is essential for optimizing training, career longevity, and team management. <b>Objectives:</b> This study aimed to compare variations in physical capabilities of professional football players by chronological age and identify peak performance ages. <b>Methods:</b> Data from 5203 match performances across 351 official games were analyzed, involving 98 male players aged 18-39 years. Physical capacities (speed, explosive actions, and endurance) were assessed using the Catapult VECTOR7 system. <b>Results:</b> showed that players over 32 years experienced declines in high-intensity and explosive actions, while endurance remained relatively stable with age. Peak performance occurred around 25.7 years for speed, 24.8 years for endurance, and 26 years for explosiveness. <b>Conclusions:</b> Overall, players aged 17-26 years demonstrated the highest physical performance, with notable declines observed in older age groups.
Authors
- Adriano Titton (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8330-3776)
- Ricardo Ferraz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7530-512X)
- Felipe O. Marques
- Vinícius Barroso Hirota (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0166-3338)
- António M. Monteiro (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4467-1722)
- Pedro Miguel Forte (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0184-6780)
- Pedro G. Campos (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7997-5975)
- Érico Chagas Caperuto (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7766-7506)
- Elias de França (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5297-9458)
- Igor Phillip dos Santos Glória (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4486-8616)
- Ronaldo Vagner Thomatieli dos Santos (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7010-2799)
- Luís Branquinho (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9000-5419)
- José E. Teixeira (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4612-3623)
- Luís Fernando Leite de Barros
Institutions
- Universidade Federal de Viçosa (BR)
- University of Beira Interior (PT)
- Universidade Politécnica do Cávado e do Ave (PT)
- Instituto Superior de Ciências Educativas (PT)
- São Paulo State Technological College (BR)
- Universidade Politécnica de Bragança (PT)
- Life Quality Research Centre (PT)
- Universidade Politécnica da Guarda (PT)
- Fundação de Apoio à Universidade de São Paulo (BR)
- Health and Human Development (2HD) Research Network (CM)
- Living Systems (United States) (US)
- Universidade Politécnica de Portalegre (PT)
- Universidade São Judas Tadeu (BR)
- Universidade Federal de São Paulo (BR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology
- Published
- 2025-10-03
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk10040385
- Primary Topic
- Sports Performance and Training
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo