Key result
First-division male soccer players average a relative VO2peak of ~62 ml/kg/min, peaking in midfielders.
Why the study?
To provide reference values for cardiorespiratory parameters and maximal exercise velocity during ramp running tests in first-division soccer players.
Observational (n=451)
Yes
The study provides normative cardiorespiratory values for elite male soccer players, demonstrating that a relative VO2peak of ~62 ml/kg/min fulfills the demands of professional soccer.
Supports ~62 ml/kg/min as benchmark for elite male soccer fitness; leaves open generalizability and outcome prediction in prospective cohorts.
The study aimed to provide reference values of cardiorespiratory parameters and maximal exercise velocity (MEV) of first-division soccer players measured during a ramp exercise running test.A large (N = 741) database of cardiopulmonary exercise tests collected over a decade on Serie A teams in Italy was scrutinized.The reference values were stratified for age, playing position, and season phase.We found an average V O2 peak of 4.78 0.56 l/min, a relative V O2 peak of 61.5 5.96 ml/kg/min and an MEV of 19.0 1.3 km/h.Relative V O2 peak was constant from 18 to 30 years of age and then decreased, while MEV decreased constantly with increasing age.While the absolute V O2 peak was similar for all playing roles (P = 0.782), the midfielders were the players with the highest relative V O2 peak (P = 0.020) and they had lower body mass than the others (P < 0.001).This study presents estimates of the influence of age, player position, and season phase on V O2 peak in men's elite soccer.V O2 peak values ~62 ml/kg/min fulfil the demands for V O2 peak in men's professional soccer.Midfielders showed larger relative, but not absolute, V O2 peak.
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Paco et al. (2024) conducted an observational in Healthy professional soccer players (n=451). Age, playing position, and season phase was evaluated on Relative V̇O2peak (ml/kg/min). Italian first-division male soccer players demonstrated an average relative V̇O2peak of 61.5 ± 5.96 ml/kg/min, which remained constant from 18 to 30 years of age and was highest in midfielders.
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