The 440th CIES Football Observatory Weekly Post ranks teams from 60 leagues around the world according to the percentage of domestic league minutes played by club-trained footballers* during the current season. The Basques of Athletic Club (68.9%) top the Europe’s big-5 leagues table, while the Ukrainians of Dynamo Kiev (82.9%) have the highest proportion in absolute terms and the Colombians of Envigado (67.8%) among non-European clubs.

Olympique Lyonnais (45.6%) and Real Sociedad (45.4%) complete the podium in the big-5. The highest values in the English Premier League were measured for Arsenal (22.1%), Manchester United (20.4%) and Chelsea (19.8%), while the teams with the most confidence in youth academy graduates in the Italian Serie A and the German Bundesliga are, respectively, Atalanta BC (18.7%) and SC Freiburg (34.5%).

Outside Europe, Envigado is ahead of Argentina’s Gimnasia La Plata (60.1%) and Vélez Sarsfield (52.1%), followed by Shanghai Port (51.4%) and two Mexican clubs: Pachuca (51.3%) and Chivas (48.8%). The Post also shows the number of club-trained players fielded, with a maximum of 30 for Gimnasia, as well as their average age, with a minimum of 18.56 years for the Venezuelan side UCV FC among teams having used at least ten club-trained players.

Exclusive data for more demographic indicators for clubs in 31 top divisions of UEFA member associations are available in this online tool.

* Club-trained players are those who spent at least three years between the ages of 15 and 21 years in their club of employment (seasons of their 15th and 21st birthdays included).

Issue number 439 of the CIES Football Observatory Weekly Post presents the 100 players in the world with the best statistics in terms of chance creation during the current season, according to an index* developed from Wyscout data. At the top of the list is Paris St-Germain’s winger Ousmane Dembélé. The Frenchman outranks Leroy Sané (Bayern Munich) et Nico Williams (Athletic Club)

Killian Mbappé (PSG) and Moussa Diaby (Aston Villa) also are in the top 5, while Federico Dimarco (Inter) and Kieran Trippier (Newcastle) are the top-ranked defensive players. The top three footballers who have not yet turned 21 are Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen), Johan Bakayoko (PSV Eindhoven) and Ilya Kvasnytsya (Rukh Lviv).

A total of 33 leagues are represented in the top 100, with a maximum of 16 players from the English Premier League, where Moussa Diaby (Aston Villa) is ahead of Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) and Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United). The top three in the second most-represented league, the Italian Serie A (nine players), are Federico Dimarco (Inter), Domenico Berardi (Sassuolo) and Felipe Anderson (Lazio).

* The creation index is calculated by adding the number of key passes (for chances) and expected assists (depending on the dangerousness of the chances created) per 90’, and weighting the result by the sporting level of the matches played (as a percentage difference from the overall average). Only footballers who have played at least 630 domestic league minutes for the same team during the current season are considered.

>>> Find out the top 100

Issue 438 of the CIES Football Observatory Weekly Post combines SkillCorner’s physical and tactical (’game intelligence’) data with Wyscout’s technical ones to create a direct play index*. Based on 100, the latter allows us ranking teams from 27 leagues worldwide from those with the most direct attacking style to those with the most elaborated offensive play.

The highest values for direct play were recorded for Portugal’s SC Farense (100) overall, Luton Town (87) in the big-5, CA Banfield (83) for non-European teams, and Newcastle United (56) for UEFA Champions League participants. In contrast, the lowest values, reflecting the most elaborated attacking styles, were measured for two teams coached by Spaniards, Guardiola’s Manchester City (21) and Luis Enrique’s Paris St-Germain (23), with Arteta’s Arsenal (27) fourth.

Also presented in the Post, the extreme values for the specific variables of the index were observed for SC Farense (max) and SC Freiburg (min) regarding sprints during possession phases, Cercle Brugge (max) and Burnley (min) with regard to ‘call-for-the-ball’ runs into space, as well as Paris St-Germain (max) and FK Teplice (min) concerning the kilometres ‘covered’ by the ball also with the team in possession.

* The direct play index is calculated by multiplying the frequency of sprints per player (at least 0.7 seconds at over 25 km/h) during possession (projected over 90’) and the proportion of ‘call-for-the ball’ runs in space (SkillCorner data); divided by the number of kilometres ‘covered’ by the ball in possession, an indicator resulting from the multiplication between the number and average length of successful passes (Wyscout data).

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The 89th CIES Football Observatory Monthly Report compares 48 leagues around the world according to the demographic characteristics of the players in the club’s first team squads: 31 top divisions of UEFA member associations, nine of CONMEBOL, six of AFC and two of CONCACAF. It reveals major differences in the strategies followed by clubs according to their geographical area.

In terms of age, the average measured across the 31 top divisions of UEFA associations is almost one year lower than that recorded in the 17 non-European leagues: 26 years compared to 27. With regard to the proportion of expatriates, the difference is almost 10%: 43.6% in Europe versus 23.8% elsewhere. These findings reflect the greater propensity of European teams to rely on young players, whether having grown up domestically or imported from abroad.

While the South American and Asian leagues tend to be similar both in terms of age, with relatively few young players, and origin, with comparatively few expatriates, they differ greatly in terms of squad stability. The proportion of players who have been with the club for less than a year is almost 10% higher in the nine South American leagues than in the six Asian championships analysed: 49.0% compared with 23.8%.

Also regarding stability, there are spatial specificities within Europe too, with fairly different levels emerging around a double polarity of West (more stability) – East (less) and North (more stability) – South (less). These geographical differences also reflect economic disparities, with the most competitive clubs tending to have a more stable workforce than the others.

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>>> View all CIES Football Observatory reports

According to the CIES Football Observatory’s 2023 survey on men’s professional club football, respondents believe that the fight against money laundering should be a top priority for regulatory bodies. More than six out of ten respondents (62.1%) consider indeed that action to counter money laundering through football is highly needed.

Fan racism (60.3%) and state-owned clubs (58.5%) are the other two areas where there is the strongest consensus that action is needed, followed by corruption (53.5%) and violence (51.8%). Almost one in two respondents also felt that action is highly needed in relation to commissions paid to agents and frauds in connection with transfer operations.

In contrast, of the 32 issues addressed, the three areas where respondents felt the least need for action are the quality of matches, their balance, as well as players’ aggressiveness. Among the societal issues surveyed, fan racism (action highly needed for 60.3% of respondents) is of greater concern than violence (51.8%), homophobia (42.1%) and sexism (29.0%).

The questionnaire was sent out in two languages to our subscribers, resulting in 1,100 valid responses. The main findings are published on our X/Twitter, Instagram and Facebook accounts or available on request.

Issue 437 of the CIES Football Observatory Weekly Post presents the top 100 dribblers* in the world among players who have not yet celebrated their 23rd birthday. FC Barcelona’s prodigy Lamine Yamal (2007) tops the rankings in the European big-5, while Club Brugge’s superb Norwegian talent Antonio Nusa (2005) heads the list in the other 65 leagues analysed.

At European big-5 league level, Lamine Yamal is ahead of Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal), Luca Koleosho (Burnley), Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Napoli) and Girona’s Sávio Moreira (on loan from Troyes, as part of the City Group galaxy). Also in the top 10 notably are Takefusa Kubo (Real Sociedad), Buyako Saka (Arsenal) and Frosinone’s young Argentinean talent Matías Soulé (on loan from Juventus).

Outside the big-5, behind Antonio Nusa, there are two Brazilian prodigies: Luis Guilherme (2006) of Palmeiras and Wesley Gassova (2005) of Corinthians. Two other U20 players are in the top 10: the Ghanaians Issahaku Fatawu of Leicester City (on loan from Sporting CP with an option to buy) and Ibrahim Osman of Nordsjælland.

* Calculated from Wyscout data, the index used was obtained by multiplying the frequency of successful dribbles in domestic league matches, the success rate of dribbles attempted, as well as the sporting level of the matches played (as a percentage deviation from the overall average). The rankings only include footballers who played at least 450 domestic league minutes in current season.

>>> Top 100 list

The 436th Weekly Post of the CIES Football Observatory presents the rankings of the teams that have trained* the most players active in 48 of the world’s major leagues (list in the Post). Ajax (86 players trained) is ahead of Benfica (85) and Sporting CP (83), while the Uruguayans of Defensor SC (82 trained) top the table among non-European teams ahead of Boca Juniors (81) and River Plate (79).

Ajax also has the highest score in the weighted training index (method in the Post), which takes into account the sporting level of the players trained. The Dutch team is ahead of Benfica and Barcelona, with Boca Juniors leading the table for non-European clubs ahead of city rivals River Plate. Two Ukrainian (Dynamo Kyiv and Shakhtar Donetsk) and a Croatian team (Dinamo Zagreb) are in the top 10 positions of the weighted table.

The Weekly Post also presents the rankings for players active in four league sub-categories: the European big-5, with Real Madrid in first place (44 players trained); 31 top divisions of UEFA associations, with Ajax at the top (84); eleven American leagues, with SC Defensor first (70); as well as six Asian leagues, with the Chinese of Shandong Taishan heading the table (37).

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* Training clubs are those where players have been for at least three years between the ages of 15 and 21 (including the seasons of the 15th and 21st birthdays).

The 88th Monthly Report of the CIES Football Observatory analyses the brand new SkillCorner data on players’ run types during possession to classify the teams from 27 leagues worldwide according to the tendency of calling for the ball ‘at feet’ or ‘in space’. The study thus reveals the dominant strategies used by teams to organise attacking play.

Across the 27 leagues analysed, the highest proportion of ‘calls-for-the-ball’ runs into space (to receive the ball in front of the ball carrier) was measured in Mexico’s Liga MX, while the greatest percentage of ‘calls-for-the-ball’ runs at feet (to receive the ball mostly behind or laterally to the ball carrier) was recorded in Italy’s Serie A. At club level, the extreme values were observed for Cercle Brugge (‘in space’) and Burnley FC (‘at feet’).

Combined with physical data such as top speeds, number of accelerations or distances covered, SkillCorner’s ‘game intelligence’ statistics are very useful for clubs both on an individual and collective level. The possible applications range from defining a style of play and the tactical preparation of matches, the measurement of performance and its improvement, to recruitment choices and strategies.

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The 435th CIES Football Observatory Weekly Post analyses the Wyscout data on passes to draw up a global ranking of the world’s top 100 midfield distributors* among those who played at least 450 domestic league minutes during the current season. The top three are Rodri (Manchester City), Frankie de Jong (Barcelona) and Toni Kroos (Real Madrid).

The top-ranked players outside the European big-5 are Aschraf El Mahdioui (Al-Taawoun, 6th), Álvaro Fidalgo (CF América, 8th) and Yahya Jabrane (Wydad AC, 10th). Two players who have not yet celebrated their 21st birthday rank in the top 100: João Neves of Benfica (34nd) and Eduardo Camavinga of Real Madrid (71th). Two footballers aged over 40 also feature in the top 100 places: Felipe Melo of Fluminense (38th) and Yasuhito Endo of Jubilo Iwata (77th).

* The index used takes into account the number of successful passes per match, the percentage of successful passes, the ratio of passes compared to teammates, as well as the average level of matches played. The methodology behind this last metric is explained in this note. Please do not hesitate to contact us for more information about our services.

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The 434th CIES Football Observatory Weekly Post ranks 851 teams in 53 top divisions worldwide according to the average age of the line-ups fielded since the start of the current season. Values range from 20.97 years of age for FK Minsk of Belarus to 32.12 years for Independiente Petrolero of Bolivia. The average for all the clubs analysed is 27.24 years.

In the five major European leagues, the average age on the pitch ranges from 24.16 years for Toulouse FC to 30.19 for Rayo Vallecano. In the English Premier League, the extreme values were measured for Burnley FC (24.57 years), Chelsea FC (24.95) and Arsenal FC (24.96) on one side, and for Fulham (29.28 years) on the other.

The publication also presents the percentage of minutes by player age category (21 or under, 22 to 25, 26 to 29, and 30 or over). In eight teams, players aged 21 or under at the time of the matches played a majority of minutes. These notably include RB Salzburg (60.7%), FC Nordsjælland (56.1%) and AFC Ajax (53.3%).

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Issue number 433 of the CIES Football Observatory Weekly Post presents an analysis of the data produced exclusively by our partner SkillCorner on the type of runs made by players when their team is in possession of the ball. Clubs from 27 leagues around the world are ranked according to the percentage of runs for short or backward passes*, highlighting the teams whose players like to receive the ball at their feet.

Raków Czestochowa’s players proportionally make the most runs for short or backward passes (31.1% of total runs). The Polish club is ahead of two European football giants: Manchester City (29.6%) and Paris Saint-Germain (28.5%). Eintracht Frankfurt (27.5%), Girona (26.5%) and AC Milan (25.9%) top the table in the other big-5 leagues. In absolute terms, the maximum runs for short or backward passes was recorded for Paris St-Germain (7.13 per match).

Using innovative tracking technologies, SkillCorner provides physical data for over 60 football leagues and competitions worldwide. Its new ‘Game Intelligence’ data focuses on the contextualisation of the game and notably includes ten categories of runs that can be used to qualify the style of play of teams and players, as we have done in this publication.

*Runs for short or backward passes are runs (>15 km/h for at least 0.7 seconds) made with the aim of offering a passing option to teammates, whether towards its own goal (‘drop off’) or to shorten the passing distance to the ball carrier (coming short).

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The 432nd CIES Football Observatory Weekly Post analyses the rich data produced by our partners Wyscout to highlight the clubs that most dominate their opponents in 69 leagues across the world. The ranking is established on the basis of the average performance ratio with respect to opponents for four game actions: shots, shots from the box, passes and passes into the opponent’s third.

Levski Sofia tops the table with an average dominance ratio 3.31, ahead of another Bulgarian side, Ludogorets (3.26), Red Star Belgrade (2.99), Olympiacos (2.90) and Feyenoord (2.78). At the top of the rankings for the big-5 European leagues are Bayern Munich (ahead of Bayer Leverkusen), Naples (ahead of Inter), Paris St-Germain (ahead of LOSC Lille), Barcelona (ahead of Real Madrid) and Manchester City (ahead of Chelsea).

Outside Europe, the best ratios were recorded for two Saudi Pro League teams - Al-Hilal (2.29) and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr (2.13) – and Ecuador’s Independiente Del Valle (2.27). RB Bragantino (1.45) heads the table in Brazil, River Plate (1.92) in Argentina, CF América (1.60) in Mexico and New York RB (1.39) in the MLS. Over and above the rank currently occupied by the clubs, the dominance ratio helps in most cases understanding the position that teams can realistically hope to achieve.

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