This report presents the players from 65 leagues born in 2004 or later who performed the best during the ongoing season or the one just completed for leagues organised over the calendar year. The footballers have been divided into 20 categories according to the main position played and their technical characteristics. The method developed enables us to produce relevant scouting reports for any player segment in a rapid and efficient manner.

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This report analyses the transfer fee investments made by clubs on a global scale over the last decade. The first chapter reveals the evolution of the sums committed by teams, both in total and by league, as well as the net balance sheets of transfer operations at the latter level. The second chapter focuses on clubs from three angles: expenditure, income and net spending.

Women’s football steadily grows and the process of professionalisation is continuing. Although still comparatively less available than for men, data on the demographic profile of female players is now more accessible for women too. This report analyses the composition of 223 teams from 19 leagues around the world: 14 European and 5 non-European.

This report examines from a spatial perspective the presence of expatriate players in professional leagues. The analysis covers 135 leagues around the world, including 83 from UEFA member associations, with May 1st as the reference date for both 2024 and 2020, the year chosen to present data on migration trends.

This report presents the CIES Football Observatory’s approach to assessing the level of performance of outfield players in six different areas of the game: ground defence, distribution, take on, chance creation, finishing and aerial play. For each of these areas, indices have been created by considering players’ related actions, both in terms of their frequency in relation to the minutes played and, where relevant, their success rate.

This report analyses the data on high intensity pressure produced by the French company SkillCorner. It presents several statistical models highlighting the link between teams’ styles of play, the level of pressure experienced by players and their ability to retain possession. It shows the importance of contextualising individual performance in relation to that of the team and the position occupied.

This report analyses from a spatial perspective the origin of transfer revenues collected by clubs worldwide between 2014 and 2023 according to their parent association. In total, clubs earned no less than €75 billion: around two-thirds from international transfers and the rest from domestic ones. However, this proportion varies greatly from country to country.

This report studies the fielding of minor footballers, under 18 years of age, in matches of the five major European leagues played over the 15-year-period between the 1st January 2009 until the 31st December 2023. The analysis covers the differences observed between leagues, the evolution over time, as well as the characteristics of the players concerned.

This report highlights the players born in 2003 or later who have accumulated the most playing experience over the last year (as at 11 December 2023), according the exclusive CIES Football Observatory ‘experience score’ metrics, in nine positions: goalkeepers, centre backs, left backs, right backs, holding midfielders, attacking midfielders, left wingers, right wingers and centre forwards.

The 89th edition of the CIES Football Observatory Monthly Report compares 48 leagues around the world according to the demographic characteristics of the players in their squads: 31 top divisions of UEFA member associations, nine of CONMEBOL, six of AFC and two of CONCACAF: the American MLS and the Mexican Liga MX.

Thanks to the new ’game intelligence’ data produced by our partner SkillCorner, it is now possible to understand all the types of runs made by players during a match. This report analyses the distribution of eight categories of ‘call-for-the-ball’ runs in 27 competitions around the world, highlighting different styles of attacking play at both club and league level.

This Monthly Report analyses the financial flows of football transfers on a global scale during the decade between 2014 and 2023. It presents the evolution of transfer fees incurred by clubs, their breakdown according to the age and position of the players concerned or the geographical area of recruiting teams, as well as the economic balance sheets of transfer operations, at both league and club level.