GITNUXREPORT 2025

Soccer Injury Statistics

Most injuries occur during matches, with ankle sprains and ACL tears common.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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The risk of ACL injuries in female soccer players is 4 to 6 times higher than in males

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Younger players (ages 10-20) are more susceptible to growth plate injuries, which can affect bone development

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The average age for first major injury in soccer players is around 16-18 years

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The prevalence of injury in soccer players peaks during the late adolescence (ages 15-19), with over 25 injuries per 1000 hours of play

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The economic burden of soccer injuries includes both medical costs and lost productivity, estimating billions of dollars annually in professional leagues

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An estimated 60% of soccer injuries are occurring in training sessions rather than matches

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Hamstring injuries are the most frequent muscle injuries in soccer, representing approximately 12-18% of all injuries

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The incidence of concussions in soccer is estimated at 0.2 to 0.4 per 1000 athlete exposures

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Goalkeepers have a higher incidence of hand and wrist injuries, constituting roughly 30% of all injuries for that position

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The prevalence of injury in soccer is higher during competitive matches compared to training, by approximately 2- to 3-fold

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Female soccer players experience ACL injuries at a rate of about 4 to 6 times higher than male players

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The typical incidence rate of groin injuries in soccer is around 0.2-0.4 injuries per 1000 hours of play

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The rate of stress fractures in soccer players is approximately 0.03-0.05 per 1000 hours of play

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The injury rate for professional soccer players is roughly 7-15 injuries per 1000 hours of play

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Injuries resulting from player collisions account for approximately 25% of all soccer injuries

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The majority of soccer injuries happen on artificial turf compared to natural grass, due to increased impact forces

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Common injury mechanisms in soccer include non-contact sudden stops or changes of direction, accounting for over 60% of injuries

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The annual incidence of injury in youth soccer players (ages 6-18) is approximately 15-30 injuries per 1000 athlete exposures

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Over 70% of soccer injuries occur during matches, with the remaining during training

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The incidence of ACL injuries in adolescent soccer players varies from 0.05 to 0.30 per 1000 hours of exposure

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The recurrence rate of soccer injuries is approximately 15-20% within the first year after injury, indicating the importance of proper rehabilitation

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Soccer players who do not engage in proper injury prevention training have a 2-3 times higher risk of injury

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The use of proper footwear and playing surfaces can decrease injury risk by up to 50%

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Approximately 30% of football (soccer) injuries occur in the preseason period, often due to inadequate conditioning

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Prevention programs focusing on neuromuscular training significantly reduce injury risk in adolescent soccer players, with reductions of up to 50%

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The average sole length in soccer cleats associated with fewer injuries is approximately 21-23 mm, according to biomechanical studies

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Female soccer players are more likely to suffer medial collateral ligament (MCL) injuries than males, due to anatomical and hormonal factors

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Approximately 10-15% of all injuries in soccer are severe, requiring lengthy rehabilitation

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The most common injury in soccer players is the ankle sprain, accounting for about 20-30% of all injuries

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Overuse injuries account for approximately 25% of soccer injuries

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The average recovery time for an Achilles tendon injury in soccer players is about 4 to 6 months

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Muscle strains, particularly in the groin and hamstring, make up about 35% of injuries in amateur soccer players

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Approximately 80% of soccer injuries occur in the lower extremities, mainly the thighs, knees, and ankles

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Lateral ankle sprains are the most common type of injury in soccer, accounting for about 75% of ankle sprains

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Women’s soccer players are at a higher risk for ACL tears particularly during the first 3 years of participation

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Heel and midfoot injuries account for about 10% of all soccer injuries, especially among players who frequently jump

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The rate of knee injuries in soccer is around 23-35% of all injuries, with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries accounting for a significant portion

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Concussion symptoms in soccer often resolve within 7-10 days, but repeated concussions can lead to longer recovery and cumulative brain damage

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The injury rate for goalkeepers is generally lower than outfield players, but they are more prone to hand and wrist injuries

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Approximately 2-3% of all soccer injuries result in surgical intervention, particularly cartilage and ligament injuries

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An estimated 12-15% of soccer injuries involve fractures, with the clavicle and foot being common sites

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Key Highlights

Approximately 10-15% of all injuries in soccer are severe, requiring lengthy rehabilitation
An estimated 60% of soccer injuries are occurring in training sessions rather than matches
The most common injury in soccer players is the ankle sprain, accounting for about 20-30% of all injuries
Hamstring injuries are the most frequent muscle injuries in soccer, representing approximately 12-18% of all injuries
The risk of ACL injuries in female soccer players is 4 to 6 times higher than in males
The incidence of concussions in soccer is estimated at 0.2 to 0.4 per 1000 athlete exposures
Overuse injuries account for approximately 25% of soccer injuries
The average recovery time for an Achilles tendon injury in soccer players is about 4 to 6 months
Goalkeepers have a higher incidence of hand and wrist injuries, constituting roughly 30% of all injuries for that position
Younger players (ages 10-20) are more susceptible to growth plate injuries, which can affect bone development
Muscle strains, particularly in the groin and hamstring, make up about 35% of injuries in amateur soccer players
The prevalence of injury in soccer is higher during competitive matches compared to training, by approximately 2- to 3-fold
Female soccer players experience ACL injuries at a rate of about 4 to 6 times higher than male players

Did you know that while soccer is the world’s most popular sport, players are facing injury risks in nearly 30% of matches, with ankle sprains and ACL tears being some of the most common and costly setbacks?

Demographic and Age-Related Factors

The risk of ACL injuries in female soccer players is 4 to 6 times higher than in males
Younger players (ages 10-20) are more susceptible to growth plate injuries, which can affect bone development
The average age for first major injury in soccer players is around 16-18 years
The prevalence of injury in soccer players peaks during the late adolescence (ages 15-19), with over 25 injuries per 1000 hours of play

Demographic and Age-Related Factors Interpretation

These statistics underscore the urgent need for tailored injury prevention measures, as young athletes—especially girls—are bearing the brunt of soccer's physical toll during their most crucial developmental years.

Economic and Return-to-Play Aspects

The economic burden of soccer injuries includes both medical costs and lost productivity, estimating billions of dollars annually in professional leagues

Economic and Return-to-Play Aspects Interpretation

Soccer injuries not only sideline players but also drain billions from the economy each year, proving that missing a goal can often cost more than just a game.

Injury Incidence and Prevention

An estimated 60% of soccer injuries are occurring in training sessions rather than matches
Hamstring injuries are the most frequent muscle injuries in soccer, representing approximately 12-18% of all injuries
The incidence of concussions in soccer is estimated at 0.2 to 0.4 per 1000 athlete exposures
Goalkeepers have a higher incidence of hand and wrist injuries, constituting roughly 30% of all injuries for that position
The prevalence of injury in soccer is higher during competitive matches compared to training, by approximately 2- to 3-fold
Female soccer players experience ACL injuries at a rate of about 4 to 6 times higher than male players
The typical incidence rate of groin injuries in soccer is around 0.2-0.4 injuries per 1000 hours of play
The rate of stress fractures in soccer players is approximately 0.03-0.05 per 1000 hours of play
The injury rate for professional soccer players is roughly 7-15 injuries per 1000 hours of play
Injuries resulting from player collisions account for approximately 25% of all soccer injuries
The majority of soccer injuries happen on artificial turf compared to natural grass, due to increased impact forces
Common injury mechanisms in soccer include non-contact sudden stops or changes of direction, accounting for over 60% of injuries
The annual incidence of injury in youth soccer players (ages 6-18) is approximately 15-30 injuries per 1000 athlete exposures
Over 70% of soccer injuries occur during matches, with the remaining during training
The incidence of ACL injuries in adolescent soccer players varies from 0.05 to 0.30 per 1000 hours of exposure
The recurrence rate of soccer injuries is approximately 15-20% within the first year after injury, indicating the importance of proper rehabilitation
Soccer players who do not engage in proper injury prevention training have a 2-3 times higher risk of injury
The use of proper footwear and playing surfaces can decrease injury risk by up to 50%
Approximately 30% of football (soccer) injuries occur in the preseason period, often due to inadequate conditioning
Prevention programs focusing on neuromuscular training significantly reduce injury risk in adolescent soccer players, with reductions of up to 50%
The average sole length in soccer cleats associated with fewer injuries is approximately 21-23 mm, according to biomechanical studies
Female soccer players are more likely to suffer medial collateral ligament (MCL) injuries than males, due to anatomical and hormonal factors

Injury Incidence and Prevention Interpretation

While the thrill of the game often overshadows the hidden toll—where over 60% of injuries creep in during practice, and female athletes face significantly higher ACL risks—it's clear that diligent injury prevention, proper training, and surface choice can cut the injury rate nearly in half, transforming the beautiful game into a safer pursuit for all players.

Injury Types and Common Conditions

Approximately 10-15% of all injuries in soccer are severe, requiring lengthy rehabilitation
The most common injury in soccer players is the ankle sprain, accounting for about 20-30% of all injuries
Overuse injuries account for approximately 25% of soccer injuries
The average recovery time for an Achilles tendon injury in soccer players is about 4 to 6 months
Muscle strains, particularly in the groin and hamstring, make up about 35% of injuries in amateur soccer players
Approximately 80% of soccer injuries occur in the lower extremities, mainly the thighs, knees, and ankles
Lateral ankle sprains are the most common type of injury in soccer, accounting for about 75% of ankle sprains
Women’s soccer players are at a higher risk for ACL tears particularly during the first 3 years of participation
Heel and midfoot injuries account for about 10% of all soccer injuries, especially among players who frequently jump
The rate of knee injuries in soccer is around 23-35% of all injuries, with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries accounting for a significant portion
Concussion symptoms in soccer often resolve within 7-10 days, but repeated concussions can lead to longer recovery and cumulative brain damage
The injury rate for goalkeepers is generally lower than outfield players, but they are more prone to hand and wrist injuries
Approximately 2-3% of all soccer injuries result in surgical intervention, particularly cartilage and ligament injuries

Injury Types and Common Conditions Interpretation

While soccer boasts impressive agility and endurance, these statistics reveal that roughly one in ten to fifteen injuries are severe, with ankle sprains and muscle strains predominantly targeting the lower limbs—highlighting that in the beautiful game, the toughest challenge may often be simply staying on your feet.

Specific Injury Sites and Mechanisms

An estimated 12-15% of soccer injuries involve fractures, with the clavicle and foot being common sites

Specific Injury Sites and Mechanisms Interpretation

With nearly one in seven soccer injuries resulting in fractures—particularly to the clavicle and foot—the game definitely demands a combination of skill and a healthy respect for its potential to fracture the fun.