Mapping talent pathways: A comparative study of developmental activities and practice structure in Brazilian and Spanish U-18 elite youth male soccer players

The purpose of this study was threefold: (1) to compare the engagement in various types and amounts of soccer activities during childhood and adolescence between Brazilian and Spanish elite youth soccer players; (2) to test what talent development pathway characterizes youth development in elite soccer in Brazil and Spain and (3) to compare the practice structure between elite youth soccer in Brazil and Spain. Participants were 131 U-18 elite male soccer players from Brazil (n = 68) and Spain (n = 63) competing in the national league. The Participant History Questionnaire was used to measure the soccer activities undertaken by players. Developmental activities were analyzed for two age periods: childhood (6-12 y/o) and early adolescence (13-15 y/o). In Spain, players started their involvement in practice and competition in soccer earlier compared to Brazilian players (p < .05). Brazilian players were more involved in structured activities, such as practice in soccer and futsal, and participated in a greater number of sports in childhood and early adolescence (p < .05). We found a very similar percentual practice structure (individual, pair, drills, group tactics and collective tactics activities) between Spain and Brazil, although Brazilian players accumulated a greater practice volume. It is concluded that Spanish and Brazilian U-18 elite youth male soccer players were differentiated by their milestones in soccer and their engagement in practice activities during childhood and early adolescence. Talent development pathway of male soccer players in Spain was characterized by the early engagement pathway, while the Brazilian system was characterized by the specialized sampling model.