Objective
This study aims to evaluate the effects of four types of physical training interventions on the athletic performance of soccer players and to determine the optimal training dosage for each modality.
Design
A systematic search of PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, and OVID databases was conducted to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examining the impact of these four exercise-based interventions on soccer performance. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool, and all extracted data were analyzed using appropriate statistical software.
Results
The RCTs included in this review were published from the earliest available records through September 2025. A total of fifty-three RCTs with an aggregated sample of 1,580 participants met the eligibility criteria. The network meta-analysis demonstrated that strength training produced the most substantial improvements in several performance indicators, including Counter Movement Jump (CMJ) (SUCRA: 94%), Squat Jump (SJ) (SUCRA: 87.5%), one-repetition maximum squat (1-RM squat) (SUCRA: 99.9%), five-meter sprint (5m-sprint) (SUCRA: 99.6%), ten-meter sprint (10m-sprint) (SUCRA: 87.4%), thirty-meter sprint (30m-sprint) (SUCRA: 88.8%), and agility measured by the T-test (SUCRA: 69.4%). Additionally, endurance training showed the greatest effect on maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) (SUCRA: 84.7%).
Conclusion
Based on the ranking plots generated by the network meta-analysis, strength training demonstrates superior overall benefits compared with other exercise interventions for enhancing the performance of football players.