Introduction

The number of participants in competitive futsal has increased in recent years (UEFA, 2023). According to official data from the Portugal Football Observatory, the number of male players rose from 42,580 in the 2010/2011 season to 49,403 in 2019/2020 (Portugal Football Observatory, 2021). The statistics also showed growth in the number of clubs, competitions, young futsal players, and events involving national youth teams (Portugal Football Observatory, 2021). In fact, the Under-19 European Championships (2022, 2023) and the European and World Championships at the senior level (2021, 2022) reflected the success of the strategic investments made by the Portuguese Football Federation (https://www.fpf.pt/pt/Institucional/Compromissos/Compromissos-2020-2024/As-NossasMetas; accessed on 9 April 2024). This program has enabled national teams to select talented players, contributing to their success in the international competitions. Determining the key factors that contribute to reaching the elite level is crucial for creating an effective youth futsal talent development program (Baker et al., 2020; Horrocks et al., 2016).

The concept of talent in the context of sports refers to athletes who exhibit exceptional qualities at a young age, which are indicative of their potential to reach elite levels in the future (Cobley et al., 2020). Talent selection considers various stages of development, allowing for the identification of players who meet specific performance criteria (Till and Baker, 2020). Two theoretical perspectives are commonly referenced to explain the promotion of younger players to elite levels: individualistic and collective approaches (Güllich and Emrich, 2012). The individualistic approach focuses on nurturing players on an individual basis to promote long-term athletic development. In contrast, the collectivist approach emphasizes the continuous selection and de-selection of players across different age groups (Güllich and Emrich, 2012). This collectivist model is evident in European football academies, where elite players emerge through systematic selection and de-selection processes across age groups (Ford et al., 2022; Güllich, 2014). However, existing studies that investigate the success of talent programs are primarily limited to football samples. Moreover, these analyses often focus on the percentages of players selected and de-selected from a young age until they reach the professional level. A comprehensive understanding of the variables that explain the attainment of highly competitive standards from a young age necessitates longitudinal or retrospective study designs (Albaladejo Saura et al., 2023; Johnston et al., 2018). Given the popularity and success of Portugal in futsal at the international level (Sarmento et al., 2015; Travassos et al., 2023), there is a noticeable gap in understanding the talent program developed by the Portuguese Football Federation aimed to potentiate elite players.

A recent review summarized the literature on talent identification in futsal players (Mendes et al., 2022). That study identified three key constraints—task, athlete, and environment—as determinants of talent selection in futsal (Davis et al., 2013; Sarmento et al., 2018). In terms of task constraints, the specificity and amount of practice in futsal were found to be crucial in distinguishing between elite and non-elite players (Mendes et al., 2022). However, this conclusion was based solely on a single study utilizing self-reported data (Serrano et al., 2013). The review by Mendes et al. (2022) also highlighted that most research in the field was based on cross-sectional study designs and unidimensional perspectives (Duncan et al., 2018; Galy et al., 2015; Lago-Fuentes et al., 2020). Indeed, there is a need for new research in the area of talent identification in futsal that employs more robust study designs (Méndez-Dominguez et al., 2022).

The retrospective analysis of the extensive database of players registered with the Portuguese Football Federation who have reached national team status is essential for enhancing youth development programs based on scientific evidence. Considering the investment and strategic planning by the Portuguese Football Federation in futsal, along with the success of national squads, this study aimed to: (1) investigate the key variables that distinguished players who attained the senior national team (i.e., international AA) from those who did not; and (2) describe the Portuguese talent program in futsal by examining the turnover of players within the national teams.

Methods

Results

For the entire sample (N = 539), the results indicate that several factors significantly increased the odds ratio (OR) of becoming an international senior player. Specifically, the age at first registration (OR = 1.419, 95% CI: 1.333 to 1.510), total seasons played (OR = 1.139, 95% CI: 1.098 to 1.181), the number of seasons in the 1^st Portuguese Division (OR = 1.504, 95% CI: 1.406 to 1.608), foreign seasons (OR = 1.320, 95% CI: 1.188 to 1.465), and the number of clubs represented (OR = 1.143, 95% CI: 1.077 to 1.213) contributed to a higher probability of being selected for the senior national team. An earlier age of registration with the Portuguese Football Federation, an increased number of seasons played in the 1^st Division or in leagues outside Portugal, and registration with multiple clubs all contributed to higher likelihood of internationalization in the senior team (Figure 1, panel A).

Figure 1

The odds ratios for participation at the adult international level considering three distinct groups: the entire sample (Panel A), players born before 1999 (Panel B), and players born after 1999 (Panel C).

International AA (international adult level)

A similar analysis was conducted considering the year of appearance of youth national teams (1999). Before 1999, the results indicated that a later age of registration in futsal (OR = 1.298; 95% CI: 1.212 to 1.390), a greater number of seasons in the 1^st Division (OR = 1.345; 95% CI: 1.256 to 1.440), and participation in foreign clubs (OR = 1.162; 95% CI: 1.048 to 1.288) were associated with a higher chance of becoming an international AA player (Figure 1, panel B). After 1999, the results indicated that the number of seasons played in futsal (OR = 1.436; 95% CI: 1.049 to 1.965) and also the number of seasons in the 1^st Division (OR = 2.399; 95% CI: 1.571 to 3.662) were predictive of participation at the international adult level (Figure 1, panel C).

Before 1999, most international players were registered for the first time when they were 19 years old or older (31%). There was a general dispersion in the frequencies of internationalization among players aged 10 to 15–16 years. Notably, players who achieved their first international appearances in under-19 and under-23 teams typically began practicing futsal at the age of 10 or younger, with 33% and 60% starting when they were ≤ 10 years old, respectively. However, 67 players (92%) who achieved their first international appearance in the national senior team started practicing futsal at the age of 19 or older (Figure 2, panel A). Conversely, after 1999, 144 international players were registered for the first time at the age of 10 or younger (82%). No players from this group achieved the adult national team (Figure 2, panel B). Table 1 presents the cross-tabulations of international players by age at the time of first registration and their first internationalization, before and after 1999.

Figure 2

Age of first registration plotted against the first internationalization (number of players).

AA (international adult level); U23 (Under-23); U21 (Under-21); U19 (Under-19); U17 (Under-17); U15 (Under-15)

Table 2 summarizes the percentage of selection, reselection, and de-selection from the under-17 to the senior national team. A total of seven players (approximately 4%) progressed from the under-17 team to the senior national team, while only one player advanced from the under-19 team to the senior national team. More than 90% of youth international players never reached the senior national team.

Discussion

This study provides new and important insights into the field of talent development in futsal. The total number of seasons played, along with the number of seasons spent in the 1^st Division, are crucial for achieving the international adult level. However, the age of first registration within the Portuguese Football Federation and the number of seasons played as youth players do not significantly increase the likelihood of becoming an international player in adulthood. These findings contrast with data from before 1999, which showed that early engagement in futsal was associated with a higher probability of playing for the national adult team. Additionally, the timing of early registration appears to be linked to participation in youth national teams. Since 1999, the lack of youth international players transitioning to the adult national team indicates that the progression from youth to senior levels requires further attention. Moreover, systematic selection and de-selection processes from the under-17 to the adult team were observed, indicating a collectivist approach in the Portuguese futsal system

Two distinct periods were investigated regarding the emergence of youth national teams, which impacted the selection of players for the national adult team. Before 1999, early engagement in futsal was associated with participation in adult national teams; however, an opposing trend emerged after this date. A previous study identified relevant factors that were crucial in distinguishing futsal players by competitive level based on self-reported data (Serrano et al., 2013). In contrast to the findings of the present study, the early practice of futsal was reported as essential for differentiating the twenty-four best national players from those competing at lower levels (N = 270) (Serrano et al., 2013). Differences in sample sizes between groups and the reliance on self-reported data may have biased those results. In the current study, official data provided by the Portuguese Football Federation were utilized. Furthermore, the results align with previous data on German professional soccer players (Güllich, 2014), indicating that the younger players debuted in national youth teams, the lower their probability of attaining the professional championship (Bundesliga). Additionally, the age of entry into youth soccer academies was lower for players competing in the secondary division (13.6 ± 3.9 years) compared to those who played in the Bundesliga (14.3 ± 3.8 years) (Gullich et al., 2014). Those results suggest that the process of talent identification at younger ages does not correlate with achieving international adult levels. Nevertheless, most futsal players who reach the youth international level were registered before the age of 10. While the formation of youth national teams supports the development of futsal players, appropriate environments should be created to facilitate the transition from youth to the adult national team (McGuigan et al., 2024; Morris and Deason, 2020; Van Houten et al., 2019).

The identification of players aged 10 years and younger to create greater opportunities for expanding the talent pool is challenging. Identification is defined as the process of recognizing players from a young age who have the potential to become elite athletes (Till and Baker, 2020). Consequently, identifying talented players requires a multidisciplinary approach and longitudinal data (Bergkamp et al., 2019; Johnston et al., 2018; Sarmento et al., 2018). While a multidimensional approach that tracks youth players over a specific period is documented in soccer (Elferink-Gemser et al., 2007; Figueiredo et al., 2009; Huijgen et al., 2014), no such studies currently exist in futsal. Another critical aspect of talent identification is the prediction of adult performance. A combination of data from 6,233 athletes revealed that elite-performing adult athletes tended to enter talent programs at older ages compared to their lower-performing senior peers (Güllich and Barth, 2024). The process of talent identification raises questions, particularly in sports where research is limited. Several key inquiries should be addressed: (1) Does the identification process consider relevant characteristics at younger ages or should the criteria be based on adult performance? (2) What about athletes who are not labeled as talented? Should they be excluded from the sport or should an environment be fostered to encourage their development?

The repetition of selection and de-selection among players found in this study suggests a collective approach rather than a continuous nurturing process within the national squads. No players from the youth squads have transitioned to the adult international team. Talent development results from the interaction between athletes and constraints related to the individual, the task, and the environment (Araújo and Davids, 2011; Baker et al., 2020). In fact, futsal has been widely recognized by elite soccer coaches as a valid strategy for improving skills and developing multifunctional players (Yiannaki et al., 2018). The talent development process within youth national squads calls for further reflection by the Portuguese Football Federation, particularly regarding how to enhance athletic functionality as players progress from youth to adult international levels. Nonetheless, the development of youth national squads and the investment made at the professional level are two positive examples of promoting talent development. This aligns with the talent development programs implemented in football academies, where the number of matches increases as players advance to adult levels (Ford et al., 2022).

The present study has some limitations that must be considered when interpreting the results. Given the complexity of talent identification, the study is limited to data related to futsal participation. Future research should adopt a longitudinal design that incorporates a combination of physical, physiological, psychological, and socio-cultural variables. Additionally, the establishment of youth national teams necessitates further investigation into the development processes adopted by coaches. Thus, it is essential to create an appropriate environment to nurture youth players during their transition to the adult team.

Conclusions

The present study provides a critical contribution to research in the field of talent development in futsal. While a collectivist approach has emerged as the strategy used by coaches to select players for the national teams, the need for a long-term continuous nurturing process, beginning when players are registered in youth national squads, requires further research. This approach is essential for developing more players within an appropriate competitive system. Interestingly, the early practice of futsal did not increase the likelihood of becoming an international player in the adult team; however, a significant percentage of players registered in youth national teams were registered before the age of 10. Although the creation of youth teams by the Portuguese Football Federation has proven to be a valuable strategy for promoting the development of futsal players, the transition from youth to adult teams in futsal deserves more attention in future studies.