Figure 4
A stacked bar graph compares the share of players' positions by decade, with separate bars for all leagues and top 5 leagues. The horizontal axis represents different decades from 1975 to 2024, while the vertical axis represents the percentage of players. The graph uses four colors to represent different positions: blue for goalkeepers, red for defenders, green for midfielders, and orange for forwards. Each decade is divided into two bars, one for all leagues and one for top 5 leagues, showing the percentage distribution of each position. Notable trends include a general increase in the share of goalkeepers and midfielders over time, while the share of defenders has decreased. The share of forwards has remained relatively stable. Specific values for each position and decade are labeled within the bars.Share of positions included in the 50 most-utilized players, by decade. Note: The figure displays the distribution of playing positions (goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, forwards) among the 50 most-utilized players, by decade and league group (Top 5 vs. All Leagues). Shares are calculated as percentages of the top-50 sample in each period. Source: Authors' elaboration based on Transfermarkt data