The bitter fate of young Peruvian soccer players

The dream of every child who breathes football is to become a professional player. However, in our country, this dream is often fleeting, a fleeting illusion that fades away, leaving a bitter taste. According to a study by El Comercio, the careers of Peruvian footballers are alarmingly short. The research, which analyzed all national players who debuted in the Liga 1 between 2019 and 2022, revealed harsh and discouraging figures: 62% of these debutants are no longer playing in the top category of Peruvian football and have not moved abroad. This means that the majority of them did not manage to establish themselves in the elite and have seen their dream of a successful professional career cut short. More than 300 footballers debuted in the top division of Peruvian football between 2019 and 2022. This time period was chosen to analyze what happened to them at least during the following season, which turned out to be 2023. The data shows that only 35% of these players are currently still in Liga 1, while 3% are playing abroad. Focusing on what happened in the year following their debut in Liga 1, the figures become even more discouraging. Three out of ten players did not have any participation in the next championship of the Peruvian tournament, while only one-third of them played in more than ten matches. This last group faces three possible scenarios: some have not found a club and are actively seeking new opportunities, training on their own, or taking a break from football; others play in the Copa Perú, an amateur tournament that offers an alternative for those still aiming to reach professional football, although its semi-professional nature makes it difficult to track the trajectory of all players; and finally, some have decided to retire from football, motivated by various reasons such as injuries, lack of opportunities, or the pursuit of other interests. Of the 25 teams that participated in our first division football between 2019 and 2022, all recorded this trend of having debutants who are currently off the radar of Liga 1, some more than others. Eight clubs account for the majority of this trend with over half (56%), with Sport Boys, Deportivo Municipal, Academia Cantolao, and Llacuabamba standing out. Five of these teams currently play in the second division. Universitario has the highest number of players who debuted in total between 2019 and 2022, among all teams, but only 40% remain in the top division. In contrast, this is different from what happened at Alianza Lima, with almost 70% of their debutants still playing in Liga 1. Considering up to the 2023 season, the average age for debut in Liga 1 is 19.5 years. The minimum debut age was 16 years, representing only 2% of the total. Most players, 71%, had their first experience in the Peruvian top division at 19 years or older, showing that our footballers take time to establish themselves in the elite. Regarding the national team, out of the total debutants between 2019 and 2022, five names were present in Jorge Fossati's latest call-up for the 2024 Copa America in the United States, indicating a 23% representation: Diego Romero, Jesús Castillo, Piero Quispe, Franco Zanelatto, Joao Grimaldo, and Bryan Reyna. In summary, the outlook for Peruvian footballers who debut in Liga 1 is not encouraging, with a large number of players failing to establish themselves in the elite and being forced to seek other opportunities, even outside the country. This highlights the need to implement measures that promote the development and retention of young talents in local football, with the aim of strengthening our league and providing greater opportunities for players on their path to a successful professional career.