Yeah, "soccer" (I use the word only to distinguish) players I think don't have anything like the consistent hard hits that American football players do. The way they tackle has shifted from a sort of "Pounce on that guy, wrap your arms around him, and drag him down" to "Turn yourself into a human javelin and knock him over with the sheer force of your massive velocity." It's a very, very bad thing.

But pro atheltes/world-competitive ones just blow my mind. Even if I was so inclined and talented, I don't think I'd do it--it really does end up tearing up your body long-term, and in most sports you hit your peak young. Then what will you do?