AI & Sports: A New Era for Athlete Value Assessment

March 13, 2024

AI is opening new horizons in the world of sports, revolutionizing how companies identify and evaluate talents.

In professional sports, the market value assessment of an athlete is a cornerstone of scouting operations.

Traditionally, this process relied on human observations and empirical insights; today, advanced algorithms allow reliance on a series of innovative elements.

Predicting Market Value with AI

Thanks to cutting-edge algorithms, Artificial intelligence can analyze a myriad of data useful for estimating an athlete’s value.

Indeed, it can identify patterns and trends not evident to the human eye, considering variables such as performance consistency and the athlete’s contribution to victory.

Not only classic statistics but also factors such as leadership, work ethic, and the ability to adapt to new contexts.

The Erling Haaland Case

An emblematic example is that of footballer Erling Haaland.

His transfer to Manchester City was preceded by a detailed analysis of his performance, professionalism, and media impact.

Using artificial intelligence, the club quantified Haaland’s added value also in terms of fan engagement and product sales, crucial components for the economic evaluation of the player.

Popularity on Social Media

Presence on social media has also become significant and directly influences advertising revenue and branding.

AI examines follower growth and engagement, as well as public perception, turning this data into tangible metrics.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, for example, demonstrate how immense social notoriety has concrete effects on market valuations, attracting sponsorships and improving a team’s global profile.

Beyond Immediate Performance

Furthermore, a distinctive advantage of using artificial intelligence in this area is the ability to predict an athlete’s development trajectory.

This aspect is central to scouting decisions, especially in youth sectors, where long-term potential is a key factor.

In this way, artificial intelligence offers companies a solid foundation on which to build future line-ups.

Challenges and Ethical Reflections

Artificial intelligence does not replace human judgment, but rather enriches it.

While AI provides objective support and real data on which to base decisions, human experience and intuition remain indispensable.

Finally, it is important to avoid using information to discriminate or create non-objective evaluation systems.

The Advancement of AI in Sports

The exploitation of artificial intelligence in sports scouting is still in its infancy, but it has the potential to completely revolutionize how companies build their teams.

However, it is essential to use it responsibly, aware of the ethical implications.

With the right balance, the integration of AI promises to elevate sports to new levels of excellence and entertainment.

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