The purpose of this report is to objectively assess and rank a player’s physical performance against all other players competing in the same position in Ligue 2 (France). This report draws on the full range of individual physical-performance data by position collected by SkillCorner (https://skillcorner.com) for the 2025-2026 season of the Ligue 2 championship. Only players who completed at least 90 minutes of effective playing time were retained in the analysis. 

Three main indicators were selected to assess players’ physical performance:

•       total distance covered (km),

•       high-intensity running distance, i.e. running between 20 and 25 km/h (m),

•       sprint distance, i.e. running above 25 km/h (m).

We have grouped players into 10 categories, each corresponding to 10% of the observed population. All performances recorded over the season are ordered from lowest to highest, then divided into 10 equal bands known as deciles. A player ranked in the “Top 10%” is among the 10% of highest performances for their position. Conversely, a player ranked in the “Bottom 10%” is among the 10% of lowest performances. Table 1 below presents these 10 categories.

Table 1: Decile interpretation system.

Decile

Percentile

Description

Top 10%

≥ P90

Excellent

10-20%

P80 - P90

Very good

20-30%

P70 - P80

Good

30-40%

P60 - P70

Above average

40-50%

P50 - P60

Slightly above the median

50-60%

P40 - P50

Slightly below the median

60-70%

P30 - P40

Below average

70-80%

P20 - P30

Low

80-90%

P10 - P20

Very low

Bottom 10%

< P10

Extremely low

CENTRE-BACK
1311 observations  •  110 players 

Table 2 presents the physical-data benchmark for centre-backs in Ligue 2.

Table 2: Physical-data benchmark for centre-backs (km).

 

Total distance (km)
Mean: 10.43 | SD: 0.61

High-intensity dist. 20-25 km/h (m)
Mean: 428.7 | SD: 119

Sprint dist. >25 km/h (m)
Mean: 136.7 | SD: 71.7

Band

Decile

Min. value

Max. value

Min. value

Max. value

Min. value

Max. value

Excellent

Top 10%

11.21

-

576.0

-

232.0

-

Very good

10-20%

10.92

11.21

526.0

576.0

194.0

232.0

Good

20-30%

10.74

10.92

485.0

526.0

168.0

194.0

Above average

30-40%

10.57

10.74

456.0

485.0

147.0

168.0

Slightly above the median

40-50%

10.43

10.57

423.0

456.0

129.0

147.0

Slightly below the median

50-60%

10.28

10.43

391.0

423.0

110.0

129.0

Below average

60-70%

10.11

10.28

361.0

391.0

93.0

110.0

Low

70-80%

9.93

10.11

327.0

361.0

75.0

93.0

Very low

80-90%

9.69

9.93

281.0

327.0

50.0

75.0

Extremely low

Bottom 10%

-

9.69

-

281.0

-

50.0

 

FULL-BACK
505 observations  •  76 players  

Table 3 presents the physical-data benchmark for full-backs in Ligue 2.

Table 3: Physical-data benchmark for full-backs (km).

 

Total distance (km)
Mean: 10.78 | SD: 0.61

High-intensity dist. 20-25 km/h (m)
Mean: 634.4 | SD: 143

Sprint dist. >25 km/h (m)
Mean: 239.6 | SD: 92.0

Band

Decile

Min. value

Max. value

Min. value

Max. value

Min. value

Max. value

Excellent

Top 10%

11.56

-

835.0

-

354.0

-

Very good

10-20%

11.28

11.56

748.4

835.0

313.2

354.0

Good

20-30%

11.10

11.28

701.8

748.4

281.0

313.2

Above average

30-40%

10.94

11.10

659.0

701.8

256.0

281.0

Slightly above the median

40-50%

10.79

10.94

620.0

659.0

234.0

256.0

Slightly below the median

50-60%

10.67

10.79

583.0

620.0

211.0

234.0

Below average

60-70%

10.50

10.67

554.0

583.0

189.2

211.0

Low

70-80%

10.30

10.50

516.0

554.0

161.8

189.2

Very low

80-90%

10.01

10.30

450.6

516.0

123.0

161.8

Extremely low

Bottom 10%

-

10.01

-

450.6

-

123.0

WING-BACK
304 observations  •  67 players  

Table 4 presents the physical-data benchmark for wing-backs in Ligue 2.

Table 4: Physical-data benchmark for wing-backs (km).

 

Total distance (km)
Mean: 11.23 | SD: 0.63

High-intensity dist. 20-25 km/h (m)
Mean: 747.6 | SD: 156

Sprint dist. >25 km/h (m)
Mean: 300.1 | SD: 100.4

Band

Decile

Min. value

Max. value

Min. value

Max. value

Min. value

Max. value

Excellent

Top 10%

12.02

-

957.0

-

426.1

-

Very good

10-20%

11.77

12.02

865.8

957.0

381.0

426.1

Good

20-30%

11.64

11.77

807.0

865.8

350.3

381.0

Above average

30-40%

11.42

11.64

769.6

807.0

321.0

350.3

Slightly above the median

40-50%

11.24

11.42

727.0

769.6

296.0

321.0

Slightly below the median

50-60%

11.08

11.24

697.0

727.0

270.0

296.0

Below average

60-70%

10.91

11.08

670.0

697.0

238.9

270.0

Low

70-80%

10.72

10.91

627.6

670.0

212.0

238.9

Very low

80-90%

10.32

10.72

564.5

627.6

176.2

212.0

Extremely low

Bottom 10%

-

10.32

-

564.5

-

176.2

 

DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDER
316 observations  •  66 players  

Table 5 presents the physical-data benchmark for defensive midfielders in Ligue 2.

Table 5: Physical-data benchmark for defensive midfielders (km).

 

Total distance (km)
Mean: 11.72 | SD: 0.73

High-intensity dist. 20-25 km/h (m)
Mean: 589.1 | SD: 170

Sprint dist. >25 km/h (m)
Mean: 122.0 | SD: 68.8

Band

Decile

Min. value

Max. value

Min. value

Max. value

Min. value

Max. value

Excellent

Top 10%

12.70

-

828.0

-

220.5

-

Very good

10-20%

12.34

12.70

727.0

828.0

174.0

220.5

Good

20-30%

12.07

12.34

664.5

727.0

147.5

174.0

Above average

30-40%

11.86

12.07

606.0

664.5

127.0

147.5

Slightly above the median

40-50%

11.68

11.86

571.0

606.0

110.0

127.0

Slightly below the median

50-60%

11.53

11.68

529.0

571.0

93.0

110.0

Below average

60-70%

11.33

11.53

498.0

529.0

78.5

93.0

Low

70-80%

11.12

11.33

458.0

498.0

67.0

78.5

Very low

80-90%

10.79

11.12

383.5

458.0

43.5

67.0

Extremely low

Bottom 10%

-

10.79

-

383.5

-

43.5

CENTRAL MIDFIELDER
516 observations  •  93 players  

Table 6 presents the physical-data benchmark for central midfielders in Ligue 2.

Table 6: Physical-data benchmark for central midfielders (km).

 

Total distance (km)
Mean: 11.96 | SD: 0.64

High-intensity dist. 20-25 km/h (m)
Mean: 671.0 | SD: 179

Sprint dist. >25 km/h (m)
Mean: 145.9 | SD: 80.2

Band

Decile

Min. value

Max. value

Min. value

Max. value

Min. value

Max. value

Excellent

Top 10%

12.77

-

913.0

-

259.5

-

Very good

10-20%

12.53

12.77

818.0

913.0

209.0

259.5

Good

20-30%

12.30

12.53

747.5

818.0

184.0

209.0

Above average

30-40%

12.12

12.30

704.0

747.5

156.0

184.0

Slightly above the median

40-50%

11.96

12.12

664.0

704.0

130.0

156.0

Slightly below the median

50-60%

11.79

11.96

617.0

664.0

111.0

130.0

Below average

60-70%

11.60

11.79

570.0

617.0

95.5

111.0

Low

70-80%

11.43

11.60

524.0

570.0

74.0

95.5

Very low

80-90%

11.13

11.43

462.0

524.0

55.5

74.0

Extremely low

Bottom 10%

-

11.13

-

462.0

-

55.5

WINGER
275 observations  •  76 players 

Table 7 presents the physical-data benchmark for wingers in Ligue 2.

Table 7: Physical-data benchmark for wingers (km).

 

Total distance (km)
Mean: 11.21 | SD: 0.74

High-intensity dist. 20-25 km/h (m)
Mean: 739.7 | SD: 153

Sprint dist. >25 km/h (m)
Mean: 271.7 | SD: 107.2

Band

Decile

Min. value

Max. value

Min. value

Max. value

Min. value

Max. value

Excellent

Top 10%

12.09

-

944.2

-

403.6

-

Very good

10-20%

11.82

12.09

851.2

944.2

357.2

403.6

Good

20-30%

11.61

11.82

814.0

851.2

321.2

357.2

Above average

30-40%

11.41

11.61

773.0

814.0

297.4

321.2

Slightly above the median

40-50%

11.22

11.41

737.0

773.0

274.0

297.4

Slightly below the median

50-60%

11.03

11.22

688.2

737.0

238.2

274.0

Below average

60-70%

10.80

11.03

653.2

688.2

217.4

238.2

Low

70-80%

10.62

10.80

613.0

653.2

189.8

217.4

Very low

80-90%

10.41

10.62

545.2

613.0

137.4

189.8

Extremely low

Bottom 10%

-

10.41

-

545.2

-

137.4

FORWARD
283 observations  •  74 players  

Table 8 presents the physical-data benchmark for forwards in Ligue 2.

Table 8: Physical-data benchmark for forwards (km).

 

Total distance (km)
Mean: 10.85 | SD: 0.89

High-intensity dist. 20-25 km/h (m)
Mean: 656.1 | SD: 146

Sprint dist. >25 km/h (m)
Mean: 237.7 | SD: 110.2

Band

Decile

Min. value

Max. value

Min. value

Max. value

Min. value

Max. value

Excellent

Top 10%

11.91

-

845.0

-

391.6

-

Very good

10-20%

11.59

11.91

780.4

845.0

338.2

391.6

Good

20-30%

11.34

11.59

732.4

780.4

288.8

338.2

Above average

30-40%

11.11

11.34

700.2

732.4

254.2

288.8

Slightly above the median

40-50%

10.95

11.11

657.0

700.2

228.0

254.2

Slightly below the median

50-60%

10.72

10.95

617.8

657.0

197.0

228.0

Below average

60-70%

10.49

10.72

580.2

617.8

167.8

197.0

Low

70-80%

10.03

10.49

524.4

580.2

139.4

167.8

Very low

80-90%

9.56

10.03

463.2

524.4

108.0

139.4

Extremely low

Bottom 10%

-

9.56

-

463.2

-

108.0

 

After a performance, players often want to know where they stand relative to others, namely their opponents, their rivals and their team-mates. Coaches also need a benchmark to pair players, to respond to the demands posed by the opposition or to pose problems for an opponent. Recruiters and sporting directors likewise need to know where the players they wish to sign stand; this is sometimes a decisive criterion in player selection. The benchmarks set out in this article provide a sound basis for quickly identifying players’ physical profiles. 

If you would like an in-depth analysis of a player or a position, please do not hesitate to contact us at contact@felisperformance.com