Increased risk and early onset of ALS in professional players from Italian Soccer Teams.

: Since the observation of several deaths from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) among Italian professional soccer players, an association between ALS and soccer has been postulated. The objective of the study is to investigate the association between professional soccer and the risk of ALS in a large cohort of former professional soccer players with prolonged follow-up. : All professional soccer players practicing in the period 1959-2000 were identified through the archives of an Italian soccer cards publisher.