Totally off-topic, but soccer players are definitely more “aerobically” conditioned than most football players but aerobic conditioning is but one small and fairly insignificant measure of an athlete. I don’t think you can absolutely claim the best soccer players here in America have the same total package as say LaDanian Tomlinson. LT will have probably the same or better cut-back or change of direction ability, better stop-start ability, better acceleration and deceleration, and is completely stronger top to bottom.
Now if you want to compare Soccer players to Nose Tackles, then yes, they are more athletic overall, though some of those 300 lb. guys have 35+ inch vertical leaps. Also there aren’t many freaks of nature like Terrell Owens playing soccer.
Actually I’d take the typical Lebron James type NBA player as also being a more complete athlete. 6’8″ 240 with that kind of breakaway speed? All-state WR before giving up football his Sr. Year. Michael Jordan was an all-state QB as was Allen Iverson.
