Epidemiology of injuries in male and female youth football players: A systematic review and meta-analysis

•Youth football players are at high risk of injury, especially during matches.•Male and female youth football players show different injury patterns.•The number of severe injuries in both sexes may not be considered acceptable.•The incidence of injuries increases with advances in chronological age in males.•The quality of evidence for injury incidences in female youth football players is low.