###### Abstract  
Knee injuries represent a significant health concern for young male football players in Saudi Arabia. Despite global research on football-related injuries, there is a distinct lack of studies focusing on this demographic in the Saudi context. This research aims to fill this gap, offering insights into injury prevalence and risk factors, thereby contributing to athlete well-being and informing tailored interventions. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of knee injuries among youth male football players in Saudi Arabia, with a focus on injury patterns, risk factors, and associated factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted, involving 104 male football players who represent five Saudi clubs and are aged 18.82 \(\pm\) 0.68 years. Injury data, including severity, timing, and mechanisms, were collected. Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the impact of various factors on the likelihood of knee injuries. The study revealed that 37.5% of participants reported prior knee injuries, predominantly muscle injuries (61.5%) occurring during training. Ligamentous injuries, particularly anterior cruciate ligament injuries, were also notable (25.6%). Logistic regression analyses indicated that factors such as age, weight, height, body mass index, playing position, duration of playing football, and playing surface significantly influenced the odds of sustaining a knee injury. This study provides insights into the prevalence and patterns of knee injuries among youth male football players in the central region of Saudi Arabia. Muscle injuries are common. Factors such as age, weight, and playing position contribute to the risk of knee injuries. The findings underscore the need for targeted injury prevention strategies and player education programs.  
knee injuries; youth football players; prevalence; risk factors; Saudi Arabia +
Footnote †: journal: Medical  
Narrowing the focus to youth football players, age-specific considerations become paramount. Understanding the specific risks associated with each age group is crucial for developing targeted policies and prevention strategies to ensure the safety of sports play in youth, high school, and collegiate football [6]. The relationship between playing position, training intensity, and the likelihood of sustaining knee injuries is a nuanced aspect deserving attention. Recent research by [PERSON] et al. [7] suggests that specific playing positions may be associated with an increased risk of knee injuries. Moreover, they highlighted the role of training intensity and volume as potential risk factors, underscoring the necessity for a meticulous examination of training regimens among youth players.  
Despite the existing body of literature on knee injuries in football, there remains a notable gap in research specific to the prevalence and patterns of knee injuries among youth male football players in Saudi Arabia. Given that youth football players represent the future of the sport, recognizing the prevalence and patterns of knee injuries in this demographic is pivotal for designing targeted interventions, improving training regimens, and ultimately safeguarding the health and longevity of aspiring football talents. This study aims to address this gap by systematically examining data collected from youth players, providing a localized perspective on the epidemiological challenges and opportunities for injury prevention and athlete well-being. We hypothesized that youth male football players in Saudi Arabia are at a higher risk of sustaining knee injuries compared to other demographic groups due to factors such as playing intensity, training regimens, and environmental conditions.