Citation Rankings
Highly Cited Researchers
Europe Education / Physical Education and Sport Science Highly Cited Researchers 3.155 Scientists Citation Rankings - 2025
The Citation Rankings (Highly Cited Researchers) list highlight the most cited and influential researchers across a vast range of scientific fields, covering 197 main and sub-disciplines, including the Art and Humanities Citation Rankings and Social Sciences and Humanities Citation Rankings. This service, offered exclusively by AD Scientific Index, aims to provide a balanced perspective by excluding data from CERN and other statistical sources that disproportionately favor certain researchers, particularly in the social sciences and humanities. This unique approach addresses the advantages researchers with multi-author publications and CERN involvement hold over others. Furthermore, citation rankings help uncover rule violations and unethical practices within the research community. For more detailed citation analyses, explore the Scientists Last 6 Years Citation Index, Universities Total Citations Rankings 2025, and Universities Last 6 Years Citations Rankings 2025.
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 1
Physical Activity
Epidemiology
Public Health
Sport Science
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
143,369
76,235
0.532
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 2
Ciencias del Deporte
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
80,568
57,301
0.711
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 3
physical activity
exercise
health
obesity
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
66,412
38,366
0.578
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 4
Sport
Health
Performance
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
51,114
22,010
0.431
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 5
exercise
physiology
nitrate
endurance
fatigue
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
43,890
16,540
0.377
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 6
Sport Exercise and Health
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
41,172
14,278
0.347
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 7
Exercise Science
Biostatistics
Health
Cycling
Association Football
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
40,325
14,048
0.348
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 8
exercise
health
skills
children
analytics
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
40,172
22,741
0.566
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 9
Physical activity
Sport Sciences
Exercise
Fitness
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
39,209
15,255
0.389
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 10
Sport Science
neurophysiology.
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
35,212
31,833
0.904
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 11
Exercise Physiology
Sport Sciences
Sports Sciences
Sport Science
Physiology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
34,660
12,440
0.359
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 12
Physical activity
exercise and health
body composition
sedentary behaviour
sports sciences
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
33,766
23,948
0.709
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 13
Sport Sciences
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
29,007
25,897
0.893
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 14
sport
physical activity
mental health
young people
policy
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
28,731
6,636
0.231
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 15
Sport Science
Altitude
Exercise Physiology
Hypoxia
Fatigue
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
27,884
13,628
0.489
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 16
Exercise Physiology
Sports Medicine in Elite Sport
Football
Regeneration
Design of Appropriate Preventive Training Programmes
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
27,299
14,810
0.543
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 17
Exercise
Oxidative Stress
Skeletal muscle
Healthy Aging
Frailty
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
26,938
14,327
0.532
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 18
physical fitness
physical activity
physical education
24-hour movement behaviour
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
26,102
19,573
0.750
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 19
Physical activity
physical education
public health
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
25,795
18,369
0.712
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 20
Exercise Physiology
Sport Science
Motivation
Fatigue
Exercise Science
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
25,067
12,325
0.492
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 21
Sport Science
Physical Activity and Health
Actividad física y salud
Ejercicio
Composición corporal
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
24,310
8,428
0.347
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 22
Exercise Science
Sport Sciences
Exercise
Health
Fitness
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
21,950
7,730
0.352
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 23
sport and exercise sciences
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
21,496
15,224
0.708
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 24
exercise
fitness
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
21,090
13,028
0.618
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 25
strength training
Physical Education
Sport Sciences
Sport Science
Sports Science
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
20,787
10,818
0.520
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
1,600
3
1
Ranking Based On Selection: 1
Ulf Ekelund
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
143,369
76,235
0.532
Physical Activity
Epidemiology
Public Health
Sport Science
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
4,737
95
2
Ranking Based On Selection: 2
Adsuar, JC
Universidad de Extremadura
Badajoz, Spain
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
80,568
57,301
0.711
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
6,502
123
5
Ranking Based On Selection: 3
Francisco B Ortega
Universidad de Granada
Granada, Spain
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
66,412
38,366
0.578
physical activity
exercise
health
obesity
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
9,945
73
7
Ranking Based On Selection: 4
Peter Krustrup
University of Southern Denmark
Tianjin, Denmark
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
51,114
22,010
0.431
Sport
Health
Performance
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
12,634
1,112
22
Ranking Based On Selection: 5
Andrew Jones
University of Exeter
Exeter, United Kingdom
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
43,890
16,540
0.377
exercise
physiology
nitrate
endurance
fatigue
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
13,997
1,234
4
Ranking Based On Selection: 6
Alan Nevill
University of Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton, United Kingdom
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
41,172
14,278
0.347
Sport Exercise and Health
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
14,483
1,262
3
Ranking Based On Selection: 7
Greg Atkinson
Liverpool John Moores University
Liverpool, United Kingdom
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
40,325
14,048
0.348
Exercise Science
Biostatistics
Health
Cycling
Association Football
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
14,576
1,271
5
Ranking Based On Selection: 8
Gareth Stratton
Swansea University
Swansea, United Kingdom
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
40,172
22,741
0.566
exercise
health
skills
children
analytics
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
15,150
243
7
Ranking Based On Selection: 9
Jonatan R Ruiz
Universidad de Granada
Granada, Spain
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
39,209
15,255
0.389
Physical activity
Sport Sciences
Exercise
Fitness
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
17,933
298
4
Ranking Based On Selection: 10
Santos Villafaina
Universidad de Extremadura
Badajoz, Spain
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
35,212
31,833
0.904
Sport Science
neurophysiology.
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
18,370
306
2
Ranking Based On Selection: 11
Jose A Calbet
Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
34,660
12,440
0.359
Exercise Physiology
Sport Sciences
Sports Sciences
Sport Science
Physiology
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
19,103
45
1
Ranking Based On Selection: 12
Diana A Santos
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
33,766
23,948
0.709
Physical activity
exercise and health
body composition
sedentary behaviour
sports sciences
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
24,235
434
1
Ranking Based On Selection: 13
Daniel Collado Mateo
Universidad Rey Juan Carlos
Móstoles, Spain
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
29,007
25,897
0.893
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
24,567
2,146
1
Ranking Based On Selection: 14
Andy Smith
Edge Hill University
Ormskirk, United Kingdom
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
28,731
6,636
0.231
sport
physical activity
mental health
young people
policy
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
25,653
481
37
Ranking Based On Selection: 15
Grégoire Millet
Université de Lausanne
Lausanne, Switzerland
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
27,884
13,628
0.489
Sport Science
Altitude
Exercise Physiology
Hypoxia
Fatigue
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
26,491
1,161
4
Ranking Based On Selection: 16
Tim Meyer
Universität des Saarlandes
Saarbrücken, Germany
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
27,299
14,810
0.543
Exercise Physiology
Sports Medicine in Elite Sport
Football
Regeneration
Design of Appropriate Preventive Training Programmes
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
27,047
483
34
Ranking Based On Selection: 17
Mari Carmen Gomez-Cabrera
Universitat de València
Valencia, Spain
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
26,938
14,327
0.532
Exercise
Oxidative Stress
Skeletal muscle
Healthy Aging
Frailty
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
28,374
12
6
Ranking Based On Selection: 18
Gregor Jurak
University of Ljubljana
Ljubljana, Slovenia
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
26,102
19,573
0.750
physical fitness
physical activity
physical education
24-hour movement behaviour
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
28,852
107
4
Ranking Based On Selection: 19
Elaine Murtagh
University of Limerick
Limerick, Ireland
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
25,795
18,369
0.712
Physical activity
physical education
public health
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
30,140
1,177
50
Ranking Based On Selection: 20
Samuele Marcora
Università di Bologna
Bologna, Italy
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
25,067
12,325
0.492
Exercise Physiology
Sport Science
Motivation
Fatigue
Exercise Science
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
31,509
589
10
Ranking Based On Selection: 21
Germán Vicente Rodríguez
Universidad de Zaragoza
Zaragoza, Spain
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
24,310
8,428
0.347
Sport Science
Physical Activity and Health
Actividad física y salud
Ejercicio
Composición corporal
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
36,401
157
6
Ranking Based On Selection: 22
Yiannis Koutedakis
University of Thessaly
Volos, Greece
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
21,950
7,730
0.352
Exercise Science
Sport Sciences
Exercise
Health
Fitness
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
37,509
3,280
12
Ranking Based On Selection: 23
Lynne M Boddy
Liverpool John Moores University
Liverpool, United Kingdom
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
21,496
15,224
0.708
sport and exercise sciences
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
38,542
177
17
Ranking Based On Selection: 24
Jari Laukkanen
University of Eastern Finland
Joensuu, Finland
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
21,090
13,028
0.618
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
39,369
755
3
Ranking Based On Selection: 25
Juan José González Badillo
Universidad Pablo de Olavide
Sevilla, Spain
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
20,787
10,818
0.520
strength training
Physical Education
Sport Sciences
Sport Science
Sports Science