This isn't proving your point. In that study, footballers are not covering more distance, but between 2010 and 2012, had different locomotive patterns (more sprints but more periods of very slow play brought on by fatigue).
The study is limited anyway because it analysed almost 500 players simultaneously. Another focusing on the country's top four/six teams would've been useful to see if the change was as obvious among the cream. My guess is 'no'. The cream of the athletic crop - whether in 2000, 2020 or 2040, are built different and will squeeze out every last bit of performance humanly possible.
We have data for the distance covered by high level players back in 2005 and data for distance covered by high level players today. There is no startling difference.
