While football associations vie for bigger tournaments and ever-greater viewer numbers, player burn-out threatens to leave the game in embers, says Dylan Checkland Hart, 14, from the British School of Brussels.
In 2024, Argentinian football manager Marcelo Bielsa said in an interview: “I am certain that football is in a process of decline … the business only cares about how many people watch it”.
In the past 10 years, the number of football games played has increased massively. If this is not stopped, football as a sport might break down forever.
In 2024, in a press conference, Manchester City star Rodrigo Hernández stated that, “between 40 and 50 per season is the number of games in which a player can perform to the highest level.”
Today, premier league players are playing upwards of 60 games a season.
Rodrigo speaks with the voice of many players; he says that it is incredibly challenging to keep up a proficient level of fitness with the number of games per season being so high. This is an issue particularly for teams competing in extra domestic cups and other competitions.
Ronaldinho, a former Brazilian footballer born in 1980, was 24 years old by the time he had played 163 games for club and country. Compare that to his compatriot Vinicius Junior, born in 2000, who had played 369 games by the time he was 24.
If an F1 driver attended every race in 2023, they would have travelled close to 80,000 miles in the air. In 2024, F1 driver Max Verstappen expressed his concern over the impact of long-haul flights on drivers. Begging the question, does this only impact football? – In short, no, it is not only footballers who are being overworked, but all sportspeople, and this must be changed.
In an interview in 2024, Pep Guardiola, head coach of Manchester City FC, remarked: “There are players who can play every three days; there are some that can’t.”
He also expressed his concerns about players’ mental health, noting that many reported being under stress. It is a huge pressure to play in front of 70,000 people every couple of days.
.Footballers also suffer with their own personal challenges. Martin Sordell, for example, a former professional football player, suffered with depression for many years, a mix of the pressure to perform, and constant fatigue, which led to a failed suicide attempt.
The objective of sport associations is to increase viewership and, as a result, profit. But there is a limit to the extent you can take advantage of players. What is left of a sport if its top performers continue to burn out? The quality of sport will decrease, arguably leading to fewer people watching and consequently fewer heroes to inspire the next generation.
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Patryk and Calvin - GPUTC
I believe footballers should carry on playing games as it provides us with a sense of entertainment and a nice way to bring everyone together as a community no matter the level (step) of football you are. Secondly, being a footballer is the dream fantasised by lots of young people, boys and girls, and provides them a sense of protection from anxiety and possibly school or any external or internal problems. Lastly, football can leave you with a comfortable lifestyle with the handsome payment received from being at the top stages, leaving the player with a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction, believing that they really have done it all.
Jamas - GPUTC
I think that they get paid to play so the more they play the more they get paid.
Jimmy - Gputc
A great quote to reflect on today is, “If you want to fly, you have to give up what weighs you down.”
D - gputc
Footballers arguably play too many games in a season, which can negatively impact their physical and mental health. The modern football calendar is packed with domestic leagues, cup competitions, European tournaments, and international fixtures, leaving little time for proper rest and recovery. This congested schedule increases the risk of injuries and fatigue, ultimately affecting player performance and career longevity. While financial and commercial interests drive the high number of matches, reducing the workload could improve match quality and protect players’ well-being. A more balanced schedule would benefit not just the athletes, but also fans, who want to see their favourite players performing at their best.
so i think this article is correct