PSG superstar Kylian Mbappe has voiced his concerns about the increasing number of games in European football. He compared it to the NBA's recent rise in load management during the regular season.
Mbappe, who has played over 400 games for AS Monaco, Paris Saint-Germain and the France national team, is worried about the extra workload. This comes as the Champions League plans to add two more matches to its group stages from next season.
FIFA is also planning to expand its Club World Cup from 7 teams to 32, with 12 of them being from Europe. Instead of a 10-day knockout tournament in December, it will become a month-long competition starting from the summer of 2025.
The FIFA World Cup will also expand in 2026 when Canada, Mexico and the United States host. If France reaches the semi-finals, like they did in 2022, they will play one extra game due to an additional knockout round.
Regardless of whether he stays at PSG or makes a widely reported move to Real Madrid, Mbappe will likely participate in the revamped Champions League and Club World Cup over the next 18 months. He has not overlooked the upcoming increase in matches.
"We're getting closer to the NBA model, with seasons of 70 games," he shared in a chat with GQ magazine. Last season, Bruno Fernandes played 70 times for Manchester United and Portugal.
In the previous season, Barcelona's Pedri played 73 games for his club and Spain. "Personally, I'm not against playing that many matches, but we can't always be at our best and give the audience the show they expect," Mbappe added.
"In the NBA, players don't play every game, and teams practice load management." This season, the league introduced a new Player Participation Policy.
Earlier this month, the Brooklyn Nets were the first team found to have broken the policy. They were slapped with a $100,000 fine after an investigation revealed four players who could have played in a Dec. 27 game against the Milwaukee Bucks did not.
Then, in early January, the NBA released independent research showing no connection between load management and a reduced risk of injury. The study also discovered that 'star players' are missing more than double the number of games compared to the 1990s.
Mbappe spoke about the pressures of playing when tired: "If I said, 'I'm tired, I'm not playing on Saturday,' it wouldn't go down well. The spectator who pays for his ticket - and who may only see you once during the season - wants to see a performance worthy of the name, and that's understandable."
He also added, "I don't want to preach, but we need to think together about how to offer the best possible solution so that players, spectators, and football's governing bodies can all embrace it."
Ebie2000
0
Dear Kylian. I work 2 jobs. And play football twice a week. Stop being a wimp.
Mastercollinz
4
Football is a ice job and career, imagine playing 70 times or less in a season for 90minutes plus probably 100 training sessions, Then paid hundreds of millions. They are common people who work for more than 8 hrs for the entire year and earn a few hundred dollars.
buoabckmnr
0
a rich boy
AdrianShion
1
FIFA will give more subs. end of story. and blame the coach for not subs you off.
yupbcoruz
0
I would go to Saudi Arabia and I would care about trophies. Just go for the money like we all do in life! So why not providing for the future instead getting trophies???? It’s retarded thinking. Soccer became a company and of course players are looking for money not trophies! Smart thinking. Not everyone is retardet like Zlatan or name those patriotic idiots in soccer. Your job is not passion. Your job is making out of your 10-15 years career the most money!
Also zlatan got massive checks in his later years so poor example
yupbcoruz
0
I would go to Saudi Arabia and I would care about trophies. Just go for the money like we all do in life! So why not providing for the future instead getting trophies???? It’s retarded thinking. Soccer became a company and of course players are looking for money not trophies! Smart thinking. Not everyone is retardet like Zlatan or name those patriotic idiots in soccer. Your job is not passion. Your job is making out of your 10-15 years career the most money!
So should African players to play in Afcon when they get paid penny’s? I would love to here you contradict yourself
Cikbikty
2
i think it is ok for all it worths. still i know, more money will be added to players' accounts for all that. soo,Mbappe and co. shouldnt be worried at all. in Africa, we are used to 'hustler life'. meaning, am not sure of how many africans are gona complain on this one 🤑🤑🤑 . It all seems like a call for expansion in club,or teams' squards, hence more jobs for stagnant players 🤗🤗🤗
Cikbikty
1
i think it is of for all it is worth. still i know, more money will be added to payers' account for all that. soo,Mbappe and co. shouldnt be worried at all. in Africa, we are used to 'hustler life'. meaning, am not sure how many africans are gona complain in this one 🤑🤑🤑 . It all seems like a call for expansion in club,or teams' squards, hence more jobs for stagnant players 🤗🤗🤗
baucelnos
2
I would go to Saudi Arabia and I would care about trophies. Just go for the money like we all do in life! So why not providing for the future instead getting trophies???? It’s retarded thinking. Soccer became a company and of course players are looking for money not trophies! Smart thinking. Not everyone is retardet like Zlatan or name those patriotic idiots in soccer. Your job is not passion. Your job is making out of your 10-15 years career the most money!
baucelnos
0
No matter of how much money they make ! It’s inhuman having that amount of games.
baucelnos
1
To many games !!! MBappe is right. It’s not soccer anymore it’s just a production line
vusckmnpsy
3
That should n't be a problem with the kind of money you receive every week and match allowances.if am the one that is paid half of what you earn every week why would I be complaining.
baoalno
5
That’s what is ruining the production of some of our best athletes, the human body can take just so much and then it is tired and can’t perform at it’s best. But everything is controlled by finances, no regards for the health and wellbeing of our athletes!
BarcaChelArg
3
More games means more money for FIFA 😁 they don't even care about the players' lives