There is an injury epidemic around Europe currently, and the sport’s biggest stars are all falling like dominos. The main reason behind this is commonly believed to be the fixture congestion and large number of international breaks, but as things stand, no one is really doing anything to combat it.
The best footballers in the world, Kevin de Bruyne, Martin Odegaard, Rodri and Dani Carvajal—all crucial to their respective teams—are currently out with long term injuries. In fact, the latter two will miss the remainder of the 24/25 season and possibly more.
Interestingly, both Rodri and Carvajal went public a few weeks before their respective injuries, exploring the possibility of players going on a strike to protest against the huge number of football matches.
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Then tragedy struck as both Spaniard’s tore their ACLs, which ruled them out until mid-2025.
In the September International break, Arsenal captain Odegaard damaged his ankle ligament too, with the North London club still not sure when he will be back. Even Barcelona keeper Marc Andre ter Stegen ruptured his patellar tendon in a game against Villareal.
The list of players does not stop there—Gleison Bremer, Jamal Musiala, Aleksander Isak, Alessandro Florenzi. All the top leagues and its players are in danger of accumulating more and more injuries.
Even as we speak, players who aren’t injured continue to train during their one-week break from club football—or worse, they travel to their home countries to participate in international fixtures.
Yes, representing the national team is a matter of pride for any footballer. But two or three matches every month? This often leads to fatigue and strain, a concern shared by nearly all players.
Toni Kroos, famously known as ‘The German Sniper,’ retired ahead of the 2024/25 season after years of voicing concerns about the authorities’ disregard for players’ health.
🚨🇨🇴 Colombian striker Duván Zapata has suffered a serious injury as he has torn his ACL, with meniscus also involved.
Get well soon, Duván! ❤️ pic.twitter.com/bmFDz6t7Ww
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) October 7, 2024
This week, instead of club football, international fixtures dominate the schedule, with the UEFA Nations League and South American World Cup qualifiers in full swing.
While fans love watching football and will tune in to see their favorite stars in action, the rising toll of injuries has sparked concern. The frustration over international breaks has led to growing outrage on social media in recent months, as fans worry about the physical toll on their favorite players.
