Yellow Card: Soccer Stars Warn of Load Management Concerns

The concept of load management is becoming a more prevalent issue in soccer, expanding beyond its notable presence in basketball.

French superstar Kylian Mbappé revealed in a new interview with British GQ that the bloating schedule of European soccer could result in conflict between athlete needs and fan desires. “We’re getting closer to the NBA model, with seasons of 70 games,” Mbappé said. “Personally, I’m not against playing that many matches, but we won’t be able to be good every time and give the public the spectacle they expect. In the NBA, players don’t play every game and franchises practice load management. But if I said, ‘I’m tired. I’m not playing on Saturday,’ it wouldn’t go down well.”

Mbappé’s comments arrive as European soccer indeed is mushrooming with additional cup competitions and friendlies and national team commitments supplementing core pro league seasons. The Paris Saint-Germain star and French team captain played 63 times in the 2022-23 season, up from 56 the year before. The number of games is set to expand further with the pending revival of the European Super League, and competition formats are expanding for both the Champions League and the World Cup. 

Back in the U.S., Inter Miami drew scrutiny after late-season injuries to star Lionel Messi amid a packed schedule, while MLS Cup finalist LAFC played a league-record 53 matches in 2023. 

Mbappé cited the NBA in his concerns, but that league has already addressed this issue. Players must play in a minimum of 65 games to be eligible for NBA awards such as MVP, All-NBA Team, or Defensive Player of the Year. Star players must also be made available for national TV and In-Season Tournament games, and teams face a series of escalating fines for violations. Additionally, the NBA has found in an internal study that there’s no link between player rest and injury prevention.