Mbappe calls for more rest in crowded football calendar

France captain Kylian Mbappe has called for greater recovery time in football’s packed schedule, arguing that top players are being pushed to their limits.

Speaking to reporters in Poland on Thursday, on the eve of France’s opening 2026 World Cup qualifier against Ukraine, the Real Madrid forward stressed the issue was not purely about match numbers. “It is not only a matter of the number of games, but more about recovery. We just need a bit more rest, time off for our bodies to regenerate and recover from the number of matches we have to play,” Mbappe said.

Mbappe played 59 games in his first season at Madrid, plus six for France, and said the expanded Club World Cup had heightened demands. “I can’t remember seeing a player — even the greatest of all time — play 60 matches in a season and always be at their best,” he added.

(Source: AFP)