🤯 Valverde sets record: 74 games, overtakes Pedri but alarm bells 🚨 | OneFootball

The new format of the Champions League 2024-25 has effectively revolutionized the European football calendar, significantly increasing the number of matches: from 125 to 189. More minutes, more money earned.

But while the coffers of the most successful clubs are smiling, on the other hand, the players have had to deal with physical problems that have affected the endless season that is about to conclude.

Those who have been able to rely on a formidable physical condition have set extraordinary appearance records. But be careful not to push too hard. Because footballers are not machines and the recent past has already shown us the effects of such devastating seasons on the athletes' bodies.

😳 Senseless numbers for Valverde

A glaring example is Federico Valverde, the "marathon runner" of Real Madrid, who has totaled a whopping 6,674 minutes played between club and national team (including injury time), equivalent to 74 90-minute matches in less than 11 months. A figure that perfectly reflects the trend of Real Madrid, the team with the most matches played in the 2024/25 season (68 in total).

The figure is impressive and puts him at the top of the list of the most used globally, ahead of Bruno Fernandes, the tireless leader of Manchester United. The Portuguese is now a constant presence in these seasonal rankings.

Already in the 2020/21 season he stood out, surpassed only by a very young Pedri, who that year collected 73 matches and 5,273 minutes in eight competitions. However, the Barcelona midfielder is a warning: the following year he was forced to miss 39 matches due to muscle injuries, particularly to the thigh. A clear sign of the dangers of prolonged overload, especially at an early age.

🚨 FIFPRO "sounds" the alarm

In the case of Valverde, the concern is more than legitimate. Players like him, who combine intensity, versatility, and extraordinary endurance, become indispensable for their coaches, but risk paying a steep price in the medium to long term.

FIFPRO, the global footballers' union, has repeatedly sounded the alarm about the overcrowded calendar, proposing measures such as mandatory breaks, more structured rotations, and annual minute limits to reduce the risk of serious injuries and shortened careers.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.

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