If common ground between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo has been sparse in recent years, perhaps they have some now.
Both players—the greatest of their generation—have prepared for major tournaments with their national teams this summer in less than prime condition. Maybe they sought each other’s counsel from the treatment table. That seems unlikely, but soccer’s best two players have indeed walked wounded into the Copa America Centenario and Euro 2016 respectively.
It was the same at the World Cup two years ago too, with Ronaldo particularly handicapped. His only highlight in three games for Portugal came from a wicked cross swung into Silvestre Varela for a stoppage time equaliser against the United States during the group stage. He only made that cross because his legs wouldn’t take him any closer to goal himself, though. He ran with a grimace, doing himself further damage in his efforts to participate. Messi also played the tournament at a level below full fitness, despite making the final.
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So why are soccer’s two predominant forces so crocked by the close of every club season? There must be an explanation as to why such misfortune perpetually strikes them both at simultaneous times. That reason might be found in their frenetic schedules. Is it simply a case that both players are forced to play too many games? Is there ever such a thing as too much soccer?
Perhaps so. Take the domestic season, factor in major tournaments such as World Cups and the European Championship, as well as pre-season tours and money-spinning friendlies, and soccer’s off-season can be narrowed down to just a week or two, if that. Take into account Major League Soccer’s schedule and that break can be eliminated too. Soccer never ends.
Jurgen Klopp made the point not long after his appointment at Liverpool that too much is asked of his players during the season. “I cannot believe we have another game,” he grumbled after a FA Cup draw against Exeter City, cramming a replay into his side’s already packed calendar.
Indeed, English soccer, with its Premier League and FA Cup and Capital One Cup, has long been pilloried for the sheer number of fixtures its teams and players have to play. But this is an issue that goes far beyond the borders of that particular country. More and more is being asked of the sport’s best players.
It’s more difficult than ever for successful teams to remain successful. Take Barcelona’s 2015-16 season as a case study: Luis Enrique’s side had to play two extra games in the Spanish Supercopa for winning the league title and Copa Del Rey the season before, as well as an extra game in the European Super Cup for winning the Champions League. And that’s before the regular season even begins.
Then there’s the FIFA Club World Cup, held during the winter when Spanish players are meant to be resting. For English teams it’s even more disruptive, coming at the busiest time of their season. Consider that the tournament is played in far flung corners of the globe, adding at least another fixture (usually two) to a club’s schedule and it’s questionable whether it is even worth the effort.
In Barcelona’s case all these extra games appeared to cripple them this season, even if the impact wasn’t felt until a few months after the Club World Cup. Enrique’s team faltered when it mattered most, playing 17 games over January and February alone. It’s little wonder the Catalans eventually broke down, losing three straight matches in April as they succumbed to fatigue.
For Messi there were also World Cup qualifiers to be played in March, with Ronaldo playing Euro 2016 qualifiers too. And of course, with the European Championship adopting an expanded format for the first time this summer there’s the prospect of an extra round should Portugal make it past the group stage, just for good measure.
That’s the last thing Ronaldo needs, given that he will arrive in France with his thigh held together by tape and whatever adhesive he can pick up at the airport. The Portuguese winger played 50 games last season and 58 the season before that, and that has taken its toll on his body.
So is it time for a streamlining of soccer’s calendar? Perhaps, but that is unlikely to happen while clubs still like money. Because while pre-season tours—the first fixtures to go in such a hypothetical event—are fundamentally meaningless games they bulge the bank accounts of their participants better than anything else.
It will take something more radical for soccer to cut back on the number of matches played every season, although there is a dawning realization across the game that something must be done. Quarter-final replays have been eliminated from the FA Cup starting from next season, with the Football League proposing that replays be abolished in all rounds.
This is about the extent of fixture amnesty soccer can feasibly hope for, which isn’t much good to Messi and Ronaldo. The pair will likely limp into the 2018 World Cup when that rolls round too. By then they might be forced to play a match every single day.
Sportsnet’s Soccer Central podcast (featuring Thomas Dobby, Brendan Dunlop, John Molinaro and James Sharman) takes an in-depth look at the beautiful game and offers timely and thoughtful analysis on the sport’s biggest issues.