Phil Foden’s Absence Highlights Football’s Burnout Crisis
Phil Foden, a key player for Manchester City, has been labeled a “victim” of football’s “crazy” schedule by Maheta Molango, the chief executive of the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA). Molango expressed concerns that the upcoming World Cup in North America could be decided by “survival of the fittest,” emphasizing the impact of the sport’s demanding calendar on players.
Foden, who was named PFA Players’ Player of the Year in 2024, was notably left out of England’s World Cup squad by manager Thomas Tuchel. His exclusion came after a season that did not meet expectations, raising questions about the physical and mental toll of the game’s relentless pace.
During a recent FIFPRO meeting, which focused on player fatigue caused by excessive workloads, Foden and other high-profile players were mentioned. Cole Palmer, another Chelsea forward who was also omitted from the England squad, was among those highlighted. Molango, a board member of FIFPRO, the global players’ union, commented on Foden’s situation.
“Phil was voted less than two years ago by his peers as the best player of the (Premier) League,” Molango said. “The number of games that he’s been available has dropped, and when he has been available, it has not been the version of Phil Foden that we saw two years ago.”
He continued, “Is it just a coincidence? We think it is not. Unfortunately, he is one of the victims of this crazy calendar that only makes sense for those who pursue commercial gain to the detriment of the quality of the show, and to the detriment of the protection of those who should be football heritage.”
Molango added, “It’s a very sad state of affairs if someone like Phil is not on the pitch, because we love people who make us dream and we love people of pure talent.” Foden and Palmer have both experienced limited summer breaks in recent years due to their participation in major tournaments such as Euro 2024 and the expanded Club World Cup. Palmer also represented England at the European Under-21 Championship in 2023.
According to FIFPRO, players cannot sustain “high-threshold competitive seasons” year after year, and they will eventually suffer injuries or declines in performance. The organization’s data suggests that players like Declan Rice and Virgil van Dijk are at risk of dips in form or injuries next season due to their recent workloads.
Both England midfielder Rice and Netherlands captain Van Dijk are set to feature at the forthcoming World Cup, which has been expanded to 48 teams and will take place in high temperatures across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Molango believes that a guaranteed summer break is the best solution to address player burnout. “We fear that in the end, the World Cup will just turn into the survival of the fittest,” he said. “Will it be the best or the most talented team that prevails, or will it be the fittest?”
He added, “I really hope it won’t be just the fittest, but there is a big chance this may be the case because some of the most talented (players) who play for the most prestigious teams will get to a stage where it is just too much. You cannot get to a competition having already played 60 or close to 60 games.”
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