The relentless pursuit of profit in sports is pushing athletes to their breaking point. While administrators are focused on expanding their empires, the human cost is becoming increasingly evident. Top athletes like Carlos Alcaraz and Rodri are sounding the alarm on the grueling schedule in professional sports.
After a straight sets victory at the Laver Cup, Alcaraz, a young star at just 21 years old, lamented the constant pressure of competing. He’s already played 52 matches in 38 weeks this year, a testament to the relentless schedule. The tennis season is now barely an off-season, with the 2025 calendar kicking off in Australia on December 27th. The ATP, the governing body of men’s professional tennis, doesn’t seem concerned about the players’ well-being. “The ATP doesn’t care about our opinion. It’s a money business. It’s the longest season in sports,” stated Alexander Zverev, the world No. 2.
The problem isn’t limited to tennis. In football, UEFA’s expansion of the Champions League and FIFA’s revamped Club World Cup have further added to an already demanding schedule. Manchester City’s Rodri and Phil Foden, both key players for club and country, are examples of the unsustainable workload athletes are facing. Rodri, in particular, has been vocal about the pressure, stating, “From my experience, I can tell you that 60-70 [games] is no good. Between 40 and 50 is the amount of games in which a player can perform at the highest level. After that, you drop because it is impossible to sustain the physical level.”
The consequences of this relentless schedule are stark. Rodri recently suffered an ACL injury, an injury often attributed to excessive workload. A study by FifPro, the global players’ body, investigating ACL injuries in women’s football found a correlation between the number of appearances, rest time, and the risk of injury.
The relentless pursuit of profit has created a situation where the health and well-being of athletes is being overlooked. While lucrative contracts and increased prize money might seem like solutions, they fail to address the root cause of the problem. The sports industry needs to take a hard look at the calendar and prioritize the long-term health of its most valuable assets: the athletes themselves.
