FOOTBALL AND THE GLOBAL BURDEN
The impact of match load: Spanish female footballers dominate the global table
The rise of women's football has increased the number of competitions and, with it, the match load for many players.
The growing professionalization of women's football has brought with it an increase in the number of matches played by players, especially in Europe, where competitions are longer and more demanding. Spain has become one of the countries with the highest match load, and its league, the League F, stands out for the number of matches in its regular season, with 30 matches, well above other leagues such as the English WSL or the NWSL in the United States.
Mariona Caldentey is the player who played the most matches last season, with 64 matches between her team, Barcelona, and the Spanish national team. If we add the calendar year, Mariona ends up having played 65 matches, which shows the intense workload she is subjected to. Added to this figure are other outstanding players such as Athenea, Aitana Bonmatí and Ona Batlle, who also accumulate a large number of matches.
The increase in international competitions, such as the Champions League, the Nations League or Concacaf, also contributes to the overload of matches. The footballers who play in leading teams in Europe are the ones who play the most matches, with some even having hardly any time to rest between competitions. This accelerated pace is beginning to have negative effects on the health of the players, with an increase in injuries and a notable physical wear and tear.
