Injuries to stars like Christian Pulisic, Robert Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal, and Kylian Mbappe during the international break have reignited the club vs. country debate. Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis proposed banning players over 23 from national teams to protect club interests. The so-called FIFA virus highlights the strain of congested schedules on top athletes.
The international break has left several high-profile soccer players sidelined, fueling frustration among clubs over the risks of national duty. Christian Pulisic suffered a hamstring tear just 30 minutes into the USMNT's 2-1 friendly win over Australia. The AC Milan winger, who had prior ankle issues and played only 17 minutes against Ecuador, now faces up to a month out, per scans confirming a low-grade tear. Milan, in a tight Serie A title race with Inter, Napoli, and Roma, is furious with U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino for starting him despite medical warnings. Pulisic has contributed six goals and two assists this season, key to the team's attack alongside Santiago Gimenez.
In Spain, Robert Lewandowski returned to Barcelona with a left hamstring strain, sparking a dispute with Poland coach Jan Urban. Urban questioned the diagnosis, stating, “For me, a muscle tear doesn’t allow you to run at full speed. He wasn’t injured at all. We simply decided to rest him in the first game to give minutes to others.” He added that Lewandowski “played 90 minutes and was fine.” Barcelona insists the veteran faces weeks sidelined, potentially missing El Clasico and Champions League matches.
Similar concerns surround Kylian Mbappe, who had an ankle knock before France duty; coach Didier Deschamps called it “not serious,” but Real Madrid expressed private worries about rushing him back. Barcelona also clashed with Spain's medical team over Lamine Yamal's treatment, accusing them of using painkillers during a previous break.
Amid the crisis, Napoli's Aurelio De Laurentiis proposed a radical fix at the National Italian American Foundation Gala in Washington. “After you’ve turned 23, you can no longer go with the national team,” he said. “If you play those who are over 30 and they get injured, you’re kicking the domestic leagues in the shins. There’s no respect for these leagues.” De Laurentiis urged changes to rules and formats, criticizing football chiefs for resisting reform to protect their positions. While unlikely to gain traction with FIFA or UEFA, the idea underscores deepening club-country tensions.