The international break was supposed to give footballers a breather from the relentless club schedule. Instead, it has become another source of injuries, with players going from one demanding game to another before returning to their clubs.
You hear the same complaint every season: there are too many fixtures, players need more rest and football’s packed calendar is putting their bodies under unnecessary pressure. Then the international break arrives and you think, finally, these players can catch a breath. No, they play more fixtures.
The phrase “international break” makes it sound like a break. In reality, players can still have two or more matches in a short space of time, with Nations League games, World Cup qualifiers and friendlies coming almost back-to-back. There is barely enough time to recover before another 90 minutes arrives.
And once again, the curse has struck.
Several big names have picked up injuries during the latest international window. Bayern Munich lost Jamal Musiala, while Arsenal’s Kai Havertz also suffered an injury. Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes was another concern before returning, while Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo was forced off after picking up a knock. Other players, including Brian Brobbey, have also suffered fitness problems.
🚨 𝗡𝗘𝗪: Another injury is added to the list this International break:
🚑 Kylian Mbappé
🚑 Jamal Musiala
🚑 Kai Havertz
🚑 Brian Brobbey
🚑 Alexander Isak
🚑 Daniel Ballard
🚑 Eric Garcia
🚑 Cody Gakpo pic.twitter.com/BmDcL8WXJG— The Touchline | 𝐓 (@TouchlineX) September 27, 2026
For clubs already dealing with a packed domestic and European calendar, the timing could hardly be worse. Players leave their clubs fit, spend the international break playing at a high intensity, and sometimes return with another injury added to an already lengthy list.
The frustrating part is that the international break was supposed to offer a solution to football’s fixture problem. Instead, it has become another part of the problem. The players complain about playing too much, but when the break arrives, they are still being asked to play twice a week, sometimes travelling across countries and continents in between.
At this point, calling it an international break feels like football’s biggest joke. There is no real break for the players, and the growing injury list is proof. The curse of the international break has struck again, and the affected clubs will be left hoping they can survive the aftermath.
