Real Madrid doctor calls for player welfare to come before football’s packed calendar

Dr Niko Mihic, the medical director of Real Madrid’s first team, has warned that the increasing number of matches is placing footballers under intolerable physical pressure, saying their health must take priority over competitive interests.

Speaking to Spanish newspaper AS during the 15th World Sports Medicine Congress at the Santiago Bernabeu, the Croatian doctor called for fixtures to be reviewed and players to be given longer recovery periods. He said the current schedule was increasing the risk of injury and threatening players’ physical wellbeing.

“If our players were racehorses, there would be protests and accusations of animal cruelty because they were being forced to run all the time,” Mihic said.

“But here, nobody protests. One match, then another, with games piled on top of each other, without anyone asking about the condition of the player.”

Mihic said football needed to change its approach by reducing the number of matches and giving athletes more influence over decisions affecting their workload.

“We must raise awareness and put the athlete’s health before competition by reducing the number of matches and giving players longer periods of rest,” he said.

“The player must be empowered and given a greater role. Our sport is fundamentally based on the player’s health, so health must be placed above competition.”

Concern over anterior cruciate ligament injuries

The Real Madrid medical director also addressed the notable increase in anterior cruciate ligament injuries, identifying the intensity of the fixture schedule as one factor that exposes players to greater danger.

“Players have never played as many matches as they do now, and as a result they face greater risks,” he said.

Mihic also highlighted an unresolved medical disparity, saying women suffer anterior cruciate ligament injuries at a rate of up to eight times that of men. Doctors, he added, have yet to establish a clear explanation for the difference.

Research into head impacts and personalised care

Mihic said research into repeated heading in football was continuing, with FIFA and UEFA examining what are known as concussion-causing events and sub-concussions.

New technology could help doctors identify injuries more accurately and protect players, he said. Among the developments are blood biomarkers for brain injuries and portable electroencephalography devices.

Medical advances have also helped extend sporting careers, Mihic added, citing Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric, Lionel Messi and Novak Djokovic. Improvements in surgery and injury treatment allow athletes to return more quickly and continue competing at ages once considered unusually advanced.

He also stressed the importance of tailoring nutrition to each player’s requirements. Real Madrid uses DNA analysis from saliva samples to assess players’ needs for carbohydrates and iron, as well as the most appropriate timing for consuming them.

The accompanying fixture information listed Rayo Vallecano, Valencia, Real Madrid and Celta Vigo in La Liga entries dated 21 November 2026.