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The World Cup players who have had toughest seasonsImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk will arrive at the World Cup with Netherlands after a gruelling season for club and country Football issues correspondentPublished3 hours agoFootball does not seem to have stopped for the last three summers. In 2024 we had continental competitions like the Euros, then came the Club World Cup, and now we have the World Cup. You could not blame some of the world's top players for feeling the strain of the game. The summer of 2025 would usually have been the opportunity to rest. Instead, Fifa placed its expanded Club World Cup into that slot. That tournament featured 74 players who are at the World Cup, some barely having a break in three years. How will the fatigue built up over the last 12 months affect the star players? BBC Sport looked at the total minutes played - for club and country - by every member of the 26-man squads of the top 10 countries in the Fifa world rankings. The numbers are taken from 15 June, 2025 - the day the controversial Club World Cup kicked off. Which national teams will go into this tournament carrying lots of minutes? Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Michael Olise has made 65 appearances for Bayern Munich and France over the past 12 months France must battle with both heat and fatigue if they are to win the World Cup for a third time. Didier Deschamps' squad have been in action more than any of the leading nations, with 1,341 matches totalling 98,895 minutes. Crystal Palace central defender Maxence Lacroix has the most starts (58) and minutes (5,009) of the France players, but the 26-year-old is only expected to be a squad pick for Les Bleus. Bayern Munich forward Michael Olise (65), coincidentally a former Palace player, has made the most appearances but by coming off the bench 12 times he is second on minutes played (4,942). Olise is one of 11 France players who featured at the Club World Cup. Portugal also had 11 with only Germany, on 12, having more in action in the United States last summer. In the squad top 10 we find Portugal in second, with 1,299 matches and 96,405 minutes. Roberto Martinez's squad would have been closer to the top had Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot seen more cup action with Manchester United. The Red Devils failed to quality for Europe and played only one match in both the FA Cup and the EFL Cup. Paris St-Germain midfielder Vitinha played the most games (66) in reaching the final of the Club World Cup and winning the Champions League. Cristiano Ronaldo started all 44 matches he played for Al Nassr and Portugal. England are third, with Thomas Tuchel's men having played more games (1,304) than Portugal but made fewer starts (1,051 to 1,092). The workload on Harry Kane could be a concern with the captain - who is 33 next month - playing 63 games for Bayern Munich. Morgan Rogers is the most played, featuring 64 times across 5,037 minutes for Aston Villa and England. England have the most players (seven) to make 50 or more starts, followed by Belgium, Germany and Portugal (six). For Germany, Bayern centre-back Jonathan Tah has played the most minutes (4,923) of Julian Nagelsmann's squad. With only three players to have started 50 or more games, and a squad which may handle the hot conditions better, Brazil might feel they could challenge. Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior has made the most appearances (67), though Flamengo centre-back Leo Pereira has been on the pitch for the most minutes (5,559). Argentina will look to defend the title they won in Qatar, and they have only four players on 50 or more starts. That includes Palmeiras striker Jose Manuel Lopez, with the 25-year-old remarkably having made 76 appearances, 59 of them as a starter. Lopez has played 5,174 minutes, which is pretty much the same as Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez on 5,173 from 65 appearances. Lionel Messi, who turns 39 later this month, goes into the tournament having played 51 games, with only three as a substitute. Argentina have fewer combined starts and minutes than any of the bookmakers' tournament favourites. Spain's numbers are kept down to injuries through the season to the likes of Manchester City's Rodri and Barcelona midfielder Gavi. Only Belgium's Romelu Lukaku, with nine games, has made fewer appearances this season that Gavi's 14, among the 260 players on this list. Arsenal's Martin Zubimendi (63) has played the most games in the Spain squad, with Chelsea's Marc Cucurella (4,981) on the most minutes.
Original Source: BBC Sport
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