Gerard Piqué, since his retirement as a professional footballer, has sought to transform the sport with innovative ideas. After his role in the renovation of the Davis Cup and the creation of the Kings League, the former FC Barcelona player now proposes a solution to lighten the overloaded calendar of professional football: reducing national leagues to just 16 teams.

During his speech at the Leaders Week in London, Piqué argued that the heavy match schedule is negatively affecting players. “I believe the number of matches should be reduced. We should tell all leagues that, instead of 20 teams, competitions should be held with only 16 clubs,” he explained. According to Piqué, the frequency of matches and the lack of rest have led to an increase in injuries: “Players are saying, ‘We are injured.’ There are matches every three days, and there is no time to rest in the summer,” he stated.

Piqué's message was directed not only at national leagues but also at major international federations such as UEFA and FIFA. He criticized the creation of new competitions like the Nations League and the Club World Cup, questioning whether they are truly necessary. “I understand they want to generate more revenue, but for the good of football, I think it would be better to have fewer matches but more premium and exclusive experiences,” Piqué argued. For him, reducing the number of matches would make football more appealing to fans while allowing players more rest.

This call to rethink the calendar ultimately seeks to find a balance between entertainment and player health, offering a higher quality of football with less physical strain.