Radamel Falcao at his peak | How good was he?

[JPRouve]

Falcao and Kaká had similar poor career advisors. They were both pressured to make speedy recoveries by their federations and wrecked their knees.

I remember one article of one of the doctors who examined Kaká and said his knee looked like a senior citizen knee: completely wrecked.

Brazil did the same thing with Neymar and his broken foot. It's shortsighted because all of these players had time.

Edit: I forgot France and Umtiti as an egregious one too.

 

[ThierryHenry14]

I still remember his hattrick against chelsea in super cup final. He was at the peak of his power.

 

[lsd]

I remember being so delighted he was coming to United. For a few years before that he was probably the best striker I watched.

Just a shame the injury happened to him and he lost a yard off peace

 

[::sonny::]

Like darwin nunez but talented

 

[VorZakone]

Like darwin nunez but talented

 

[troylocker]

Europa league specialist. 30 goals in 31 games - 2 trophies.
Maybe top 5 striker in the world at his peak 2010-2013

 

[André Dominguez]

Brazil did the same thing with Neymar and his broken foot. It's shortsighted because all of these players had time.

Edit: I forgot France and Umtiti as an egregious one too.

Paulo Futre and the FPF. Futre wrecked his knee até 25/26 in order to play the qualifying matches.

 

[JPRouve]

Paulo Futre and the FPF. Futre wrecked his knee até 25/26 in order to play the qualifying matches.

I was looking at Paulo Futre earlier this week. In retrospect it's crazy how federations don't have the long term interest of players and also their on national team in mind. Monday Koundé started a game despite the fact that he was supposed to get surgery the following day, players are selected or played despite injuries we saw that with Rashford.

For clubs you can somehow understand the importance of short term results for managers and certain football executives but most federations are filled by people that have a guaranteed long term job, almost none of them are in danger due to a single tournament. Any player that is unfit or at risk should be put aside by the federation itself.

 

[André Dominguez]

I was looking at Paulo Futre earlier this week. In retrospect it's crazy how federations don't have the long term interest of players and also their on national team in mind. Monday Koundé started a game despite the fact that he was supposed to get surgery the following day, players are selected or played despite injuries we saw that with Rashford.

For clubs you can somehow understand the importance of short term results for managers and certain football executives but most federations are filled by people that have a guaranteed long term job, almost none of them are in danger due to a single tournament. Any player that is unfit or at risk should be put aside by the federation itself.

Federations also involve a lot of money: sponsors, huge fees for friendly matches or tournaments, UEFA/FIFA prize-money, TV rights, etc.
Internacional football became a big business way before football club. Back in the days FIFA world CUP was a gold mine for broadcasters, FIFA and federations.

There should be a role on the federations to defend players interests, but unfortunatelly I fear ir would add more problems to the equation than solutions.