Will He Play or Not? The Controversy Surrounding Maffeo and the Kings League

The Kings League, the 7-a-side football tournament spearheaded by Gerard Piqué, is back in the spotlight with an unexpected signing: Pablo Maffeo, Mallorca's full-back, has been announced as the first active footballer to play in this competition. The news caused a stir, as the 27-year-old defender will participate this Sunday with Kunisports, the team chaired by Sergio Agüero, in a clash against Porcinos, the club owned by streamer Ibai Llanos.

However, the excitement of the announcement was dampened by Mallorca's reaction. According to Marca, the Balearic club clarified the news, stating that Maffeo "will only take a penalty shoot-out" and that he "won't be touched" during the match. They also emphasized that his participation will be symbolic, and he will only be on the pitch for a few minutes. This stance aims to reassure fans who are concerned about the risk of a possible injury during the season, as the team fights to secure a spot in European competitions.

Despite the controversy, Maffeo's presence in the Kings League remains a milestone, as no other active footballer has participated in the tournament before. The Spanish-Argentinian defender has built an impressive career in European football, playing for teams like Manchester City, Girona, Stuttgart, and Huesca before settling at Mallorca in 2022. His excellent performance even earned him a call-up to the Argentinian national team in November 2023, when Lionel Scaloni included him for the double-header against Brazil and Uruguay in the World Cup qualifiers, although he did not make his debut with La Albiceleste.