Youssouf Fofana’s Impressive Starting Streak Ends for AC Milan

After an impressive run of 34 consecutive starts, Youssouf Fofana’s streak has come to an end. The French midfielder, who has been a constant presence in AC Milan’s lineup under both Paulo Fonseca and Sergio Conceição, found himself on the bench for the highly anticipated Champions League playoff return leg against Feyenoord.

This bold decision by the Portuguese coach likely stems from recognizing Fofana’s apparent fatigue in recent matches, granting him a much-needed rest. The last time Fofana began a match as a substitute was on August 24th, during the second round of Serie A, when he replaced Yunush Musah in the 67th minute against Parma.

Since then, Fofana has been an ever-present figure in Milan’s lineup across all competitions, with the sole exception of the derby on February 2nd, when he served a one-match suspension due to accumulated yellow cards. Barring this isolated incident, the 24-year-old has started an impressive 34 consecutive official matches spanning Serie A, Champions League, Coppa Italia, and Supercoppa Italiana.

Acquired from Monaco for €20 million plus bonuses last summer, the 1999-born midfielder has logged an impressive 2,839 minutes of playing time for Milan alone. This tally doesn’t include his four appearances for the French national team in the UEFA Nations League between September and October 2024.