Champions' Minds: What Schuurs, Saúl, and Alcaraz Tell Us About Sport in 2026

In recent months, three very different athletes have spoken publicly about what's going on inside their heads. The words are different, but the thread is the same. It's worth listening.

In April, Perr Schuurs—a 26-year-old Dutch defender with two serious knee injuries—recounted his worst night in an interview. "I went to sleep with my girlfriend and said, 'Goodnight, I hope I never wake up again.'" He specified that he hadn't considered suicide. He was exhausted. He simply needed to stop feeling what he was feeling. He said it had become a habit to scroll through the comments under his own posts until he found the one that would hurt him the most.

A week ago, Saúl Ñíguez told Spanish newspaper ABC: "Until I was 25, I thought I was Maradona. Then I don't know what happened in my head." He was talking about himself. The player who scored against Bayern in the Champions League semi-final at 24, and who at 30 found himself wandering between Chelsea, Sevilla, and finally Flamengo, where a Brazilian club treated him well "without me having given them anything."

Two days ago, Carlos Alcaraz told Vanity Fair that he would like to have more time for himself. That "today, a single comment is enough to hurt an athlete." That some criticism on social media has had a measurable effect on his performance. He's number one in the world. He's twenty-two years old. He's having an eight-million-dollar yacht built. And he told a reporter that sometimes he wakes up feeling like doing nothing.

Three different voices, three slightly different sports. But if you listen to them all together, it's hard not to see the same thing. 2026 is the year in which the athlete's head has finally emerged from the shadows in which Italian sport had kept it for decades. And that's excellent news. But it's also an opportunity to take a step forward, and stop talking about it only when someone collapses.

What do Schuurs, Saúl and Alcaraz have in common?

They seem like very different stories. A defender virtually unknown to the Italian public, a midfielder who was marketed as Iniesta's successor, a world number one. Yet, if you remove the names and focus solely on the psychological mechanisms, you recognize the same pattern.

First: the problem didn't start with an obvious injury. There wasn't a sudden injury (for Schuurs, yes, but it came later). There was a buildup. A progressive pressure. A change in role, a bad season, a series of games in which something went wrong and no one stopped to ask why.

Second: there's social media. There's always social media. Schuurs would scroll until she found the nastiest comment. Alcaraz says online criticism affects his performance. It's a new variable in sports psychology, which didn't exist twenty years ago and today is probably the leading cause of erosion of self-esteem in athletes under thirty.

Third: there's internal dialogue. What psychologists call negative self-talk. Saúl says it very clearly: "They expected the same standards from me, but in my head there was no way. And this negative self-talk caused a significant decline in my performance." This isn't a poetic metaphor. It's exactly what scientific literature has been describing for decades: the relationship between internal self-evaluation, cognitive anxiety, and performance. When the voice inside your head becomes the enemy, your legs slow down.

Fourth and most importantly: none of the three approached the situation alone. Schuurs started by talking to the mental coach he knew from his time at Ajax, then moved on to a psychologist. Saúl, surprisingly, has been working with a fitness coach and a psychologist since he was 18. Alcaraz, from the beginning, has been supported by a team that includes figures dedicated to mental preparation.

The difference between those who collapse and those who survive isn't that they don't have problems. It's that they have someone to talk to before they become a crisis.

Three types of pressure, one direction

For a sports psychologist, those three voices describe three distinct forms of pressure. Knowing them helps us recognize them before they become problems.

1. The pressure of identity (Saúl case)

At 22, Saúl identified with a vision of himself—the talent, the next Iniesta, the face of Atlético. When that narrative began to crack, he had no tools to separate his identity as a person from his footballer. “You stop having fun and you lose that magic touch. You no longer have what sets you apart from the others.”

This is the most dangerous form of pressure, because it doesn't come from outside: it comes from the athlete's self-image. And when that image fluctuates, everything fluctuates. It's a classic area of ​​clinical work with professional athletes, and it must be addressed with tools other than the "simple" management of pre-competition anxiety.

2. The pressure of constant judgment (Schuurs and Alcaraz case)

Schuurs and Alcaraz, sportingly distant, share a 2026 characteristic: they live within a constant public scrutiny. Every game is commented on in real time by thousands of people on X, Instagram, and TikTok. Every mistake becomes a meme. Every pause in the press conference is analyzed.

Schuurs says he's "got used to looking for the meanest comment." Alcaraz says that "today, just one comment is enough to hurt an athlete." This is a new finding, and probably the most common risk factor for athletes under 30 in any sport. The literature is trying to keep up, but we already have enough clinical experience to say one thing: it's not managed with "willpower" or a generic "ignore the comments." It's managed with specific techniques of emotional regulation, attention management, and digital hygiene.

3. Calendar pressure (cross-sectional case)

2026 is also the year in which the professional sports calendar has reached a level of overload that would have been unthinkable decades ago. Alcaraz injured his wrist and had to miss much of the clay-court season. "I want to win everything, but I won't be a slave to tennis," he told Vanity Fair. In football, the same thing is recurring: an expanded Champions League, a Club World Cup, the Nations League, twenty-team championships, frequent international windows. Bodies and minds are being squeezed by a calendar that wasn't designed for their recovery.

This is the form of pressure over which an athlete has the least direct control, but where solid mental work makes a measurable difference: it helps defend moments of detachment, recognize signs of burnout early, and build psychological recovery routines on par with physical ones.

The Sinner Case: What it Means to Have a "Laboratory"

While three athletes publicly spoke of their struggles, a fourth—a twenty-four-year-old Italian, world number two—continued his season with the consistency that allowed him to reach the final in Madrid after dominating Zverev in just over an hour. Jannik Sinner.

An interesting thing, reading his recent interviews, is the recurrence of one word: laboratory. "The great work done at Indian Wells provided the answers I expected. Other questions will be answered in the clay-court tournaments," he said in April. For Sinner, tennis is not just a game: it's a continuous analysis system, in which each match produces data that is processed with the team, strategies are tested, emotions are named and traced back to manageable parameters.

Those who have followed him for years have seen his mental transformation. Five years ago, Sinner was considered a technically excellent player but fragile in tie-breaks, capable of giving up wins due to lapses in concentration at crucial moments. Today, he's the exact opposite: where others lose focus, he regains it. That difference didn't happen on its own.

Sinner isn't the "iron mentality" phenomenon: he's the case study of an athlete who understood, early on, that the mind is a technical component like the forehand and backhand, and must be developed with the same patience. This is the point on which this generation of athletes, in Italy and around the world, is making a leap. And from which those who watch sports with curiosity can learn something.

Where is sporting Italy, compared to this?

It's not a pretty picture. For years, Italian football has struggled to recognize the sports psychologist as a core figure in the coaching staff. The FIGC organizes training courses, the Italian Footballers' Association has launched the "You'll Never Walk Alone" project on psychological distress, and some Serie A clubs have integrated dedicated figures. But beneath the surface, the psychologist is still seen as a "mental coach"—someone called only when a player "isn't performing"—rather than an integrated psychological health professional on a par with a physiotherapist.

Robin Gosens, currently at Fiorentina and graduating in psychology in 2023, has attempted to change this narrative by publicly speaking out about his own vulnerabilities. His case remains an isolated one. Many Italian clubs' youth teams don't have psychologists, or they only come once a week to manage "problematic" players, rather than working systematically with everyone.

In individual sports, the situation is even more fragmented. Tennis, track and field, swimming, and shooting: those with resources hire a professional privately, while those without resources make do. Sports psychologists—degree holders in psychology, registered with the professional association, and specialized in sports—are few in number, geographically unevenly distributed, and often unrecognized as a systemic component of athletic training.

Yet the data is there: structured and continuous, non-emergency mental preparation measurably improves performance and significantly reduces the incidence of clinical problems. This is what we do at the Sport Psychology Center, with a team that combines ten years of experience in Serie A, FIGC training, an international background from Wharton and MIT, and a network of collaborations with sports clubs and federations.

Three tools for three different needs

The stories we've read above aren't all resolved with the same intervention. An identity block like Saúl's requires a clinical approach. A social media management difficulty like Schuurs's is addressed with specific attention regulation techniques. The constant pressure Alcaraz describes is managed with daily routines, not monthly sessions.

This is why, at SPC, we've built a three-tiered offering that communicates with each other. Not because it "does a lot," but because different needs require different tools.

Human interaction: consulting with a sports psychologist

It's the starting point for anyone who wants to understand where they're at. An individual session, in the studio in Quartu Sant'Elena or via video call, with Fabio Zarra or Virginia Marino. It's the right approach when the problem is specific—a block, a choice, a relationship difficulty—or when you're embarking on a journey for the first time. See the dedicated page.

Daily Work: MAT, the Mental AI Trainer

It's the tool that fills the gap between sessions. Daily conversations, mood tracking, short cognitive exercises, guided reflections. It doesn't replace a psychologist, but it makes mental work a daily habit rather than a sporadic appointment. You can try it for free.

Perceptual training: Virtual Reality sessions

This is the most specific tool, recommended when work needs to address specific areas of perception and decision-making—reactivity, scanning, peripheral vision, and managing high-cognitive pressure scenarios. It works very well for specific objectives and specific sports roles; it's a tool to be used in conjunction with clinical work, not as a stand-alone tool. See how the sessions are conducted.

The three tools aren't alternatives: they're levels. The difference isn't "which one to choose" but "which ones to combine in your specific journey." An athlete arriving with a penalty block probably doesn't start with VR: he begins with an individual session to understand where it comes from. A youth club manager wanting to structure a prevention program probably doesn't start with individual consultations: he starts with MAT for the group, with specific VR sessions for high-cognitive-intensity scenarios.

This is precisely the difference between having "a psychologist" and having "a mental work system." And it's what, in 2026, separates sports clubs that practice prevention from those that continue to call in an expert only when there's a problem.

When it makes sense to start a journey

The most important answer in this entire article is also the most counterintuitive: not when things go wrong.

The stories of Schuurs, Saúl, and—in another form—Alcaraz show that when the problem has already erupted, psychological work is effective but becomes therapeutic, not preventative. It's an emergency situation. Recovery occurs, but it's lost time and a high personal cost.

Saúl's sentence is the key to the whole affair, and it deserves to be reread: "I've been working with a fitness coach and a psychologist since I was 18." Not since the problem arose. Before. When everything was going well. When "the Gerrard of Spain" was signing his first major contract. That work—quiet, regular, non-urgent—is probably what allowed him, once the slump came, not to end up so badly as it has with others.

The right time to start a mental preparation program is when you don't need it immediately: in preseason, when planning a major year, when entering a new category, after a significant result (positive or negative). It's the moment when you have the energy and clarity to build habits that will be useful later, when things get more complicated. Because they will get more complicated. It happens to everyone.

A conclusion, in three points

1. The athlete's mind has emerged from silence, and this is the most important cultural fact of the 2026 sports year. Three different voices in a few weeks are no coincidence: they are the signal of a paradigm shift that has been long-awaited.
2. It's not enough to talk about it. Recognizing the problem is the first step, but it's not the work. The work is to structure prevention, pathways, and support systems. That's what sports clubs, federations, and coaching staffs should do. It's what individual athletes, managers, and parents reading this article can do.
3. Starting early is better than intervening late. Always. There is no exception to this rule in sports psychology. Mental preparation is like physical preparation: results come with consistency, not emergencies.

For those who want to take a concrete step. If you're an athlete or the parent of an athlete, the easiest way to get started is to book an initial exploratory consultation: with no obligation, we'll understand together if and where it makes sense to work. If you represent a sports club or federation, we can build a customized program for your sector or your first team—see the team packages. And if you just want to start taking a first step on your own, MAT is free and gives you an idea of ​​how daily mental training works.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

When should an athlete consult a sports psychologist?

Not just in times of crisis. The literature and practice of professional clubs indicate that the best time to begin a journey is when things are going well: during the habit-building phase, before an important season, or at the start of a new category. Waiting for a standstill or collapse means working on an emergency basis, not prevention.

What is the difference between a mental coach and a sports psychologist?

A sports psychologist is a registered healthcare professional, qualified to make clinical diagnoses and manage complex psychological issues. A mental coach focuses on performance but cannot diagnose or treat clinical disorders, as they are not registered with a professional association.

Do Italian clubs offer psychological support to players?

Still unevenly. Some Serie A clubs have integrated psychologists into their staffs, especially in the youth teams. The FIGC organizes courses for sports psychologists, and the AIC has launched the "You'll Never Walk Alone" project. Abroad, the system is more mature: many clubs have structured protocols that include periodic screenings and facilitated access to therapy.

Can you work on your mind without going to the studio?

Yes. Consulting sessions with a sports psychologist are also effective via video call, a method validated by years of literature. Furthermore, tools like AI mental trainers allow for continuous daily work—mood tracking, cognitive exercises, guided reflections—that complements in-person sessions and maintains mental habits between appointments.

Sources

Perr Schuurs sulla depressione e i social TuttoMercatoWeb, “Non solo calciatori, Schuurs straziante: ‘La depressione si alza e si addormenta con te'”, aprile 2026. URL: https://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/serie-a/non-solo-calciatori-schuurs-straziante-la-depressione-si-alza-e-si-addormenta-con-te-2226719

Saúl Ñíguez su salute mentale, identità e percorso con lo psicologo dai 18 anni Rivista Undici, “Saúl Ñíguez ha rilasciato un’intervista molto importante sulla salute mentale dei calciatori, in cui ha detto che ‘mi sentivo Maradona poi è successo qualcosa nella mia testa’”, 6 maggio 2026. URL: https://www.rivistaundici.com/2026/05/06/saul-niguez-salute-mentale-calciatori/

Fonte primaria dell’intervista: ABC (Spagna), “Saúl: ‘Hasta los 25 años creía que era Maradona, después algo pasó por mi cabeza’”, 3 maggio 2026. URL: https://www.abc.es/deportes/atletico-madrid/saul-anos-creia-maradona-despues-paso-cabeza-20260503014655-nt.html

Carlos Alcaraz su pressione, social e infortuni SpazioTennis, “Alcaraz sulla rivalità con Sinner: ‘Non c’è bisogno di odiarsi, lottiamo per lo stesso obiettivo'”, 13 maggio 2026. URL: https://www.spaziotennis.com/internazionali-bnl-ditalia/alcaraz-sulla-rivalita-con-sinner-non-ce-bisogno-di-odiarsi-lottiamo-per-lo-stesso-obiettivo/130244

CanaleUno, “Tennis, Alcaraz: con Sinner rivalità senza odio”, 13 maggio 2026. URL: https://www.canaleuno.it/2026/05/13/tennis-alcaraz-con-sinner-rivalita-senza-odio/

SportMediaset, “Alcaraz tra Sinner e gli infortuni: ‘Voglio vincere tutto, ma non sarò schiavo del tennis'”, 13 maggio 2026. URL: https://www.sportmediaset.mediaset.it/tennis/alcaraz-tra-sinner-e-gli-infortuni-voglio-vincere-tutto-ma-non-saro-schiavo-del-tennis_112043058-202602k.shtml

Fonte primaria dell’intervista: Vanity Fair Italia, intervista a Carlos Alcaraz, maggio 2026.

Jannik Sinner sul “laboratorio” mentale TuttoSport, “Tutti Federer contro di me, Alcaraz preda dei fantasmi. E Sinner ora è spremuta di terra rossa”, 5 aprile 2026. URL: https://www.tuttosport.com/news/tennis/2026/04/05-147759593/tutti_federer_contro_di_me_alcaraz_preda_dei_fantasmi_e_sinner_ora_spremuta_di_terra_rossa

UbiTennis, “ATP Madrid, Sinner: ‘Il tennis ha bisogno di Alcaraz, mancherà tantissimo. È un giorno triste'”, 24 aprile 2026. URL: https://www.ubitennis.com/blog/2026/04/24/atp-madrid-sinner-il-tennis-ha-bisogno-di-alcaraz-manchera-tantissimo-e-un-giorno-triste/

OASport, “Il mental coaching nel tennis: come la psicologia decide i match”, aprile 2026. (Riferimento per la trasformazione mentale di Sinner da “fragile nei tie-break” a solido nelle fasi decisive.) URL: https://www.oasport.it/2026/04/il-mental-coaching-nel-tennis-come-la-psicologia-decide-i-match/

Robin Gosens e contesto italiano sul tabù della salute mentale nel calcio Gariwo Magazine, Francesco Caremani, “Robin Gosens, il calciatore che parla di salute mentale”, ottobre 2025. URL: https://it.gariwo.net/magazine/sport/robin-gosens-il-calciatore-che-parla-di-salute-mentale-29082.html

Per la cornice sul ruolo dello psicologo dello sport e il progetto AIC Il Post, “Lo sport ora ha i suoi psicologi e i suoi ‘coach'”, novembre 2023. (Riferimento per il caso Richarlison e per la distinzione tra psicologo e coach citata nelle FAQ.) URL: https://www.ilpost.it/2023/11/05/ruolo-psicologi-coach-sport/