The role of sports massage in athlete recovery has been widely acknowledged in sports science, yet its integration into sports education remains limited. This study explores the application of sports massage by sports masseurs and its impact on the mental toughness and psychological well-being of high-performance athletes. Using a qualitative approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with certified sports masseurs and elite athletes to examine their experiences and perceptions. Findings indicate that sports massage serves as both a physiological and psychological recovery tool, reducing stress and anxiety while enhancing focus, confidence, and emotional stability. Techniques such as pre-event massage, post-event massage, and recovery massage were identified as effective interventions to improve athletes mental preparedness and overall performance. However, barriers such as lack of awareness, financial constraints, and insufficient training opportunities for sports masseurs hinder its consistent implementation. This study highlights the necessity of embedding sports massage knowledge into sports science education curricula to equip future practitioners, coaches, and sports educators with evidence-based recovery strategies. Integrating sports massage into structured learning modules can enhance athletes’ psychological resilience, optimize recovery, and improve performance outcomes. Moreover, collaboration between sports science educators, sports psychologists, and medical professionals is crucial in fostering a holistic approach to athlete development. The study calls for a paradigm shift in sports education by emphasizing the dual benefits of sports massage—physical recovery and mental well-being—to prepare athletes for the rigorous demands of high-performance sports. Future research should explore the long-term benefits of sports massage as part of a broader sports science curriculum and its potential impact on athletes across different sporting disciplines.