In this article, we will take a look at some of the most injured players in football history.
Football is a physically demanding sport, and injuries are an inevitable part of the game. Throughout the history of football, many players have had their careers cut short due to persistent injuries.
These injuries can range from muscle strains to serious ligament tears and fractures. In some cases, players have even been forced to retire due to the severity of their injuries.
There are a lot of legends who suffered a number of injures in their career by which they had to take rest from their football career. Let’s take a look at some of the most injured players in football history.
Most Injured Players
Marco van Basten
Dutch football legend Marco van Basten is widely regarded as one of the greatest strikers of all time, but his career was cut short by a series of injuries. He suffered from chronic ankle and knee problems that forced him to retire at the age of 28.
Van Basten played his last professional match in 1993, and since then, he has undergone several surgeries to try and alleviate his chronic pain.
Ronaldo
Brazilian striker Ronaldo was known for his speed, agility, and scoring ability, but his career was also marred by a long list of injuries.
He suffered from several knee injuries throughout his career, including a serious one that kept him out of action for almost two years. Despite his injuries, Ronaldo still managed to score 352 goals in 518 club career appearances.
Michael Owen
Former England international Michael Owen was one of the most talented strikers of his generation, but his career was also plagued by injuries.
He suffered from several hamstring and knee injuries that limited his playing time and forced him to retire at the age of 33. Despite his injuries, Owen still managed to score 222 goals in 489 career appearances.
Ledley King
Former Tottenham Hotspur defender Ledley King was one of the most talented players of his generation, but his career was cut short by a chronic knee injury.
Also Read: Top 10 Least Injured Players In Football History
He suffered from a cartilage problem that forced him to retire at the age of 31. Despite his injury, King still managed to play 321 matches for Tottenham and earn 21 caps for England.
Abou Diaby
Former Arsenal midfielder Abou Diaby was one of the most promising young talents in football, but his career was derailed by a long list of injuries. He suffered from several muscle and ligament injuries that limited his playing time and forced him to retire at the age of 32.
Despite his injuries, Diaby still managed to play 198 matches for Arsenal and earn 16 caps for France.
Daniel Sturridge
Former Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge was known for his speed, skill, and scoring ability, but his career was also hampered by a long list of injuries.
He suffered from several hamstring and hip injuries that limited his playing time and forced him to leave Liverpool in 2019. Despite his injuries, Sturridge still managed to score 105 goals in 306 career appearances.
Marco Reus
German international Marco Reus is widely regarded as one of the most talented attacking midfielders in the world, but his career has been plagued by a long list of injuries.
He has suffered from several muscle and ligament injuries that have limited his playing time and forced him to miss several major tournaments for Germany. Despite his injuries, Reus still managed to score 135 goals in 427 career appearances.
Santi Cazorla
Former Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla was one of the most technically gifted players of his generation, but his career was cut short by a serious ankle injury.
He suffered from an infection that threatened to end his playing career, but he fought back and eventually returned to action with Villarreal. Despite his injury, Cazorla still managed to play 549 matches and earn 81 caps for Spain.
Vincent Kompany
Vincent Kompany, the former Manchester City defender, suffered from a long list of injuries throughout his career. He suffered from muscle strains, calf injuries, and knee problems that limited his playing time.
Despite his injury setbacks, Kompany was a dominant force in the Premier League and led Manchester City to several titles during his time at the club.
Ousmane Dembele
Dembele has been plagued by injuries throughout his career. Since joining Barcelona in 2017, he has suffered from a series of injuries that have limited his playing time. His first injury was a hamstring strain, which kept him out of action for several weeks.
He later suffered a ruptured tendon in his thigh, which kept him out of action for several months. Dembele has also suffered from ankle injuries, knee problems, and muscle strains. Despite his injury setbacks, Dembele has shown flashes of brilliance on the field and remains a promising young talent in football.