Top 10 who is the most injured football player​ of all time

Football is a sport that requires dedication, endurance, and top-notch technique, but many talented players have faced a harsh challenge: injuries. Injuries not only interrupt careers but can also have long-term consequences, affecting their performance and development potential. Throughout football history, many famous players have fallen victim to constant injuries, forcing them to spend more time in hospital beds than on the field. So who is the most injured football player? Below, Kingsoccertips shares a list of the 10 most injured players in football history, along with a detailed look at the time they were forced to leave the field due to unexpected accidents.

Top 10 who is the most injured football player

1. Holger Badstuber (out of action for 1,305 days due to injury)

Holger Badstuber, a talented German defender, had a promising career with Bayern Munich. However, persistent injuries have hampered his progress. Despite spending eight years at the Bavarians and being expected to be a mainstay in defence, Badstuber has only made an average of 22 appearances per season. Injuries have seemingly followed him, preventing him from maintaining the consistent form and fitness required to make it into Bayern Munich’s first team.

Throughout his career, Badstuber has suffered a series of serious injuries, particularly to his ankles and muscles. A cruciate ligament injury in the 2013–14 campaign kept him out of action for the entire season, a huge blow not only for him but also for Bayern Munich, who lacked stability in defence. Despite trying to come back after each injury relapse, Badstuber could not fully recover and finally, in 2022, he decided to retire at the age of 33, ending a career full of regret due to constant injuries.

2. Marco Reus (1313 days injured)

Marco Reus, one of the brightest talents in German football, has faced countless difficulties due to injuries throughout his career. One of the biggest shocks was that he missed the 2014 World Cup due to a serious leg injury, preventing him from participating in this important tournament, despite being one of the pillars of the German team. In addition, Reus also had to miss Euro 2016 and the 2022 World Cup due to continuous injuries, preventing him from participating in major football tournaments, which caused a lot of regret for fans.

Despite his constant injury troubles, Marco Reus has not given up. He continues to be one of Borussia Dortmund’s key players, contributing greatly to the team. This season, despite turning 34, Reus has maintained his impressive form, scoring six goals and providing three assists for coach Edin Terzic’s side. Reus’s incredible resilience and resilience are testament to his enduring spirit and undiminished talent, despite battling injuries for many years.

3. Ronaldo (1324 days out) – Who is the most injured football player​

Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima, or simply Ronaldo, is one of the greatest players in football history. In his prime, he was a storm on the pitch, unstoppable with the perfect combination of speed, power, skill and a razor-sharp finishing ability. Every time Ronaldo got the ball, he could create breakthroughs, putting opposing defenders under terrible pressure. With his powerful acceleration and excellent ball control, Ronaldo left a deep impression in the hearts of fans, becoming a symbol of world football.

However, there was only one factor that could prevent him from reaching the greatest level of all time: injury. Serious injuries, especially to the knee, hindered Ronaldo’s career during his peak years. Although he tried to come back after each relapse, the constant injuries prevented him from maintaining his peak performance for a long time. If it weren’t for these unfortunate accidents, no one knows what heights Ronaldo could have reached, and whether he could have become the best player in football history.

4. Franck Ribery (1363 days injured)

Franck Ribéry, the French winger, was one of Bayern Munich’s brightest stars during his time there. With his excellent dribbling ability, outstanding speed and exquisite assists, Ribéry was always a big threat to opposing defenses. He often appeared in important moments, bringing many memorable moments for the Bavarian team. However, despite being an important and influential player, Ribéry suffered a series of injury problems throughout his career.

In total, Ribéry missed 227 matches throughout his career, a huge number for a player playing at such a high level. This was mainly due to the fact that he suffered 72 separate injuries, which significantly affected his form and ability to play consistently. These injuries prevented Ribéry from maintaining consistency and being a regular in Bayern Munich’s first team for several important seasons, although whenever he was on the pitch, he made a special mark with his technical and creative moves.

5. Thomas Vermaelen (1366 days injured)

Belgian defender Thomas Vermaelen was one of the most promising players when he joined Arsenal. His first season in the Premier League was truly impressive, with Vermaelen playing 45 games in all competitions and being named in the PFA Team of the Season. He was considered a talented defender, strong in defence and an impressive goalscorer. However, after a brilliant debut season, injuries began to plague him, preventing Vermaelen’s career from continuing on an upward trajectory.

An Achilles tendon injury kept Vermaelen out of the majority of the 2010–11 season, and that was just the beginning of a long series of physical problems. Recurring injuries prevented him from maintaining his peak form and he was often absent from the first team. After leaving Arsenal, Vermaelen joined Barcelona, ​​where he hoped to continue his career at the next level. However, injuries continued to hamper his progress, and during his four years at Barcelona, ​​Vermaelen made just 53 appearances, a modest return compared to expectations. He eventually decided to call time on his playing career and play for Vissel Kobe before announcing his retirement in 2022, ending a career marred by persistent injuries.

6. Vincent Kompany (injured 1419 days)

Belgian defender Vincent Kompany is one of the greatest players in English football history and was an integral part of Manchester City for a decade. He won 12 major honours, including four Premier League titles, during his time in England, and was known as a strong captain with great leadership, as well as excellent defending. Kompany was not only the leader of the defence, but also a symbol of stability and dedication to the club.

However, in his final four years at Manchester City, injuries began to take their toll on Kompany. Muscle problems and especially ligament injuries saw him miss a number of important games, cutting short the career of one of the Premier League’s greatest defenders. Although still a key player when on the pitch, constant injuries reduced Kompany’s ability to play consistently and prevented him from maintaining consistent form in his final years in England. Despite this, Kompany remains a Manchester City legend, ending his career in England with many memorable memories and extremely valuable trophies.

7. Jack Wilshere (injured for 1,470 days)

Jack Wilshere, a promising young talent at Arsenal, was considered one of the players who could change the face of the team. With his impressive technique and ability to control the tempo of the game, Wilshere was a great hope for both Arsenal and England. However, injuries hampered his career from the very beginning of his professional career, preventing a promising generation from ever becoming a reality.

Wilshere shared that the worst injury of his career was when he broke his right ankle when he was just 19 years old. “My first injury was the worst and I paid a heavy price for it,” Wilshere recalled in an interview with The Fozcast. This injury disrupted his career and since then, Wilshere has been plagued by numerous injuries, especially ankle and hamstring problems. Despite his many attempts to recover and return to action, injuries have not spared him.

In total, Wilshere has missed 1,470 days of football due to injuries throughout his career, a sad number for such a talented player. After struggling with health issues throughout his playing years, Wilshere decided to retire in 2022, at the age of 30. His career, despite all the potential, has not reached the level that fans expected due to health barriers.

8. Arjen Robben (1,507 days injured)

Dutch winger Arjen Robben has been an integral part of the Bayern Munich squad throughout his years at the club. Along with Franck Ribéry, Robben formed one of the most dangerous duos in football, terrifying defenders. Their combination of pace, technique, and finishing ability always created impressive plays, making Bayern Munich’s matches exciting and unpredictable. However, like Ribéry, injuries have hampered Robben’s career and reduced the time he could play at the top level.

During his time at Bayern Munich, Robben only made an average of 20 appearances per season, a number that was quite low compared to his talent and the expectations placed on him. Muscle, knee, and ankle problems kept him out of action for long periods of time. However, Robben always knew how to make a big impact every time he was on the pitch, without needing too much time to shine. His lightning-fast sprints, powerful shots and ability to create scoring opportunities from seemingly nothing have made him one of the most important players in the Bayern Munich squad. Despite constant injuries, Robben has still proven his talent and influence, becoming a legend of the club and world football.

9. Stevan Jovetic (injured for 1510 days)

Stevan Jovetic, a promising talent from Montenegro, is arguably one of the most pitiful players in football due to the many injuries he has suffered throughout his career. In particular, he has had to deal with two serious ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injuries, which have greatly affected his career and ability to play.

Jovetic’s time playing in the Premier League with Manchester City was not really memorable, as constant injuries prevented him from maintaining a stable performance. Despite his moments of brilliance when he did get a chance to play, injuries have kept him from achieving great success at a club like City.

Jovetic’s injury situation has not improved since his move to Monaco. He has missed more than 150 games for both club and country between 2017 and 2021. His fitness issues have kept him from contributing much to the team, despite always being a talented player and capable of creating impressive plays.

Jovetic is currently playing for Olympiacos, but he has yet to fully recover from his long-term injuries. The physical and mental pain he has endured throughout his career has made him one of the most regrettable players in world football, as his talent was never fully exploited due to the interference of serious injuries.

10. Abou Diaby (injured for 1747 days)

Who is the most injured football player​ Abou Diaby is a classic example of a great talent being hampered by injury. During his time at Arsenal, Diaby was expected to become one of the best midfielders of his generation. He had the perfect combination of technique, power and ball control, and was a key piece in Arsenal’s tactical system under Arsène Wenger. Diaby could have reached the pinnacle of football if not for persistent injuries.

Diaby missed a total of 314 games through injury during his career, a shocking number for a player of his talent. The constant injuries prevented him from maintaining consistency and peak performance. The total time Diaby was out of the field was 1747 days, equivalent to nearly 4.7 years of injury. Ankle, knee and hamstring problems plagued him throughout his career, preventing him from performing as well as he had hoped for Arsenal and the French national team.

Injuries completely changed the trajectory of Diaby’s career, and while he was always talented on the pitch, the physical toll he endured cut short the career of one of the most promising midfielders in world football.

Conclusion

When it who is the most injured football player​, the likes of Jack Wilshere, Arjen Robben, and Abou Diaby are prime examples of talent who were unlucky enough to deal with persistent injuries throughout their careers. While they all had great ability and the promise of great success, physical problems prevented them from reaching their full potential. Constant injuries, especially serious ones like torn ligaments or broken bones, have caused them to miss hundreds of matches and spend years on the sidelines. Injuries not only affect their playing careers but also change their entire direction in football, creating unfortunate but also courageous stories.

See more: 5 highest scoring soccer game: Horrifying score 149-0