Most Injured Players in Football History
by Ruksana | Updated Mar 26, 2024
Most Injured Players In Football History
In football history, some players have faced numerous injuries throughout their careers, impacting their ability to play regularly. One such player is Marco van Basten, a Dutch striker who played for AC Milan and the Netherlands national team.
Van Basten was known for his exceptional talent, but his career was cut short due to persistent ankle injuries, forcing him to retire prematurely at the age of 28. The players who got the most Injuries in Football History are listed below.
S.No.
Name
1
Abou Diaby
2
Stevan Jovetic
3
Arjen Robben
4
Jack Wilshere
5
Vincent Kompany
6
Thomas Vermaelen
7
Franck Ribery
8
Ronaldo
9
Marco Reus
10
Holger Badstuber
Abou Diaby
Abou Diaby, born on May 11, 1986, in Paris, France, was a talented footballer who faced so many challenges due to injuries throughout his career. He played as a midfielder, known for his strongest skill.
Diaby started his football journey at hometown club CM Aubervilliers before moving to Red Star Paris and then joining the prestigious Clairefontaine academy. He made his professional debut with Auxerre in 2004, where he showcased his potential despite struggling with injuries.
In 2006, he signed for English club Arsenal, where he displayed his talent but suffered multiple setbacks due to constant injuries, including a severe ankle fracture in 2006. Throughout his career, Diaby represented France at various youth levels and earned caps for the senior national team.
Despite his career being troubled with injuries, Diaby's talent and dedication to the sport left a lasting impression on football fans worldwide.
Full Name
Vassiriki Abou Diaby
Date of Birth
May 11, 1986
Place of Birth
Paris, France
Height
1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)
Position
Midfielder
National Team
France
Stevan Jovetic
Stevan Jovetic, born on November 2, 1989, in Montenegro, is a professional footballer known for his skilled striker, attacking midfielder, or winger. He is admired for his dribbling skills, technical ability, and creativity, drawing comparisons to legendary player Roberto Baggio.
Jovetic began his career at FK Partizan before moving to ACF Fiorentina in Serie A. His impressive performances earned him a transfer to Manchester City in the English Premier League, where he won the League Cup and Premier League titles.
He later played for Inter Milan, Sevilla on loan, and AS Monaco, showcasing his talent across different European leagues. Jovetic is also a key player for the Montenegro national team, where he holds the record for the highest number of goals scored.
Full Name
Stevan Jovetic
Date of Birth
November 2, 1989
Place of Birth
Montenegro
Position
Striker/Midfielder/Winger
National Team
Montenegro
Arjen Robben
Arjen Robben, born on January 23, 1984, in Bedum, Netherlands, is a retired Dutch footballer known for his exceptional skills as a winger. Renowned for his speed, precise dribbling, and powerful shots, Robben became one of the most prominent players of his generation. He began his professional career with Groningen before moving to PSV Eindhoven, where he won the Eredivisie title.
Internationally, Robben represented the Netherlands in multiple FIFA World Cups and UEFA European Championships. He played a significant role in leading the Dutch national team to the 2010 FIFA World Cup Final.
Full Name
Arjen Robben
Date of Birth
January 23, 1984
Place of Birth
Bedum, Netherlands
Height
1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position
Winger
Youth Career
VV Bedum, Groningen
Jack Wilshere
Jack Andrew Garry Wilshere, born on January 1, 1992, in Stevenage, England, is a retired English footballer and current coach. Standing at 5 feet 8 inches tall, Wilshere primarily played as a midfielder. He began his football journey with Luton Town before joining Arsenal's youth academy in 2001.
Internationally, Wilshere represented England, making 34 appearances for the senior national team. He participated in major tournaments such as the FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Championship.
After a career hampered by injuries, Wilshere retired from professional football in 2022. He transitioned into coaching and currently serves as the head coach of the Arsenal under-18 team.
Full Name
Jack Andrew Garry Wilshere
Date of Birth
January 1, 1992
Place of Birth
Stevenage, England
Height
5 ft 8 in (1.72 m)
Position
Midfielder
Current Team
Arsenal U18 (head coach)
Youth Career
Luton Town, Arsenal
Vincent Kompany
Vincent Jean Mpoy Kompany, born on April 10, 1986, in Uccle, Belgium, is a retired Belgian professional footballer and the current manager of Premier League club Burnley. Kompany primarily played as a center back during his playing career.
Kompany began his professional journey at Anderlecht, where he spent three seasons and won several awards, including the Belgian Golden Shoe and the Belgian Ebony Shoe. In 2006, he moved to Bundesliga club Hamburger SV before making a significant transfer to Manchester City in 2008.
Full Name
Vincent Jean Mpoy Kompany
Date of Birth
April 10, 1986
Place of Birth
Uccle, Belgium
Height
1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
Position
Centre back
Current Team
Burnley (Manager)
Thomas Vermaelen
Thomas Vermaelen, born on November 14, 1985, in Kapellen, Belgium, is a retired Belgian professional footballer known for his prowess as a centre-back. Vermaelen began his youth career in Belgium with Germinal Ekeren, later known as Germinal Beerschot. He then joined the famed Ajax youth academy in 2000, where he made his professional debut in 2004.
His breakthrough at Ajax came when he returned from a loan spell at RKC Waalwijk and won the KNVB Cup. Vermaelen's performances earned the Belgium national team. During his time at Ajax, he formed formidable defensive partnerships and won several domestic titles.
Full Name
Thomas Vermaelen
Date of Birth
November 14, 1985
Place of Birth
Kapellen, Belgium
Height
1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position
Centre-back
Franck Ribery
Franck Ribéry, born on April 7, 1983, in Boulogne-sur-Mer, France, is a retired French professional footballer renowned for his exceptional skills as a winger.
Ribéry's football journey began in the youth ranks of FC Conti Boulogne before moving to Lille's academy. However, he faced difficulties at Lille and eventually joined US Boulogne. After some time with several clubs in France, including Alès, Brest, and Metz, Ribéry's career took a significant turn when he joined Galatasaray in Turkey in 2005.
Full Name
Franck Henry Pierre Ribéry
Date of Birth
April 7, 1983
Place of Birth
Boulogne-sur-Mer, France
Height
1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position
Winger
Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo is a famous football player from Portugal. He was born on February 5, 1985, in Funchal, Madeira. Ronaldo is known for being one of the best players in the world. He is very good at scoring goals and playing as a forward for his teams.
Ronaldo has won many awards, including five Ballon d'Or prizes, which are given to the best football player in the world. Ronaldo started his career with Sporting CP in Portugal. Then, he moved to Manchester United in England. After that, he played for Real Madrid in Spain.
Ronaldo has also played for Juventus in Italy and returned to Manchester United later in his career. He has achieved a lot of success with these teams, winning league titles and Champions League trophies.
Full Name
Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro
Date of Birth
February 5, 1985
Place of Birth
Funchal, Madeira, Portugal
Height
1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position
Forward
Current Team
Al Nassr
Number
7
Marco Reus
Marco Reus is a professional football player from Germany. He was born on May 31, 1989, in Dortmund, West Germany. Reus plays as an attacking midfielder or winger for Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga and the Germany national team.
Starting his football journey at a young age, Reus joined Borussia Dortmund's youth team in 1996. Later, he moved to Rot Weiss Ahlen and then Borussia Mönchengladbach before returning to Borussia Dortmund in 2012. With Dortmund, Reus has achieved many successes, including winning the DFL-Supercup three times and the DFB-Pokal in 2017 and 2021.
Full Name
Marco Reus
Date of Birth
May 31, 1989
Place of Birth
Dortmund, West Germany
Height
1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position
Attacking midfielder, winger
Current Team
Borussia Dortmund
Number
11
Holger Badstuber
Holger Felix Badstuber, born on March 13, 1989, in Memmingen, West Germany, is a retired German professional footballer.
Badstuber began his football journey at TSV Rot an der Rot 1890 before moving to VfB Stuttgart's youth setup and later joining Bayern Munich's academy in 2002. He made his Bundesliga debut for Bayern Munich during the 2009–10 season, helping the club secure the league and cup double. He also reached the UEFA Champions League final in the same season.
Full Name
Holger Felix Badstuber
Date of Birth
March 13, 1989
Place of Birth
Memmingen, West Germany
Height
1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position
Centre-back, Left-back
Retired
September 5, 2022
