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Football is a contact sport, which makes injuries inevitable. Players often spend time on the sidelines when they pick up knocks on their bodies, including the knee, ankle, toes, thighs and so on. Strains, cuts, tears, dislocations and bruises are common in the sport.
So it isn't strange when a footballer picks up an injury. What makes it strange, though, is if they do so in a weird manner, in a weird place or for a weird reason.
There have been several accounts of bizarre injuries in football over the years. Some of these stories are nothing short of hilarious, and could leave you cracking your ribs.
From Rio Ferdinand straining his tendons while playing games on Playstation, to Frenkie de Jong being ruled out due to a bee sting, and Adam Chapman burning his nipple with milk, here's a look at the ten strangest injuries in football history.
#10 Frenkie de Jong
Frenkie de Jong was highly appreciated by Barcelona fans when he switched to Camp Nou from Ajax in the summer of 2019. The supporters kept their eyes on the player's mesmerising performances on the pitch until they had a reason to switch their attention to his hand.
The Dutchman played with a bandage on his hand as Barcelona locked horns with Napoli in the second leg of their Champions League Round of 16 clash in 2020. It was later revealed that De Jong was stung by a bee, and his hand flared up so badly that he had to be on bandage.
#9 Rio Ferdinand
This is simply unimaginable. During his time at Leeds United, former Manchester United centre-back Rio Ferdinand strained the tendons on his knee while playing video games on his Playstation.
The defender had a lot of back injuries during that period, and the recommendation for that type of setback was to have plenty of rest. It appeared Ferdinand didn't think he would go on to have a great career at that time, so he decided to try out his luck at FIFA.
#8 Adam Chapman
This only happens when you have a baby, especially when you carelessly try too hard to be a caring dad. While on loan at Mansfield, former Oxford midfielder Adam Chapman was injured in one of the most hilarious ways possible.
The midfielder was heating some milk for his baby, which is usually an innocuous job. Unfortunately, as he went to shake it, the lid flew off, and he ended up burning his chest and nipple. He had to visit the hospital, but was cleared to play the next day.
#7 Alan Wright
Alan Wright had a remarkable career at Aston Villa, where he made 307 appearances in all competitions and bagged five goals and four assists across four years. Although he had several highlights in his career, there's one particular story he'll always be remembered for.
The left-back injured himself in one of the most bizarre manners. Wright made the headlines when he bought an expensive Ferrari, but the car would later cause him some agony and keep him on the sidelines for a few weeks.
The defender strained his knee while trying to reach the accelerator pedal. Although strange and funny, it didn't come as a surprise to many. That's because the defender was one of the shortest players in the Premier League at the time, standing at just 5' 4".
#6 Dave Beasant
One could be left wondering what came into Dave Beasant's head. The goalkeeper carelessly injured his foot in one of the most hilarious ways ever during his time between the sticks at Chelsea.
The Englishman dropped a bottle of salad cream in the kitchen, which he tried to control with his barefoot. The bottle ended up breaking and tearing a tendon in his toe, which ruled him out of football action for two months. How could he have used his leg when he was doing nothing with his hands?
#5 David Batty
Former Leeds United midfielder David Batty was no stranger to injuries, as he picked up a lot during his playing days. One, though, stands out from all his setbacks for a hilarious and ridiculous reason.
Batty was spending time at home after picking up a knee ligament injury. However, things got ugly when his two-year-old daughter ran over his ankle with her tricycle and consequently added more time to his recovery period.
How it happened remains a mystery, though. Obviously, the midfielder would've had a tough time explaining to his teammates how a girl of just two years broke his ankle. They would've probably made a joke out of the story.
#4 Paulo Diogo
Here's the most horrific one on the list. Paulo Diogo's account will teach other footballers that running wild and stepping outside the playing area to celebrate when your team scores a goal isn't the best thing to do.
After squaring the ball to a teammate to tap into an empty net, Diogo decided to go beyond limits in his jubilation. The midfielder decided to jump onto the metal fencing, catching his wedding ring on the end and tearing off half of his finger.
To rub more salt on his wound, the Swiss international was also booked by the referee for excessive celebration. Losing half of his finger and having his name taken down by the official left Diogo with two avoidable problems to rue within just a few seconds.
#3 Chic Brodie
If the stories mentioned on this list are hilarious, this one takes it even a step further. How would anyone believe that a footballer was injured on the pitch by a dog in the middle of an official game? Well, that actually happened.
It was during a match between Brentford and Colchester in October 1970. Chic Brodie, standing between the sticks for Brentford, collided with a pitch-invading dog, and had his knee shattered. Many couldn't believe what their eyes had seen.
The injury eventually led to the end of the goalkeeper's career. When he was asked about the incident, Brodie responded:
"The dog may have been small, but it just happened to be solid."
Of course Brodie!
#2 Alex Stepney
Goalkeepers are known to be vocal on the pitch, as they are required to shout orders at the defenders deployed in front of them. However, Alex Stepney apparently took it too seriously, and had to pay a price for it during a game against Birmingham in 1975.
The then Manchester United guardian dislocated his jaw while shouting orders at his teammates. He had to be taken off the pitch immediately for medical attention, with centre-back Brian Greenhoff replacing him between the sticks.
#1 Leroy Lita
It doesn't get more hilarious than this. Former Reading striker Leroy Lita injured his back for stretching too much - not on the pitch, not during a training session - but on his bed. The account left the football world in awe, as many didn't believe what they heard. However, his manager jumped to his defence to avoid mockery being made of the situation.
Speaking about the injury, then Reading boss Steve Coppell said:
"Leroy (Lita) is in a great deal of pain. It is not an injury that should be ridiculed or made light of."
This is obviously the strangest injury on this list. It remains to be seen if we'll see another one that will be weirder than this in the future.
