5 Footballers who would have been even better without injuries

Michael Owen
Michael Owen

Football is a game that comes with a cost. The physical nature of the sport makes it very hard for players to stay away from injuries through the course of their careers. Apart from keeping the player out of the game for a while, injuries also break the head of steam that players generate with their performances.

While injuries are a part and parcel of any sport and especially football, there are players who haven’t had the rub of the green in terms of injuries. Through the course of this article, we would look at 5 such players who were talented and achieved a lot of success, yet were held back due to their constant injury concerns.

Though a little hypothetical, it seems scary what these footballers could’ve gone on to achieve had they not been brought down by injury time and again. Without wasting any more time, let us go down memory lane and look at these unlucky footballers who epitomize the adage ‘what if’ more than anyone else.

Honourable Mention: Marco Reus


#5 Jack Wilshere

Arsenal FC v Crvena Zvezda - UEFA Europa League
Wilshere has spent an awful amount of time injured

Jack Wilshere, the boy who shot to prominence as a teenager has had a wretched run with injuries. In his time at Arsenal, Wilshere had numerous injuries which stunted his growth and made him a perfect example of a player with vast unlocked potential.

Wilshere’s biggest and brightest career moment came in the Champions League in 2011 when as a 19-year-old, he bossed the midfield against Barcelona. The midfield he outplayed contained stalwarts like Xavi and Iniesta yet he held his own and gave the English fans something to shout about.

After his breakthrough performance, a similar buzz to when Rooney broke onto the scene was created. In Wilshere, the English thought that they had the perfect midfielder to lead their newest generation to unparalleled success. However, 7 years on, Wilshere is still struggling with injuries and failed to make England’s squad for the 2018 World Cup.

As a teenager, Wilshere promised so much. He was famously dubbed as a ‘boy with an English heart and Spanish feet’. However, injuries had much more of a say in his career than he would’ve liked, leading him to spend more time on the treatment table than on the pitch.

The loss of a talent like Wilshere makes the whole world admonish the cruel nature of injuries. As we analyze his career in 2018, there is a sense of ‘what could’ve been’ for Wilshere had he not gotten injured so often. Thus, he ranks at No.5 in our list.

#4 Michael Owen

Michael Owen
On his day, Owen was one of the best strikers in the game

The English striker took the world by storm with his play in the early 2000s. In 2001, his performances were recognized with him claiming the highest individual honour, the Ballon d’Or.

Owen ended up playing for the likes of Liverpool, Manchester United and Real Madrid. He ended his career having won the Premier League, the UEFA Cup, three English League Cups and the FA Cup. He was equally impressive on the international stage with him bagging 40 goals in 89 appearances for the Three Lions.

Despite all his achievements, Owen could yet have scaled greater heights had it not been for a hamstring injury he suffered at the age of 19. The hamstring injury robbed him of his greatest asset: pace. Though he was able to make amends with his other attributes, it makes people wonder what the Englishman could’ve gone on to achieve had the injury curse not struck him at the tender age of 19.

Owen was a successful footballer and would go down as one of the greatest English forwards ever. However, the world was denied the opportunity of seeing Owen in full flight due to his injury. Hence, he makes it to our list at No. 4.

#3 Roberto Baggio

Roberto Baggio
Roberto Baggio was a joy to watch

The next player on our list is the classy Italian, Roberto Baggio. Baggio achieved a lot with his national side and he was equally successful at the club level. The Italian would surely go down as one of the classiest to ever grace the football pitch. But, could he have been even better? As jaw-dropping as it may seem, the answer to it is in the affirmative.

The Italian was plagued by knee issues ever since he was 18. By the time he was playing for Brescia at the start of the 21st century, he was in such a bad state that he couldn’t walk for two days after playing a match. The latter part of his career was characterized by him having loads of painkillers to sustain his knee and turn out for his team.

Despite a dodgy knee throughout his career, Baggio won the Ballon d’Or in 1993 and led his country to the World Cup final in 1994. Additionally, he won a whole host of domestic trophies with Juventus.

If one compiles a list of the greatest Italians to have stepped onto a football pitch, Baggio would certainly figure at the forefront of that discussion. However, there was an opportunity for him to be the undisputed torch-bearer of Italian football, a chance which was cruelly taken away from him due to injuries. Thus, he makes it to the Top 3 of our list.

#2 Marco Van Basten

NAPOLI V AC MILAN VAN BASTEN
Van Basten was up there with the best

Marco Van Basten, the flying Dutchman, enjoyed a chequered career for Ajax, AC Milan and Netherlands. He won the Euro ’88 with his country while he also claimed the Ballon d’Or in 1992. However, the number of feathers to his cap could’ve been more if not for persistent injuries to his knee and ankle.

Van Basten competes in a list to be one of the greatest footballers ever yet there is a sense of unfulfilled talent whenever his name comes up for discussion. His talent being unfulfilled is more a case of the injury curse striking him rather than him not playing to his potential.

The Dutchman was an early bloomer and was spotted early by AC Milan, in 1987. At Milan, he won the European Cup twice and was part of the famed AC Milan side which dominated world football.

Having won the highest individual prize in 1992, he was at the top of his game. However, just a year later, the world was to see the last of his footballing genius. At the ripe age of 28, Van Basten played his last game and with him treading on a slippery slope of injuries, he finally called it quits a couple of years later.

Despite breaking all records as a player, Van Basten could’ve reached higher levels, which would surely have seen him as the greatest to have ever played the game. Alas, it wasn’t to be and hence, he takes the runner-up spot in our list.

#1 Ronaldo Nazario

Ronaldo of Brazil celebrates scoring the winning goal
Just Imagine, Ronaldo could've been even better

The Brazilian, popularly known as ‘O Fenomeno’ smashed numerous records on his journey to become one of Brazil’s greatest strikers. Although he achieved everything at the club and international level, Ronaldo could’ve been even better. It is scary to even think what O Fenomeno would’ve gone on to achieve had he not been blighted by injuries throughout his career.

The Brazilian ended up with a couple of Ballon d’Ors and three FIFA World Player of the Year awards. Additionally, he also won the World Cup twice and was awarded the Golden Ball at the 1998 World Cup. However, his crowning jewel was his 8 goals at the 2002 World Cup, which fired Brazil to their 5th crown.

O Fenomeno would surely go down as one of the best strikers ever to play football. However, a serious knee injury in 1999 and a series of injuries after and before robbed him of the opportunity to be the undisputed king of football. With his persistent knee problems, Ronaldo lost the burst of pace which made him literally unplayable.

As we come to the conclusion of our list, there have been a number of players who have had their wings cut by injury. But one gets the feeling that none possessed the raw talent that O Fenomeno boasted. Though it is a huge cliché, Ronaldo is surely the best-ever footballer that couldn’t be.

Thus, it is no surprise that he takes the numero uno spot in our list.

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Edited by Pratyay Ghosh