5 Footballers who would have been even better without injuries

#2 Marco 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.