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The game of football can give ecstasy and agony in equal measures. Footballers can touch the sky or hit rock bottom depending on which way fate swings for them.
Injuries, especially recurrent ones, are some of the persistent scourges in the lives of professional footballers the world over that have led to many dreams being shattered. From Marco van Basten calling time on his career at 28 to Michael Ballack missing out on a home World Cup, injuries have broken many hearts and shattered many dreams.
In this article, we will take a look at five world-class footballers, active and retired, who have struggled with persistent injuries that have stopped them from reaching even greater heights.
5 great players who have struggled with recurring injuries
#5 Arjen Robben
Arjen Robben, one of the greatest wingers of the contemporary game, was at his best during a lengthy trophy-laden spell at Bayern Munich where he famously teamed up with French winger Franck Ribery.
However, Robben could have succeeded at many more clubs had he not been beset by injuries so often in his career.
The Dutchman struggled with a plethora of injuries while at Chelsea; broken bones, ankle issues and hamstring injuries riddling his stay in London. He could have been a huge success as a Galactico as well, but his Real Madrid career failed because of this unfortunate proclivity.
Despite all his success at Bayern Munich, Robben's stay in Bavaria was also marred by a series of injuries, including a recurrent issue with his hamstring.
#4 Thiago Alcantara
The midfield maestro played a stellar role in Bayern Munich's Champions League triumph last season and has now embarked on a new challenge at English champions Liverpool.
However, Alcantara could have been one of the greatest midfielders of all time had he not been injured so often. At the start of his career at Liverpool, he was sidelined for the Arsenal game in the weekend and has now tested positive for COVID-19.
Thiago Alcantara had been injured more than 20 times during his stay at Bayern Munich. In fact, he missed 74 games in seven seasons due to injuries at the Bavarian giants.
Now on the wrong side of 30, Alcantara's prime years are possibly behind him, and sadly they were all injury-riddled. Thus, despite the quality he has demonstrated over the years, the former Barcelona player's potential has not been completely fulfilled due to his long tryst with injuries.
#3 Roberto Baggio
As we go back a few years in history, we revisit an inspiring story of recurrent injuries.
It is a fact that Roberto Baggio could have surpassed the exalted standards he set during a remarkable 18-year career had terrible injuries not curtailed him, but it is also a fact that he became one of the all-time greats inspite of them.
Baggio suffered his first career-threatening injury at just 18 but recovered in remarkable fashion. However, he soon picked up another horrific knee injury.
He went on to win the Ballon'd'Or in 1993 while at Juventus, but the Divine Ponytail struggled with injuries in Turin as well as at his next club AC Milan despite winning titles with both of them.
Baggio's knee problems were such that he has even gone on record saying that the excruciating pain made the ex-Italy international want to die at one point.
#2 Marco Reus
At his fluent best Marco Reus can be the best attacking player in the world. But he is hardly at his fluent best because of a series of catastrophic injuries that have not only ruled him out of crucial games for his club Borussia Dortmund but also Germany's World Cup triumph in the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
Reus had played an instrumental role in the qualifying campaign for the quadrennial tournament but picked up an ankle injury in a warm-up game. He also missed Euro 2016 through a groin injury and was part of the ill-fated German campaign in the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Talk about bad luck!
The 31-year-old Dortmund captain continues to battle injuries but still dazzles the Bundesliga stage whenever he is fit and able to play.
#1 Marco van Basten
We end this list with another Marco and with the most tragic story of them all. Dutch legend Marco van Basten is one of the all-time greats of the game.
He is a three-time Ballon'd'Or winner, a two-time Champions League winner, a Serie A and European Championship winner. It seems the former AC Milan player achieved them all, but he only played till 28.
Van Basten, one of the most prolific and stylish strikers the world has ever seen, suffered from a diabolical recurrent ankle problem that refused to go away despite him spending seasons on the sidelines trying to rehabilitate his career. At 28, he finally gave up and left the game with his fans and even his then coach at Milan Fabio Capello in tears.
