Injuries are a part of football, but some players seem to be more prone to them than others. Here are 10 footballers who have had some of the worst injury records in history:
- Abou Diaby (Arsenal, Marseille): Diaby is widely considered to be the most injury-prone footballer in history. He made just 187 appearances for Arsenal in 10 years due to a variety of injuries, including a broken leg, a torn ACL, and a chronic ankle problem.
- Jack Wilshere (Arsenal, West Ham, Bournemouth): Wilshere was a highly-rated midfielder who broke into the Arsenal first team at a young age. However, he was plagued by injuries throughout his career, making just 197 appearances for the Gunners in 10 years.
- Owen Hargreaves (Manchester United, Bayern Munich): Hargreaves was a versatile midfielder who won the Champions League with both Manchester United and Bayern Munich. However, he was also plagued by injuries, making just 144 appearances in seven years for the two clubs.
- Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool, Chelsea, West Bromwich Albion): Sturridge was a prolific striker who scored 67 goals in 160 appearances for Liverpool. However, he was also injury-prone, making just 27 appearances in the last three seasons.
- Ledley King (Tottenham Hotspur): King was a commanding defender who made over 300 appearances for Tottenham Hotspur. However, he was also plagued by chronic knee problems, which forced him to retire at the age of 31.
- Jack Rodwell (Manchester City, Sunderland, Blackburn Rovers): Rodwell was a promising midfielder who joined Manchester City for £12 million in 2012. However, he was unable to live up to his potential due to a series of injuries, making just 86 appearances for the club.
- Darren Anderton (Tottenham Hotspur, Portsmouth): Anderton was a talented winger who made over 300 appearances for Tottenham Hotspur. However, he was also injury-prone, making just 12 appearances for England due to a series of knee problems.
- Fabrice Muamba (Bolton Wanderers, Birmingham City): Muamba suffered a cardiac arrest during a match for Bolton Wanderers in 2012. He made a miraculous recovery, but he was never able to play at the top level again due to heart problems.
- Ryan Shawcross (Stoke City): Shawcross is a defender who has made over 400 appearances for Stoke City. However, he has also been plagued by injuries, making just 16 appearances in the last two seasons.
- Franck Ribéry (Bayern Munich, Fiorentina): Ribéry is a winger who has won the Champions League with both Bayern Munich and Fiorentina. However, he has also been plagued by injuries, making just 15 appearances in the last two seasons.
These are just a few of the footballers who have had to deal with a series of injuries throughout their careers. It is a testament to their determination and resilience that they have been able to achieve success despite their setbacks.
