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We have identified the 10 most injury-prone players in football history and former Arsenal, Barcelona and Bayern Munich stars make an appearance.

Had it not been for countless injury setbacks, who knows just how good these players could have gone on to become?

Surprisingly, the likes of Neymar, Phil Jones, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Thomas Rosicky don't quite make this list despite being among the most injury-prone players of their era.

Thanks to The Pop Foot, we have been able to find the 10 most injury-prone players in football history and have assessed how long they have each spent on the sidelines.

10. Holger Badstuber (1305 days out injured)

The German defender spent eight years at Bayern Munich but only averaged 22 appearances per season as he would regularly be on the sidelines.

He suffered numerous ankle and muscle injuries and was sidelined for the entire 2013–14 campaign with a cruciate ligament injury. As a result of the numerous setbacks he sustained, he called it quits on his playing career in 2022, aged 33.

9. Marco Reus (1313 days injured)

Injuries have been particularly cruel to Reus over the years. He had to miss the 2014 World Cup because of a foot injury and also had to sit out of the 2016 Euros and 2022 World Cup.

Despite the constant injury troubles that he's battled with, he is still going strong for Borussia Dortmund today. This season he's produced six goals and three assists for Edin Terzic's side.

8. Ronaldo (1324 days injured)
During his peak, not many players in the history of football can hold a candle to Ronaldo. The Brazilian phenomenon had the perfect blend of pace, power, skills and technique.

It was only injuries that prevented him from potentially becoming the best player of all time.

7. Franck Ribery (1363 days injured)

The Frenchman often showed up when it mattered for Bayern Munich, but boy did he miss a lot of games. In total, the winger missed 227 games throughout his career and suffered from 72 separate injuries.

Given the constant setbacks that he faced, it's impressive that he managed to have the career that he did.

6. Thomas Vermaelen (1366 days injured)

The Belgian defender had an eye-catching debut season at Arsenal as played 45 games across all competitions and earned a spot in the PFA Team of the Season.

However, his injury troubles commenced the following year and he was never the same player afterwards. He missed the vast majority of the 2010–11 with an Achilles tendon injury and that was just the start of his injury hell.

Vermaelen's injury woes continued into his Barcelona days as he only managed 53 appearances for the club across four years. He spent his final days playing with Vissel Kobe before announcing his retirement in 2022.

5. Vincent Kompany (1419 days injured)

Kompany got his hands on 12 trophies during his time in England and was undoubtedly one of the best defenders in the league during that time.

Injuries especially took their toll on the Belgium defender during his final four years in England. To be fair, even when his peak years were behind him, he still knew how to produce a clutch moment or two.

4. Jack Wilshere (1470 days injured)

That performance against Barcelona from a teenage Wilshere will forever live long in the memory. The Gunners had a generational prospect on their hands, but injuries were particularly cruel to the midfielder over the years.

“My first injury was my worst and I paid a lot for that,” Wilshere told The Fozcast. “It was my right ankle, the talus – I fractured that – I was 19. Six years later, I went back to see the surgeon and he was like, 'Oh, you're still playing?!”

After missing a total of 1470 days through injury, Wilshere hung up his boots in 2022, aged 30.

3. Arjen Robben (1507 days injured)

When Robben and Ribery were on the pitch together for Bayern Munich it was absolutely box-office. It's a shame that the pair spent so much of their career's together on the sidelines.

Throughout the Dutch winger's spell in Germany, he only averaged 20 league appearances per season. Still, he didn't exactly need much time on the pitch to make an impact.

2. Stevan Jovetic (1510 days injured)

The Montenegro forward has been unfortunate enough to have sustained two ACL injuries throughout his career. His time in the Premier League with Manchester City was fairly forgettable and he's been through injury hell since.

Jovetic was particularly unfortunate with injuries during his spell with Monaco as he missed over 150 games for club and country between 2017 and 2021.

He's still playing today for Olympiacos and is still susceptible to the occasional knock every now and again.

1. Abou Diaby (1747 days injured)

This one is really painful. Diaby had the potential to go to the very top with Arsenal, but injuries had other ideas.

In total, he missed 314 games throughout his career and spent a whopping 1747 days on the sidelines – that's the equivalent of 4.7 years being injured! A crying shame.

Source: allfooball

Nice Article

I have always believed that Jack wilshere and Abou Diaby didn't have real bones but biscuit bones, that is why even breeze from other players could get them injured

I remember Ledley King of Tottenham Hotspur, dude was literally the King of injuries in his time.

Good memories at White Hart Lane then, especially with my favorite spurs player, Tom HuddleStone.

Jack Wilshere
Thomas Vemaelen
Thomas Rosicky
Aaron Ramsey
Abou Diaby

Those were dark days as an Arsenal supporter.

Abou Diaby - Arsenal (village people)

Joel Matip - Liverpool (glass leg)

Neymar 😭😭 (haters)

Reading…

11. Thomas Partey

where thiago alcantara and daniel sturidge

Abou Diaby's case is a sad story.

Amazing guy with unbelievable talent

Amazing stuff

Truly if not for injury Ronaldo is a goat contender. That guy na dispatch rider.

Where is Neymar?

Eduardo Da Silva

Jack Wilshere was destined for greatness but injuries stopped his growth

When is Neymr

Jack Wilshere’s own was so bad he was renamed Jack Wheelchair. Boy never achieved his full potential and retired at the age of 30.

oz4real83:
I have always believed that Jack wilshere and Abou Diaby didn't have real bones but biscuit bones, that is why even breeze from other players could get them injured

Hilarious 🤣🤣🤣

schedule110108:
Eduardo Da Silva

after that horror tackle from stoke city, he was never the same again.

What of Van persie, thomas partey and smith role

No Phil Jones? That one that just stayed at man Utd never playing, never going. Just stayed like a sit tight ruler coach after coach, owner after owner.

Too much eating of burger and French fries why dem no go dey get injury

Reminds me of the legendary Marco van Basten...

Such an extraordinary talent, in my opinion one of the greatest strikers in football.

Unfortunately, injury cut short his glorious career at the young age of 28.

Hdh

What manner of article is this..

It was only injuries that prevented him from potentially becoming the best player of all time.

What's the meaning of this nansense?

Which injury stopped him from becoming the best player of all time... He is top 5

About Diaby
That guy can get injured while on the bench.
Meh dude was on pension

U forgot to add Jonathan woodgate

Ruben and Ribery then in Bayern.

When football was football.

Ruben left, Ribery right.

Bayern's front then was like Razor Blades.

Vassiriki Abou Diaby,the guy was a baller. He is Andres iniesta and Yaya toure in one body. Injury do that guy shege,at a time,it come be like say na him village VIOs dey follow am.Arsene Wenger knew he was talented and kept him around despite his injury woes till it was clear his case was irredeemable.

obembet:
Source: allfooball

Owen Hargreaves ?

Eden hazard ?

No worry Reece James go soon overtake all of them
That yeye boy dey play 5games per season

Funny how about average of the list once played for arsenal
Wengay and fragile players