10 most horrific and serious injuries in football

Throughout the history of football, there have been moments that have shocked the world not because of the genius or beauty of the goals, but because of the devastating injuries that have occurred on the field.

These episodes serve as a reminder of the physical intensity of the sport and the unpredictability surrounding player safety during matches.

In this article, we will remember some of the most striking and shocking injuries in the history of football, which have remained etched in the memory of fans and players.

10 - Djibril Cissé x Blackburn - 2006

In the 10th minute of the first half, Djibril Cissé challenged the Blackburn defender for the ball. Cissé's foot caught on the turf as he attempted to change direction. At the same time, the weight of his body twisted his right leg, resulting in an extremely serious exposed fracture of the tibia and fibula.

9 - David Busst x Manchester United - 1996

In the second minute of the match, during a corner kick, Busst went up into the box to challenge for the ball, but collided violently with Manchester United defenders Denis Irwin and Brian McClair. The impact left his leg pinned to the ground, while the weight and force of the collision caused an exposed fracture of the tibia and fibula in his right leg. The bone pierced the skin, leaving the fracture visible for all to see.

8 - Santiago Arias x Venezuela - 2020

In the 7th minute of the first half, Arias challenged the ball with Venezuelan forward Darwin Machís. During the play, Arias' right foot got stuck in the turf during the tackle attempt, causing an extreme and abnormal twisting movement. The sound of the snap was audible. Arias' leg bent to the opposite side in a brutal twist of the lower leg.

7 - Henrik Larsson x Lyon - 1999

Before he starred for Arsenal and Barcelona, ​​while still at Celtic, during the first half of the game, Larsson tried to challenge Lyon defender Serge Blanc for a ball at speed. In the move, he stretched to reach the ball as the defender tried to clear it. Larsson's left leg got stuck in the turf, and the impact caused a double fracture of the tibia and fibula.

6 - Christian Eriksen vs Finland - 2021

In the 43rd minute of the first half, in a play without contact with the opponent, Eriksen suddenly fell to the ground. There was no collision or dispute for the ball: he simply collapsed while walking. The fall was immediately noticed by his teammates, especially Thomas Delaney, who ran desperately to call the medics. Eriksen suffered a sudden cardiac arrest, and his life was saved by the quick action of the first responders and teammates.

5 - Neymar x Colombia - 2014

Neymar was the big name on the Brazilian national team. At just 22 years old, he carried the hopes of an entire country that saw him as the heir to Ronaldo, Romário and Pelé. He had already scored some great goals in the group stage and was Brazil's top scorer in the World Cup up until that point. However, in the quarterfinal match against Colombia, in the 42nd minute of the second half, Colombian fullback Zúñiga approached Neymar from behind, in a play without a direct dispute for the ball, and violently kneed him in the back. Neymar fell immediately, screaming in pain and unable to move. The stadium fell silent, and it soon became clear that something very serious had happened. After being taken away on a stretcher and taken to the hospital, tests revealed:

Fracture of the transverse process of the third lumbar vertebra. It was an injury that did not require surgery, but it would have required immobilization and complete rest for weeks, in addition to presenting a real risk of spinal cord injury. If the impact had occurred a few centimeters higher, it could have caused paralysis. Neymar himself later revealed: “If it had been two centimeters to the side, I could have ended up in a wheelchair.”

4 - Djibril Cissé x China - 2006

He did it again, what bad luck! Ten minutes into the first half, Cissé received a through ball and tried to control the ball while twisting his body. In the movement, his left leg got stuck in the grass, and a Chinese player collided with him from behind. The twist was immediate and extreme. The tibia broke violently, causing the leg to literally twist to the opposite side. It was a shocking fracture, evident in the TV images.

3 - Ewald Lienen x Werder Bremen - 1981

During a play near the touchline, Lienen was advancing with the ball when he was tackled hard from behind by the Werder Bremen defender. The shot, with the cleat of his boot, hit Lienen directly on the upper part of his right thigh, causing a cut approximately 25 centimeters long and 10 centimeters deep. The vastus lateralis muscle was exposed, and the skin parted like a curtain, revealing muscle tissue and tendons.

2 - Ronaldo vs Lazio - 2000

Ronaldo was already considered the best player in the world. He had been voted the Ballon d'Or twice (1997 and 1999), won the World Cup with Brazil in 1994 (even though he wasn't playing) and was known as the "Phenomenon" by the Italians. It seemed like nothing could stop him, until...

In a game against Lazio, just 6 minutes into the game, Ronaldo received a ball near the opponent's penalty area. While attempting a simple dribble, he made an acceleration movement with his right leg. At that moment, his knee collapsed on its own, without any contact with an opponent. Ronaldo fell to the ground screaming in pain, holding his knee with both hands. The patellar tendon in his right knee had completely ruptured. The images showed the knee visibly dislocating. The stadium went silent, and it seemed as if the world of football had stopped.

However, this injury had a happy ending. Ronaldo managed to recover and, two years later, led the Brazilian national team to its fifth world championship, being the team's top scorer in the competition.

1 - Luciano Sanchez x Fluminense - 2023

In the 11th minute of the second half, Marcelo, a Fluminense full-back, attempted an individual play and, while dribbling an opponent, ended up stepping on Luciano Sánchez's leg with his body weight. The player's leg was supported in an unfavorable position as he tried to intercept the play. The impact caused a severe hyperextension of Sánchez's left leg, which bent backwards at an unnatural angle. The brutal scene was captured by TV cameras.

While injuries are an inevitable part of high-intensity sports, the cases presented here are examples of just how unpredictable and sometimes cruel football can be. These stories have not only tested the strength and determination of the athletes involved, but have also driven medical advancements and reinforced the importance of safety measures in the sport.

I hope you are all well! Until the next article.