It’s maybe the harm that footballers dread essentially the most. Anterior cruciate ligament tears can go away a participant needing surgical procedure and often imply a protracted interval on the sidelines.
A key piece of tissue which retains the patella (knee bone) linked to the femur (thigh bone) and the tibia (shinbone), the anterior cruciate ligament can tear or snap if a participant places stress on the knee joint or makes a sudden motion.
Significantly frequent in ladies’s soccer, the harm has additionally been on the rise within the males’s sport lately. A participant sustaining an ACL tear or rupture could be out for as much as a 12 months and in some circumstances, it may be sufficient to finish a profession.
Right here, a have a look at some high-profile gamers within the males’s sport who’ve sustained anterior cruciate ligament accidents…
Radamel Falcao (Monaco)
Radamel Falcao receives remedy after struggling a critical knee harm in motion for Monaco towards Chasselay in January 2014. (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
After scoring 70 targets in 91 video games for Atlético Madrid in an electrical two-season spell in Spain, Radamel Falcao was one of many world’s most sought-after gamers.
So it was considerably shocking when the Colombian signed for Monaco in the summertime of 2013. In a Coupe de France conflict towards Chasselay the next January, Falcao tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. He missed the remainder of the season and likewise the 2014 World Cup. And upon his return, he was by no means fairly the identical participant once more.
Éder Militão (Actual Madrid)
Actual Madrid defender Eder Militao in agony after struggling a critical harm in a sport towards Osasuna in November 2024. (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
Actual Madrid defender Éder Militão sustained an anterior cruciate ligament harm in his left knee in a LaLiga sport towards Athletic Membership and missed just about your complete season, though he was a late substitute as Los Blancos beat Borussia Dortmund to win the 2024 Champions League remaining in June.
Again within the staff within the 2024/25 marketing campaign, the Brazilian defender tore his ACL once more, this time in his proper leg in a LaLiga sport towards Osasuna in November 2024.
Ivan Perišić (Tottenham)
Ivan Perisic in motion for Tottenham towards Burnley in September 2023. (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
Ivan Perišić suffered a fancy anterior cruciate ligament harm in his proper knee throughout non-contact coaching at Tottenham in September 2023.
The Croatian midfielder underwent surgical procedure, however by no means performed for Spurs once more and moved again to his homeland with Hajduk Cut up in January 2024.
Robert Pirès (Arsenal)
Robert Pires celebrates a aim for Arsenal towards Aston Villa in March 2002. (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
Robert Pirès’ 2001/02 season was ended prematurely because the French winger suffered an anterior cruciate ligament tear in an FA Cup tie towards Newcastle in March 2002.
Pirès went on to overlook the FA Cup remaining and likewise the 2002 World Cup, however he was named because the Soccer Writers’ Participant of the Yr for his position in Arsenal’s league and cup double.
Ruud van Nistelrooy (PSV)
Ruud van Nistelrooy holds a Manchester United shirt at Previous Trafford after signing for the Purple Devils in April 2001. (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
With an £18.5 million transfer to Manchester United all agreed and a switch simply days away, catastrophe struck for Ruud van Nistelrooy.
The Dutchman ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament at PSV and was out of motion for a 12 months, however Alex Ferguson returned the next summer time to finish a £19m deal for the striker.
Gavi (Spain)
Gavi is helped off the sphere after struggling a critical harm enjoying for Spain towards Georgia in November 2023. (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
Taking part in for Spain towards Georgia in November 2023, Gavi sustained an entire tear of the anterior cruciate ligament in his proper knee and an related harm to the lateral meniscus.
The Barcelona midfielder missed the remainder of the 2023/24 season and was additionally absent from the Euro 2024 squad as Spain claimed the title in Germany. He returned to motion in September 2024.
Roberto Baggio (Vicenza)
A younger Roberto Baggio in motion for Vicenza in 1984/85. (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
In direction of the top of his remaining season with first membership Vicenza, Roberto Baggio ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament and the meniscus of his proper knee whereas enjoying towards Rimini.
Regardless of the harm, Baggio signed for Fiorentina in the summertime of 1985 and after lacking just about your complete marketing campaign at his new membership, the younger ahead went on to grow to be maybe essentially the most gifted participant in Italian soccer historical past.
Roy Keane (Manchester United)
Roy Keane leads out Manchester United for the Charity Protect sport towards Chelsea in August 1997. (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
Manchester United captain Roy Keane missed a lot of the 1997/98 season after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in a sport towards Leeds United.
With out their skipper, United went on to lose the Premier League title to Arsenal, however he was again to play an enormous half in a collection of successes within the years forward – together with the treble in 1998/99. Keane had been attempting to deal with Leeds midfielder Alf-Inge Haaland and the Norwegian’s accusation that the Irishman was feigning an harm sparked a long-running feud between the 2.
Francesco Totti (Roma)
Roma’s Francesco Totti goes off injured in a sport towards Livorno in April 2008. (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
In a sport towards Livorno in April 2008, Roma captain Francesco Totti tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his proper knee.
Totti ended up lacking the Coppa Italia remaining, however took half within the celebrations after Roma’s victory towards Inter. The ahead underwent surgical procedure and was sidelined for 4 months in whole.
Zlatan Ibrahimović (Manchester United & AC Milan)
Zlatan Ibrahimovic holds the Europa League trophy after Manchester United’s win over Ajax within the 2017 remaining in Stockholm. (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
Zlatan Ibrahimović suffered critical ligament injury in his knee in a Europa League quarter-final conflict towards Anderlecht in April 2017 and went on to overlook the ultimate, watching from the sidelines because the Purple Devils beat Ajax 2-0 in Stockholm.
5 years later, the Swedish striker claimed he had performed half a season “with out an ACL” in his left knee, managing the ache with injections and minimal coaching as he helped AC Milan to the Serie A title.
Xavi (Barcelona)
Xavi in motion for Barcelona towards Actual Sociedad in October 2005. (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
Xavi was sidelined for half a season after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament tear in coaching at Barcelona in December 2005.
The midfielder was anticipated to overlook the rest of the marketing campaign, however was again in April and on the bench for the Champions League remaining win over Arsenal. He additionally featured within the 2006 World Cup for Spain.
Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus)
Juventus ahead Alessandro Del Piero gestures throughout his aspect’s Champions League remaining defeat to Juventus in Could 1998. (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
Alessandro Del Piero was one of many world’s best forwards in 1998 and the Italy icon hit 32 targets in 47 matches because the Bianconeri gained Serie A and reached the Champions League remaining in 1997/98.
Del Piero was laid low by an anterior cruciate ligament harm picked up late in a sport towards Udinese in October 1998 and missed the rest of the season. Much less explosive upon his return, he went on to be vastly profitable in a barely deeper position and have become Juve’s all-time prime scorer in a protracted profession in Turin.
Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk receives remedy after colliding with Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and struggling a critical harm at Goodison Park in October 2020. (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
Virgil van Dijk was key for Liverpool within the Reds’ Champions League and Premier League titles in 2019 and 2020, respectively.
However the Dutch defender was sidelined for a lot of the 2020/21 season after colliding with Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford in a derby at Goodison Park and missed 9 months of motion.
Alan Shearer (Blackburn Rovers)
Alan Shearer celebrates Blackburn Rovers’ Premier League title win in Could 1995. (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
Alan Shearer signed for Blackburn Rovers from Southampton in the summertime of 1992 and was rapidly among the many targets for his new membership.
The previous England striker ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in a sport towards Leeds United in December and missed the remainder of the season. However he went on to be an enormous hit for Blackburn, serving to the membership win the Premier League title in 1994/95 and later occurring to grow to be the competitors’s main scorer in a protracted spell at hometown staff Newcastle United.
Dani Carvajal (Actual Madrid)
Actual Madrid’s Dani Carvajal grimaces in ache after struggling a critical harm in a LaLiga sport towards Villarreal in October 2024. (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
A LaLiga and Champions League winner with Actual Madrid in 2023/24, Dani Carvajal helped Spain to the Euro 2024 title later in the summertime.
Barely getting a break, Carvajal spoke publicly about how footballers have been enjoying too many video games. The best-back was subsequently sidelined by an anterior cruciate ligament harm in a match towards Villarreal in October 2024. Though set for a protracted spell out of motion, Madrid backed their participant by giving him a brand new long-term contract.
Neymar (Brazil)
Neymar reacts after struggling a critical harm enjoying for Brazil towards Uruguay in October 2023. (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
Just some weeks after overtaking Pelé to grow to be Brazil’s all-time prime scorer, Neymar was struck down by an anterior cruciate ligament harm enjoying for his nation in a World Cup qualifier towards Uruguay.
The previous Paris Saint-Germain ahead had solely performed just a few video games for brand spanking new membership Al-Hilal and was de-registered by the Saudi Professional League aspect throughout his restoration. He returned to motion in October 2024 after simply over a 12 months on the sidelines.
Rodri (Manchester Metropolis)
Rodri is helped off the pitch by members of Manchester Metropolis’s medical workers after struggling a critical harm towards Arsenal within the Premier League in September 2024. (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
After enjoying 50 matches for Manchester Metropolis in 2023/24 and serving to Spain win Euro 2024 in the summertime, Rodri was laid low by a critical harm in September 2024.
The midfielder suffered an anterior cruciate ligament tear following a collision with Arsenal’s Thomas Partey in a 2-2 draw with the Gunners and was on crutches as he obtained the Ballon d’Or in late October.
