Top 10 Worst Football Injuries Ever- Ranked

Injuries are part and parcel of a contact sport like football, where players come in contact every few minutes as they jostle for possession. However, some injuries can be much worse than others and can set players back not just in the sport, but in day-to-day life as well.

Since football is mainly a running sport, muscle injuries in the legs are the most common type of injury that happens to players. Sprains, twists, and bruises are the others, but when it comes to the breakage of bones, that is where things get really difficult for the ones suffering.

Without further ado, let’s take a look at the ten worst injuries in football history.

List Of The Top 10 Worst Injuries In Football History

#	Name	Team	Year	Injury Type	Time Spent Injured (In Days)
1.	David Busst	Coventry City	1996	Fracture Of Fibula Shaft & Broken Tibia	813
2.	Eduardo Da Silva	Arsenal	2008	Tibia and Fibula Fracture	296
3.	Alf-Inge Haaland	Manchester City	2001	ACL	N/A
4.	Patrick Battison	France	1982	Damaged Vertebrae	180
5.	Neymar Junior	Brazil	2015	Vertebral Injury	30
6.	Luc Nilis	Aston Villa	2000	Lower Leg Fracture	113
7.	Henrik Larsson	Celtic	1999	Broken Leg	300
8.	Radamel Falcao	AS Monaco	2014	Cruciate Ligament Tear	189
9.	Alan Smith	Manchester United	2006	Broken Leg	207
10.	Djibril Cisse	Liverpool	2004	Tibia And Fibula Fracture	161

10. Djibril Cisse | Liverpool

Cisse was mainly remembered for his affinity towards fancy haircuts and hair colors, changing it depending on whether his team was playing home or away. However, his career was also marred by two nasty leg breaks, the first of which occurred in 2004 while he represented the Reds. The incident occurred in a Premier League match against Blackburn as Cisse was met with brute force in a tackle. His foot unfortunately got stuck in the turf, causing a double leg break, which the players revealed nearly cost him his entire leg.

Despite the severity of the injury, Cissé made a remarkable recovery and returned to action within eight months. Incredibly, just two years later, he suffered another horrific leg break while on international duty with France in a warm-up match before the 2006 World Cup. Despite these setbacks, his resilience and determination saw him continue his career, playing for several clubs across Europe and beyond.

Games	609
Goals	272
Assists	51
Total Injuries	4
Games Missed	112

9. Alan Smith | Manchester United

Usually, players are encouraged to put their body in the way of a free-kick ever so little to deter the taker and prevent them from focusing on the goal. However, Alan Smith will regret doing the same against former Liverpool player John Arne Riise. Smith stood in the way of Riise’s free-kick and even blocked it, but suffered tremendous damage in the process. Smith broke his tibia along with a dislocated ankle, which derailed his career as he failed to get back to the same physical condition again.

The horrific injury occurred during an FA Cup clash between Manchester United and Liverpool in 2006, leaving players and fans in shock. Smith required oxygen on the pitch before being stretchered off and was sidelined for nearly a year. Though he eventually returned to action, he struggled to regain his previous form and was later converted from a striker to a midfielder in an attempt to prolong his career.

Games	604
Goals	70
Assists	40
Total Injuries	2
Games Missed	62

8. Radamel Falcao| AS Monaco

Radamel Falcao suffered a gruesome injury during a French Cup game which not only sidelined him for several months but also made him miss the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The Colombian striker had a reputation of being fearsome and dreadful in front of the goal. He joined AS Monaco in a big-spending move, after a terrific spell at Atletico Madrid. Just a few games for the French club, AS Monaco, he picked a terrible injury which sidelined him for quite a time.

Games	587
Goals	307
Assists	55
Total Injuries	26
Games Missed	218

7. Henrik Larsson | Celtic

The towering Swede suffered one of the most horrific leg injuries during Celtic’s UEFA Cup tie against Lyon back in 1999. A prolific striker before the injury, Larsson was remarkably able to retain his abilities despite spending eight months recovering from the worst injury.

Henrik Larsson’s injury occurred when he got tangled in a challenge, leading to a devastating double fracture in his left leg. The shocking nature of the injury left fans fearing for his career, but Larsson’s determination saw him make a full recovery. Upon his return, he enjoyed his best-ever season, scoring 53 goals in the 2000-01 campaign and cementing his status as a Celtic legend before later winning the Champions League with Barcelona.

Games	587
Goals	328
Assists	103
Total Injuries	2
Games Missed	66

6. Luc Nilis | Aston Villa

Nilis’ career was horrendously cut short in 2000 during Aston Villa’s match against Ipswich Town. He collided with their goalkeeper Richard Wright, leading to a compound fracture in his right leg. The player had only just joined the Villans and had even scored one goal in two games prior to the incident. He was injured in just his third appearance for Villa and would go on to make just two more appearances for the club after his recovery.

The severity of the injury forced Nilis into early retirement, as complications from the fracture prevented him from ever regaining full fitness. Prior to the incident, he had enjoyed a successful career in Belgium and the Netherlands, forming a lethal partnership with Ronaldo at PSV Eindhoven. Despite his short stint in England, he remains highly respected for his technical ability and finishing prowess, with many lamenting what could have been had his career not been cruelly cut short.

Games	542
Goals	311
Assists	66
Total Injuries	3
Games Missed	30

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5. Neymar Junior | Brazil

Neymar Junior’s horrific fractured vertebra occurred during a crucial game for Brazil at the 2014 FIFA World Cup against Colombia. Former Barcelona star was running with the ball at his feet when challenged by the opposition player, Juan Camilo Zuniga. This resulted in his back getting seriously injured and he was carried out on a stretcher.

Despite the devastating nature of his injuries, Neymar displayed incredible resilience and made yet another successful comeback. Following his recovery, he continued to play at the highest level, featuring for clubs like PSG, Al Hilal, and Santos.

Games	597
Goals	362
Assists	223
Total Injuries	41
Games Missed	242

4. Patrick Battiston | France

Battiston’s gruesome injury occurred during France’s 1982 World Cup semi-final against Germany, as he collided with German goalkeeper Harald Schumacher in a head-on manner. This left the Frenchman with broken teeth, broken ribs, and also damaged vertebrae. Frenchman had remarkably managed to get his shot off but Schumacher still twisted his body in a way that he would collide with the Frenchman, who went into a coma on the spot. Former teammate Michel Platini later revealed that he and others feared Battiston had lost his life.

The incident sparked outrage, especially as Schumacher escaped without a booking and even seemed indifferent to Battiston’s condition. The Frenchman was immediately rushed to the hospital, where he regained consciousness but had to spend months recovering. Despite the severity of his injuries, Battiston made a full comeback and continued playing professionally for several more years. The controversial collision remains one of the most infamous moments in World Cup history, often cited in discussions about fair play and sportsmanship in football.

Games	678
Goals	45
Assists	0
Total Injuries	N/A
Games Missed	N/A

3. Alf-Inge Haaland | Manchester City

Haaland suffered one of the worst injuries in football, which happened during one of the most iconic modern-day rivalry matches, as Manchester United’s Roy Keane ruined Alf-Inge’s knee with a reckless challenge. Although it is still unknown how many injuries he suffered and games missed in his career due to injuries, ultimately led to the Norwegian’s retirement.

What made the whole thing worse is that Keane later revealed he was plotting this tackle for a while after Haaland had previously mocked the Irishman for play-acting after being on the receiving end of a hard tackle.

The infamous challenge occurred during a Manchester derby in 2001 when Keane deliberately targeted Haaland with a brutal studs-up tackle on his right knee. The Irishman later admitted in his autobiography that it was an act of revenge for a previous incident in 1997 when Haaland, then at Leeds United, accused him of feigning injury after a failed tackle left Keane with a ruptured ACL. While Haaland did play a few more matches after the incident, persistent knee problems forced him to retire just two years later. The tackle remains one of the most notorious acts of on-field revenge in football history.

Games	219
Goals	18
Assists	3
Total Injuries	N/A
Games Missed	N/A

2. Eduardo Da Silva | Arsenal

One of the most horrific Premier League injuries occurred when Arsenal striker Eduardo had his leg broken following a reckless and violent tackle by a Birmingham City player. The Croatian had his foot planted on the turf when the player caught him mid-shin, resulting in a double fracture in his leg, as well as a dislocated ankle, which is one of the most painful and worst injuries in football. While Eduardo marked his return a few years later and even scored more goals for the Gunners, he was nowhere near being the same player he was before the injury. Throughout his career, he has suffered more than 6 injuries and missed around 70 games due to them.

The horrific injury occurred in February 2008 when Birmingham’s Martin Taylor lunged into Eduardo with a high, mistimed challenge just three minutes into the match. The impact was so severe that television networks avoided showing replays, and Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger initially called for a lifetime ban for Taylor—though he later retracted his statement. Eduardo made a courageous return to football a year later, scoring in his comeback match, but he never fully regained his pre-injury sharpness. Eventually, he left Arsenal for Shakhtar Donetsk, where he enjoyed success but remained a shadow of the prolific striker he once was.

Games	371
Goals	144
Assists	48
Total Injuries	6
Games Missed	70

1. David Busst | Coventry City

One of the most horrific and worst injuries in football saw David Busst break his leg in multiple places after colliding with a Manchester United defender. Both the fibula and the tibia of the right leg were severely damaged, resulting in a complicated recovery process which also birthed fears that Busst would have to amputate his leg. This injury ended his career on the spot but David Busst continued to contribute to Coventry City via their community program.

In a game against Man United, he suffered one of the worst injuries in football. David Busst’s short footballing career was filled with injuries which ultimately cost him his career. He suffered 7 major injuries and missed more than 157 games.

The horrific injury occurred in April 1996 during a Premier League match between Coventry City and Manchester United. As Busst attempted to challenge for a corner, he collided with United defenders Denis Irwin and Brian McClair, resulting in a devastating double leg break. The impact was so severe that blood had to be cleaned off the pitch before play resumed, and Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel was visibly distressed by the sight. Despite undergoing multiple surgeries, Busst was never able to play professionally again. However, he remained involved in football, dedicating himself to Coventry City’s community programs and youth development initiatives. His injury remains one of the most shocking in football history.

Games	54
Goals	5
Assists	2
Total Injuries	7
Games Missed	157

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