Some players are just immune to being injured. Take Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes as a prime example – the Portuguese magician has missed a grand total of two games (through injury) since making the switch to the Premier League. On the other hand, there are some footballers who become so injury-prone that their careers never meet the expectations laid before them.

It begs the question of whether the sport is about skill, or does it involve strong elements of luck, too. There is a litany of players – most included on this list – who have tried to make it to the top of the game, only to have been limited to time on the turf due to injury.

The folks over at ThePopFoot, combined with some crunched numbers provided by Transfermarkt, have provided a list of what can only be described as the footballers with the worst luck when it comes to being injured. Below are the top 11 as of September 2025; the number of days and matches missed have been included, while the number of injuries has also been displayed for good measure.

11

Holger Badstuber

1305 days injured | 212 games missed | 22 different injuries

The injury-ravaged career of Holger Badstuber is much lesser-known than some of the high-profile names on this list. That being said, he still missed 212 games of his career on 22 different occasions, which equates to 1305 days of being away from the grass.

As he rose up the Bayern Munich ranks from 2005 onwards, Badstuber was living the dream, but any sort of progression was always halted by an injury of some sort. After time at Schalke 04, VfB Stuttgart and FC Luzern, he retired in 2022, aged 33 and even spoke about his fitness struggles in his farewell post, saying:

10

Ronaldo Nazario

1324 days injured | 159 games missed | 8 different injuries

Two-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo is in eighth spot. Known for schooling defenders left, right and centre in his heyday, the Brazilian is easily one of the best strikers the world has ever seen. Interestingly, the enigmatic forward amassed just eight injuries across his time as a footballer, which means they were all long-term and, subsequently, more serious.

Most tragically, just six minutes into his return from the first knee problem which had kept him out for five months, the striker suffered a horrific setback as his “knee-cap actually exploded and it ended up in the middle of his thigh.” Just ask yourself this: what could he have achieved it if hadn’t been for those injuries?

9

Franck Ribery

1363 days injured | 227 games missed | 72 different injures

Having amassed 72 different injuries over his glittering career, Franck Ribery spent 1363 days away from action. He and Robben forged one of the most dangerous wing pairings to grace the game during their respective Bayern Munich careers, so you can just begin to imagine the extent of the damage they could’ve caused should the Frenchman’s injuries eased.

As the wide man finally announced his retirement, he admitted that he had little choice in the matter given his long line of injuries had taken a toll on his then-39-year-old legs: “But today, despite the effort I have made in the last three months, the pain in my knee has only worsened, and the doctors are clear – I have no choice but to stop playing”.

8

Thomas Vermaelen

1366 days injured | 267 games missed | 35 different injuries

Eyebrows were raised when Belgium international Thomas Vermaelen secured a switch from Arsenal to Barcelona – not because of a lack of talent, of course, but given his less-than-calming injury record. Across his full career, the former captain of the north London outfit missed 267 games with 35 different injuries, which equated to 1366 days on the sidelines.

Now working as the manager of the Belgium Under-20s, the centre-back will look back at his playing days with sorrow aplenty, knowing that injuries perhaps stopped him from ever truly reaching his full potential. Still, he won trophies in Holland, England, Spain, and Japan, so it wasn’t a career wasted by any means. He retired in January 2022.

7

Vincent Kompany

1419 days injured | 176 games missed | 31 different injuries

Synonymous around Manchester for his tiptop leadership qualities, the current Bayern Munich manager had a tumultuous playing career, despite the countless successes. During his time at the Etihad Stadium, Pep Guardiola grew increasingly concerned about his track record of picking up knocks, having suffered most from calf and shin damage.

Luckily, his setbacks didn’t have a devastating effect on his career, as proven by the fact that he pulled the curtains on his playing days as a four-time Premier League champion. Still, Vincent Kompany failed to play more than 20 league games in his final four seasons with the club, showing just how much he struggled to stay fully fit at times.

6

Marco Reus

1421 days injured | 172 games missed | 73 different injuries

Mr Borussia Dortmund himself. Across his memory-laden playing days, the legendary Marco Reus has suffered 73 separate injuries, which has left him unavailable for selection for 156 games and 1313 days in total. He is now spending the swansong of his career in the United States with LA Galaxy – but his troubles with injuries have followed him.

The German side, who have always been in the shadow of Bayern Munich, often relied on his capabilities to spring them into action when they needed it the most over his lengthy spell; in fact, they looked an entirely different entity with him out of the team. As expected, that was often the case given how often he picked up an injury. Perhaps his fitness struggles were in mind when he chose to give up the club captaincy role in 2023.

5

Jack Wilshere

1470 days injured | 214 games missed | 18 different injuries

An unsurprising inclusion on the list is former Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere, who retired in the summer of 2020 at the tender age of 30. The English midfielder, who is now head coach of Arsenal’s Under-18’s, is probably best known for his all-encompassing engine room display against Barcelona, who boasted the likes of Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets.

When one of England’s teenage sensations at 19, the Stevenage-born ace had the world at his feet but his career – which turned out to be dogged by injuries – was cut terribly short thanks to his long line of injury problems. He went from the poster boy of English football to a player synonymous with the treatment table in just a matter of years. What a terrible waste of talent.

4

Arjen Robben

1507 days injured | 243 games missed | 58 different injuries

Despite spending a total of 1507 days on the wrong side of the white line, the dazzling Dutchman still established himself as one of the top wingers of the modern era following stints in England at Chelsea and in Germany with Bayern Munich. The inevitable cut inside and whip into the far top corner became his trademark move and while it caused many defenders a headache, Arjen Robben became all too limited through injury.

Despite his fitness woes, he was still an esteemed part of some of Bayern Munich’s fiercest teams. The 96-cap Netherlands international scored 144 goals and notched a further 101 assists in his 309-game career in Germany. He also was named Man of the Match in the 2012/13 Champions League final, netting the winner against Borussia Dortmund.

3

Neymar Jr

1512 days injured | 277 games missed | 44 different injuries

Perhaps the modern game’s biggest ‘what could have been’ story belongs to none other than once-Brazilian wonderkid, Neymar. Now, that’s not to say he still didn’t manage to navigate a glistening career, having made up one-third of Barcelona’s greatest front three alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, as his 105 goals and 76 assists helped him to a La Liga and Champions League triumph over the course of his 186 appearances.

Nevertheless, injuries definitely played a part in his eventual downfall and surprising inability to transform from the humble Santos boy into a multi-Ballon d’Or victor.

With a total of 277 games missed since becoming one of the primary faces of world football, this could well have been the difference between the Brazilian being a world-class player and one of the greatest of all time. Still, at 33 years old, he is back in his homeland earning his corn for Santos but, with age, the injuries are becoming way too commonplace.

2

Stevan Jovetic

1524 days injured | 214 games missed | 35 different injuries

Formerly of Manchester City, the centre-forward has been on the wrong side of luck way too many times for his liking. In turn, as with many players on this list, Stefan Jovetic – who was one of City’s most expensive strikers pre-Erling Haaland – can count himself unlucky given he was so struck by injury woes in his career. In fact, the 35-year-old is fortunate to still be plying his trade.

After being released by Olympiacos, things looked down for Jovetic but the Montenegro international is now on the books of Omonia Nicosia and, during his playing days, he has picked up 35 injuries and spent 1524 days sidelined altogether. At least he’s still playing in his 30s, although these unfortunate figures are likely to increase over the final few years of his career.