5 top footballers who were forced to retire because of injury

Although footballers have a shorter career duration than other sportsmen, some have had to retire from the game early because of injuries of varied severity.

While other have been fortunate enough to enjoy a career that is fluid and of light injury setbacks, others have not been so fortunate.

We take a look at five top football players who were forced to retire because of injury.

Sergio Aguero

Among the top strikers of his generation was Aguero. He was a key player in Manchester City's ascent to the top, and in 2021 he left the team as its record goalscorer to join Barcelona. A heart ailment prompted him to retire a few months later. His career had already been plagued by injuries before that.

Jack Wilshere

At the age of barely thirty, Wilshere declared his retirement from football . Having gone through the Arsenal academy as a teenager, he spent the majority of his brief career sidelined by injury. His most memorable performance was against Barcelona in the Champions League in 2011. He put in an incredible performance that helped the Gunners to a 2-1 victory over Barca.

Marco Van Basten

Another victim of injury was Marco Van Basten. The renowned Dutch football player missed two years of play due to an ankle injury before retiring in 1995 at the age of 28. He was instrumental in AC Milan's three Serie A championship victories and guided his nation in winning the 1988 European Championship.

Owen Hargreaves

Hargreaves earned his reputation with Bayern Munich in Germany, after helping them to Champions League glory in 2011. He left the team in 2007 to join Manchester United. He won the Premier League and Champions League double in 2007-08, but he had to retire in 2012 because of a knee injury.

Ronaldo

Generations have been influenced by one of the greatest football players of all time, Ronaldo Nazario. In 2002, he guided Brazil to FIFA World Cup victory. He won two Ballon d'Or for his amazing performances for Inter Milan, Barcelona, and Real Madrid, but his career was hindered by persistent knee problems. He would have accomplished far more but for injuries. At age 34, he retired in 2011.