Football is by far the most popular sport on the planet. It is estimated that 250 million people are active in the sport, in over 200 countries. It is also estimated that there are around 4 billion fans that follow football. Yet, unfortunately, football has been known to have some tragedies that have caused players to retire and never play football professionally again. Here are the three worst injuries in football history.
- Petr Cech
During a Chelsea game vs Reading, on October 14th, 2006, Chelsea’s goalie, Petr Cech, almost lost his life. During the game, Cech collided with Stephen Hunt, a 
Reading player. During the collision, Cech had collided with Hunt, hitting his head on the knee of the Reading player. After being ejected from the game, he collapsed in the dressing room, the internal injury had caused a blood clot to form. He was directly taken to the Royal Berkshire Hospital, where he was treated for a depressed skull fracture.
It was said that he would have to recover from the injury for over a year, yet returned to the team after three months.
- Patrick Battiston
During a French game vs West Germany, July 8th, 1982. The French player bumped into West German goalkeeper, Schumacher. The collision with the goalkeeper knocked Battision
unconscious. He had also received torn vertebrae and multiple broken teeth. The collision had been so severe that he was given oxygen in the middle of the pitch.
Luckily, Battiston played again after only five months, after making a full recovery.
- David Busst
During a Manchester United game against Coventry City, on April 8th, 1996, David Bust, a 
former Coventry City defender, had to abruptly end his career after receiving an injury so bad that it is often known as one of the worst injuries in football history. David broke his leg after colliding with his opponents, McClure and Irwin. The collision caused a compound fracture in the tibia and fibula on his right leg. Bust had to undergo 26 surgeries and had multiple infections from the injury, and he was unfortunately forced to retire, at the age of 29.
