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Football is a very physical sport, which takes a toll on many players. Despite strict and diligent fitness regimens, sometimes promising careers are cut short because of health reasons.
One such instance recently came to the limelight. According to several reports, Manchester City legend Sergio Aguero may consider retiring from professional football after being diagnosed with a heart condition. The Argentine was taken off the pitch during Barcelona's La Liga clash against Deportivo Alaves in the 41st minute. He reported chest complications, and underwent cardiac tests.
Reports claim that Aguero is suffering from cardiac arrhythmia, which causes irregular heartbeats. That may force the decorated striker to call a premature end to his career.
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However, the Copa America 2021 winner insists he is 'always positive' and hopes to make a return soon. Aguero will be re-evaluated by Barcelona team doctors after 90 days to assess his situation.
Nevertheless, on that note, here's a look at the five players who were forced to retire due to health conditions:
#5 Alvaro Dominguez
Having represented both of Madrid's most prominent clubs - Real and Atletico - Alvaro Dominguez was poised to become one of the best defenders on the continent.
The Spaniard began his campaign with Real Madrid's youth set-up but soon moved cross-town to Atletico Madrid when he was 12. Dominguez worked his way up the ranks to make his senior team debut in the 2008-09 Champions League campaign.
The 32-year old began his career as a left-back, but effortlessly transitioned into a centre-back under then-Atletico manager Quique Sanchez Flores.
Dominguez earned a £9 million move to Bundesliga outfit Borussia Monchengladbach in the summer of 2012. During his three-season spell at the club, Dominguez emerged as one of the best defenders in the league.
However, he shocked the footballing world when he announced his retirement midway through the 2016-17 season. Dominguez revealed that he had been suffering from years of chronic back problems, making it impossible for him to carry on any longer. He retired prematurely at the age of 27, and modern football lost out on an exciting prospect.
#4 Stiliyan Petrov
The story of Stiliyan Petrov is one of the most inspirational ones in the beautiful game. The Bulgarian defeated leukaemia 51 months after his diagnosis, and even returned to preseason training with Aston Villa.
At his peak, Petrov was undoubtedly one of the best midfielders in the continent, with over ten major titles in his trophy cabinet. The 42-year old is one of Bulgaria's all-time greats, racking up 105 appearances for the national side. He represented the likes of Aston Villa, Celtic and CSKA Sofia, winning four Scottish Championships, two Scottish Cups and two Bulgarian Cups, to name a few.
Petrov's career took an unfortunate turn after he reported a fever following Aston Villa's game against Arsenal in March 2012. The team doctor recommended a procedural blood test, but reports showed that Petrov suffered from acute leukaemia, specifically Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL).
After a long battle with leukaemia, Petrov emerged as the winner like he has several times during his career. He was part of Aston Villa's preseason training camp in 2016, and will always be an inspiration to thousands across the world.
#3 Abdelhak Nouri
One of the most recent tragedies in football saw the immensely talented Ajax midfielder Abdelhak Nouri collapse to the ground during a friendly match.
A product of Ajax’s youth academy, Nouri stood out among his peers, and was dubbed the next big thing to come out of the famed academy. The former Netherlands U21 international was also awarded the 2016-17 Player of the Season award for his performances for Ajax’s reserve side. He made his senior-team debut that same season, and earned first-team promotion for the 2017-18 campaign.
However, in a preseason friendly ahead of the 2017-18 season, Nouri collapsed on the pitch against Werder Bremen. The 24-year old was diagnosed with cardiac arrhythmia, but his condition seemed to be stable. However, five days following the incident, Ajax announced that the youngster had suffered severe and permanent brain damage. He was moved to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
After nearly three years, Abdelhak Nouri woke up from his coma, and is now able to communicate with and recognise his family and friends. Football lost another gem in Nouri, but thankfully, he still lives to fight another day.
Ajax officials later admitted that their negligence on the pitch to provide prompt treatment caused Nouri’s permanent brain damage. A lawsuit was filed by Nouri’s family against the club in front of the Royal Dutch Football Association’s arbitration panel.
#2 Ruben de la Red
Real Madrid’s youth academy product Ruben de la Red was one of the most promising youngsters coming through the ranks in Spanish football.
The Spaniard made a move to Getafe in the summer of 2007 in search of first-team minutes. De la Red was so impressive during his time at Getafe that Los Blancos brought him back the following summer.
The central midfielder also earned three caps for the Spanish national team, scoring a goal against Greece at Euro 2008. In an unfortunate incident, though, Ruben de la Red collapsed to the floor in a Copa Del Rey game against Real Union.
Following medical examinations, the Spaniard was diagnosed with a rare heart condition, which ruled him out of action for at least two years. While De la Red remained hopeful of a return, he could never make a return, and retired at the young age of 25.
The Spaniard returned to football in a managerial capacity with the Real Madrid U19 and U17 sides. He also served as manager of Getafe’s reserve team.
#1 Fabrice Muamba
Fabrice Muamba’s tragic cardiac arrest in the middle of a FA Cup quarter-final game is one of the most heart-wrenching moments in football. However, his return to that same pitch sixteen days after the horrific incident was a miraculous and emotional moment for everyone.
Muamba began his footballing journey at Arsenal’s youth set-up, making his first-team debut in the 2005-06 season. After a loan spell at Birmingham City, the Englishman made a permanent move to the Championship side. The central midfielder helped secure Premier League promotion for the West Midlands outfit.
He spent the best years of his career at the Reebok Stadium during his four-season stint at Bolton Wanderers. The tragic incident occurred on the 17th of March, 2012, during a FA Cup quarter-final clash against Tottenham Hotspur.
Muamba had suffered cardiac arrest, and later reports revealed that his heart stopped beating for 78 minutes. After spending almost a month in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), he was discharged from hospital.
The Englishman returned to White Hart Lane to deliver an emotional speech before announcing his retirement from professional football.
