5 stars who picked up injuries before the World Cup

#1 Marco van Basten

Marco van Basten's career came to an abrupt end

Van Basten had a stellar career with Ajax and AC Milan. The legendary Dutch forward was often synonymous with his stunning volleys and prolificity in front of goal, but boy did he have a footballing brain.

More than six feet, he was one of the best forwards at the time in terms of his technique and once he got the ball, there was very little chance he was going to give it back because of his composure and his strength.

While his physical attributes helped him excel, his ankles simply couldn't take all the physical exertion and he was forced to retire at the age of 28. Because of how good he often was on the ball, he was often at the wrong end of tackles as defenders didn't know how to deal with him.

In the end, the series of surgeries took a toll on him and he was forced to retire at the age of 28. He gave it his all before the 1994 World Cup, but his body simply didn't permit him to take part.