5 legends whose careers declined rapidly due to injuries

Football, by its very nature, is a game of “buts” and “what ifs”. From questionable penalty decisions to last day relegations, it is often the twists of fate that define seasons and careers. However, the cruelest occurrence of all is surely when those on the brink of superstardom or having achieved superstardom have their progress placed in jeopardy due to injury.Countless tales of legends dying are too often consigned to history as a result, and even those players who battle through to overcome such problems are often a shadow of what their natural ability would allow if they had been a little luckier in avoiding a tweak or a tear.With the promotion of youth having come under the spotlight in recent years following the seamless integration of emerging talent into the all-conquering Barcelona side of Pep Guardiola, the pressure on youngsters is now greater than ever and, somewhat inevitably, so is the strain on their developing bodies.Following an extensive study, we have compiled a list of five stars of the game whose careers suffered due to chronic injury problems, and speculate how else their careers might have ended had they avoided the injuries.

#1 Ronaldinho

Position: Attacking Midfielder

Clubs: Grêmio, Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona, AC Milan, Flamengo, Atletico Mineiro, Querétaro, Fluminense.

Injury: Muscular, Hamstring.

Age at decline: 28

Age at retirement: N/A

Ronaldinho Gaúcho, popularly known as Ronaldinho was born on 21st March, 1980. He has been a Brazilian footballing legend whose main playing position was as an attacking midfielder or sometimes forward. He won the FIFA World Player of the Year award in 2004 and 2005. Renowned for his technique, tricks, dribbling, overhead kicks, no-look passes and free kicks, Ronaldinho is regarded to be one of the best players of his generation.

Ronaldinho has played 97 matches and scored 33 goals for the Brazil. He was a part of the 2002 World Cup winning team in Korea/Japan, starring alongside Ronaldo and Rivaldo in an attacking trio, and was named in the FIFA World Cup All-Star Team.

With Barcelona, he won the La Liga twice, the UEFA Champions League in 2006, and accumulated numerous individual awards, including the FIFA World Player of the Year in 2004 and 2005 and the Ballon d’Or in 2005. Ronaldinho was named in the FIFA 100, a list of the world's greatest living players compiled by Pele, and to the FIFPro World XI from 2005–2007.

But the legend of Ronaldinho slowly and steadily went on a decline due to the chronic injuries he faced since he quit Barcelona and went to Milan in 2008. After a good start to the season, Ronaldinho struggled with fitness, and was often played from the bench to end a disappointing first season for Milan. A perceived lack of dedication in training and a lifestyle of late night partying not befitting of an athlete saw him receive criticism, with Carlo Ancelotti, his coach at Milan in his first season in Italy, commenting, "The decline of Ronaldinho hasn't surprised me. His physical condition has always been very precarious. His talent though has never been in question."

After three dreadful years in Milan, Ronaldinho’s career took a dip. He was no longer the legendary Brazilian midfielder everyone knew him to be. However, Ronaldinho led Atlético Mineiro to a good 2012 season, in which the club finished 2nd in the 2012 Brasileirao and qualified for the 2013 Copa Libertadores. Ronaldinho won the Brazilian Golden Ball award for his performances in league matches in 2012.

The following year Ronaldinho helped Atlético to win Campeonato Mineiro and led his club to its first ever title of the Copa Libertadores. Ronaldinho scored four goals and assisted on seven occasions during Atletico's dramatic title run. Even though Ronaldinho had been injured for a bigger part of the second half of the season, he was still voted the 2013 South American Footballer of the Year. He has since been playing for various sides but he is no longer the legend he once was.

#2 Ronaldo

Position: Forward

Clubs: Cruzeiro, PSV, Barcelona, Inter, Real Madrid, AC Milan, Corinthians.

Injury: Knee

Age at decline: 29

Age at retirement: 34

Ronaldo was one of the members of the famous Brazilian squad that won the 2002 FIFA World Cup. It seems remarkable to consider that a career which included two World Cup wins, along with successful spells at Barcelona, Real Madrid, both Milan clubs and three Fifa World Player of the Year awards as limited as Ronaldo’s.

But, having been arguably the greatest striker of all time, the Brazilian would surely take the title undisputedly if it wasn't for the knee tendon problems that ravaged his time at the top, and did what few defenders could - stop him in his tracks.

Speaking on the occasion of his retirement in 2012, El Fenomeno said: "Four years ago in Milan I found out that I was suffering from a problem that is called hypothyroidism, a complaint which slows your metabolism, and that to control it I would have to take medication which is considered illegal in football," he said.

"It's very hard to leave something that made me so happy. Mentally I wanted to continue but I have to acknowledge that I lost to my body." It was an admission that proved despite performances that often suggested otherwise, the Brazilian was human after all.

"My decision [to keep playing] was always led by my heart, and my love for football always helped me to break through the walls in front of me. It's hard for anyone to lose weight, and for me even more so. Hyperthyroidism slows my metabolism, but I always wanted to play."

To see a player of Ronaldo’s calibre finish in such a manner disappointed many fans across the world, but that’s the impact a serious injury can have.

#3 Michael Owen

Position: Forward

Clubs: Liverpool, Real Madrid, Newcastle, Manchester United, Stoke City.

Injury: Hamstring, Ankle.

Age at decline: 25

Age at retirement: 34

Michael Owen was considered as the best England striker the nation had produced in decades. He was fast, had a good technical ability, and most importantly scored goals for fun. He started his career for Liverpool and is still considered one of the great players to have donned the Liverpool shirt.

As the fleet-footed Owen sped past Argentinian duo Roberto Ayala and Jose Chamot before hammering home one of the great World Cup goals in Saint-Etienne in 1998, it appeared England had unearthed a truly world-class prodigy. Impressive spells at Liverpool and Real Madrid, in addition to a hat-trick away to Germany in 2001, only served to support the plaudits.

However, a decade after he lit up France '98, Owen was being derided in Newcastle as a waste of money. Having struggled with a chronic hamstring problem, the yard of pace that separated the striker from those around him had been sacrificed.

All the records he made at Liverpool had been for nothing because of the hamstring problems he faced throughout his career. He only played for a year at Madrid, then shifted to Newcastle, but the injuries kept him out for most part of the campaigns.

Alex Ferguson brought him back to competitive football with United, where he shone at first, but again was dampened by his hamstring. Having retired from professional football in 2013 with Stoke City, Owen is now a football pundit.

But injuries stopped the forward from becoming one of the greats. Nearly but not quite, Owen's plight has been reflected by the Three Lions side he spearheaded for the best part of a decade.

#4 Paul Gascoigne

Position: Midfielder

Clubs: Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Lazio, Rangers, Middlesbrough, Everton, Burnley, Gansu Tianma, Boston United.

Injury: Hamstring, Muscular, (and alcoholism)

Age at decline: 30

Age at retirement: 37

Paul John Gascoigne is a former England international and football manager. He is also known by his nickname, Gazza. He earned 57 caps during his England career and has been described by the National Football Museum as "the most naturally gifted English midfielder of his generation".

Though well known throughout Europe for his club career, his football career is particularly remembered for his England caps. He was part of the England squad that reached fourth place in the 1990 FIFA World Cup, and was famously reduced to tears after receiving a yellow card in the semi-final with West Germany, which meant he would be suspended for the final itself had England won the game.

He also helped the team to the semi-finals of UEFA Euro 1996, and again embedded himself in the national consciousness with a spectacular goal against Scotland that was coupled with a memorable goal celebration.

After retiring from professional football, his life became dominated by his mental and emotional problems, particularly his alcoholism. His personal struggles have received regular coverage in the British press, especially since leaving professional football. He has attempted to live without alcohol on numerous occasions, though rehabilitation programmes have provided only temporary relief. His problems ended his coaching career, and he has not worked since being fired as the manager of Kettering Town in 2005.

A creative, hard-working, and technically gifted attacking midfielder, Gascoigne was capable both of scoring and setting up goals, due to his passing accuracy and his powerful striking ability.

Gascoigne was gifted with pace, physical strength, balance, and excellent dribbling skills, which allowed him to protect the ball, beat opponents, and withstand physical challenges.

Despite his talent, he was also criticised for his behaviour and aggression on the pitch. His turbulent lifestyle off the pitch, as well as his tendency to pick up injuries, is thought to have affected his career.

#5 David Beckham

Position: Midfielder

Clubs: Manchester United, Preston North End, Real Madrid, LA Galaxy, AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain.

Injury: Achilles tendon, Knee, Ankle.

Age at decline: 32

Age at retirement: 37

David Beckham needs no introduction. He is well-known throughout the globe for his looks, but only few people are aware of the asthma problems he had during his playing career. He was the best creative midfielder England had in decades. But injuries at various times during his career spoiled his body. If he had stayed fit for more time, he would have been known for his footballing talent as well and not just his looks.

Having played in England and Spain with Manchester United and Real Madrid respectively, Beckham went to the USA with LA Galaxy. He spent five seasons at the club where he was repeatedly affected by injuries. During his time at AC Milan in 2009/10, he suffered a torn left Achilles tendon, causing him to miss the World Cup as well as the MLS Season due to the injury, which took him out of action for the next five months.

After recovering from his Achilles tendon injury, ahead of the 2011 MLS season, Beckham trained with Tottenham Hotspur. With Beckham playing in the centre of midfield, the Galaxy won the 2011 MLS cup apart from the MLS league they won the previous year. In 2013, Beckham moved to Paris Saint-Germain and in May 2013, the Englishman won a fourth different top flight winners' medal after PSG beat Lyon 1–0 to claim the Ligue 1 title.

On 16 May 2013, Beckham announced that he would retire from professional football at the end of that year's French football season. For England, Beckham was still contributing but the injury kept him out. Since then, he was never selected to play for England again. But finished as a legend.

After his retirement, Beckham said: "I just want people to see me as a hardworking footballer, someone that's passionate about the game, someone that – every time I stepped on the pitch – I've given everything that I have, because that's how I feel. That's how I look back on it and hope people will see me." But, injuries had cost him his club and international career. A legend of the game who will never be a legend.