8 Footballers Who Were Forced to Retire Because of Injury

• David Silva is the latest player forced to retire due to injuries
• Some great players left the game they love because of injury
• Sports Brief looks at some of the players who retired because of injuries

A footballer's career is very short compared to other professions, and they depend on the health of their bodies to fully perform at the highest level in their career.

Some players have been unlucky with their health, which has let them down, even forcing them to retire altogether.

David Silva was the latest player to announce his retirement from football because of injury. He is currently 37, which isn't young in footballing terms, but many footballers prefer to hang their boots on their own terms.

Many great footballers have retired way too young because of injury. Long-term injuries can definitely take a mental toll on players. Juventus star Paul Pogba is one player who has struggled to shake off niggling injuries. He is entering the prime of his career, but injuries have hindered his career.

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Silva is not the first player to be forced to retire due to injury. Sports Brief looks at several players forced to leave the game because of injury.

Jack Wilshere

Last year Wilshere announced his retirement from football at just 30 years old. After coming through the Arsenal academy as a teenager, he was dogged by injuries for most of his short career. His memorable moment came in 2011 in the Champions League against Barcelona. He delivered a sensational performance to help the Gunners beat Barca 2-1.

Sergio Aguero

Aguero was one of the best strikers of his generation. He played a vital role in Manchester City's rise to the top and left as the club's record goalscorer to join Barcelona in 2021. A few months later, he was forced to retire due to a heart condition. Even before that, his career was hampered by injuries.

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Just Fontaine

French icon Just Fontaine quit football in 1962, one month short of his 29th birthday. Injuries forced him out, but he cemented his iconic status with 13 goals at the 1958 World Cup. He passed away in March, aged 89.

Marco Van Basten

Marco Van Basten was another casualty of injuries. The legendary Dutch footballer retired in 1995 at age 28 after spending two years on the sidelines with an ankle injury. He helped his country lift the 1988 European Championship and played a key role for AC Milan as they won three Serie A titles.

Owen Hargreaves

Hargreaves made his name in Germany with Bayern Munich. He helped them win the Champions League in 2001 but left the club to join Manchester United in 2007. In the 2007/08 season, he won the Premier League and Champions League double, but knee problems followed, forcing him to retire in 2012.

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Ronaldo Nazario

The Brazilian is one of the greatest footballers of all time, and his influence spans generations. He led Brazil to FIFA World Cup glory in 2002. His incredible performances for Inter Milan, Barcelona, and Real Madrid made saw him win two Ballon d'Or awards but recurring knee issues hampered his career. If he was healthy, he would've achieved much more. He retired in 2011 at 34.

Michael Owen

The Englishman came through the Liverpool academy, and his sensational performances were rewarded with the 2001 Ballon d'Or award. Injuries then ravaged his career, and he never fulfilled his potential as a striker.

Ledley King

The Tottenham Hotspur defender retired in 2012 at 31 due to injuries. He said, "Sadly, my injuries and inability to train have finally brought an end to my career." According to Transfermarkt, the Englishman suffered knee, groin, and thigh problems in the last few years of his career.

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Other players who retired due to injuries: David Silva, Eduardo Da Silva, Dean Ashton, Abou Diaby, Micah Richards,

David Silva retires

Sports Brief earlier reported on Silva announcing his retirement after sustaining an ACL injury in training with Real Sociedad.

Silva left Valencia to join Man City in 2010 and became a pillar in the Sheikh Mansour era at Man City. He made 168 appearances for the Spanish side and scored 32 goals whilst providing 36 assists.

He played 436 times for City, scoring 77 goals, providing 140 assists, and winning 14 titles, including four Premier League titles.