The worst injuries of all time in football

Bad injuries can often dictate an abrupt end to a footballer's career. Hard tackles and physical contact are part of the sport, sometimes it's simply bad luck. Let's take a look at the worst injuries in football.

Alan Smith managed to break his leg and dislocate his ankle after blocking a free-kick from Liverpool's John Arne Riise back in 2006.

Smith healed and returned to the pitch, but never reached his previous form.

Want to see more like this? Follow us here for daily sports news, profiles and analysis!

Inter Milan's Ronaldo Nazario suffered a significant knee injury during a match against Lecce 1999. The Brazilian forward twisted his knee when chasing a pass, tearing his kneecap tendon.

According to Football Dive, during his early days in professional football with PSV, Ronaldo was diagnosed with Osgood-Schlatter's, an undeniable knee issue for the young Brazilian.

Coventry City player David Busst suffered a horrifying leg injury back in 1996, after a hard collision with Manchester United's defense in a corner. The collision resulted in compound fractures to his tibia and fibula.

Multiple surgeries were required, but Busst was never able to play professional football again. "All you could hear was the snap of his leg - as if two shin pads had collided - then the scream," shared Manchester United defender David May, according to The Athletic.

During a Chelsea-Reading fixture in 2006, Petr Cech suffered a head collision that could have ended his life. According to Bleacher Report, Cech fractures his skull from the "knee or maybe shin" of Stephen Hunt.

The former Chelsea keeper required emergency surgery to save his life. Jose Mourinho, the Chelsea manager at the time, caused a fuss after accusing the ambulance staff on duty of putting Cech's life in danger for "taking too long", according to Bleacher Report.

Eduardo da Silva suffered a broken fibula and a dislocated ankle after a brutal tackle by Martin Taylor, during an Arsenal vs. Birmingham City fixture in 2008.

Want to see more like this? Follow us here for daily sports news, profiles and analysis!

He was sent to the bench just a few months after joining the Gunners, and wouldn't return to the fields until February 2009. Nevertheless, despite healing well, the Croatian forward could never regain his previous form.

Neymar suffered a fractured vertebra after a nasty challenge from Colombia's Juan Camilo Zúñiga during the 2014 World Cup. The Brazilian forward was able to return to football, continuing to be a key player for both club and country.

Aston Villa's Luc Nilis suffered a terrible fracture to his right leg during a collision with Ipswich goalkeeper Richard Wright back in 2000.

His leg injury was so severe he barely saved his leg from amputation. He was forced to retire from the sport and later moved into coaching.

Alf-Inge Haaland suffered a notorious tackle from Roy Keane in 2001 during the Manchester derby, leaving him with a bad knee injury which led to an early retirement.

This incident remains one of the most discussed tackles in modern football history. Some pundits argue, the main reason Haaland never signed for Manchester United.

Henrik Larsson broke his leg during a UEFA Cup fixture against Lyon during his stint at Celtic back in 1999. The talented forward was facing a possible early retirement.

He made a remarkable recovery in eight months and returned to win the Golden Boot. The Swedish international went on to succeed in teams like FC Barcelona.

Cisse is probably one of the handful of players who can boast of breaking his leg twice and returning to fulfill an international career across various clubs.

He first broke his leg in 2004 with Liverpool and then again in the 2006 World Cup.

Aaron Ramsey, the iconic Arsenal player, suffered a horrible tackle from Ryan Shawcross, that left him with a broken leg, back in 2010. After a nine-month recovery, he returned to Arsenal fully fit.

Patrick Battiston suffered multiple injuries after a hard collision with German goalkeeper Harald Schumacher, in 1982. The French international suffered broken teeth, ribs, and damaged vertebrae.

Battiston was able to recover from the incident and enjoyed decent success with Bordeaux.

The Colombian forward tore his ACL during a French Cup game in 2014. Falcao was starting to garner some fame on the European stage, but this injury forced him to sit out of the 2014 World Cup. However, he did return to football a year later.

Luke Shaw's leg injury still stands out as one of the most horrific ever seen during a Champions League fixture. Shaw suffered a double leg fracture during a match against PSV.

After a long, 11-month recovery, the defender returned to the squad and re-established himself as a key part of Manchester United's defense.

Want to see more like this? Follow us here for daily sports news, profiles and analysis!