10 stars who missed a World Cup through injury

10 stars who missed a World Cup through injury

BeSoccer 6 years ago 6.1k |

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Di Stéfano, Falcao and Reus, three players who missed a World Cup through injury. BeSoccer

A World Cup is one event that no footballer wants to miss. However, there are times when players have been unable to challenge for the prestigious trophy as a result of an injury. We therefore present you with this list, compiled by '90 Min', of stars who didn't make it to a World Cup.

10. Alfredo Di Stéfano (Spain)

The mythical Argentinian player, who played principally for the Spanish national side, had already missed the World Cup in both 1950 and 1954, and remained in the stands in Chile in 1962 thanks to an injury he picked up playing in a friendly for Spain.

9. Romario (Brazil)

The Brazilian missed the France '98 World Cup through a muscle injury.

8. Pep Guardiola (Spain)

Man CIty's current manager didn't play with Spain in the 2002 South Korea/Japan World Cup after suffering damage to the collateral ligament in his right knee.

7. RIo Ferdinand (England)

A collision in training between Ferdinand and Emile Heskey ended the English centre-back's chances of selection. The United man damaged his left knee ligament and was forced to sit out the 2010 tournament in South Africa.

6. Michael Ballack (Germany)

A tackle by Kevin Prince Boateng ended Ballack's dreams of going to the 2010 World Cup. The German ruptured the internal ligaments in his left ankle.

5. David Beckham (England)

He played in three World Cups and had the chance to make it to a fourth, but bad luck caught up with him. He ruptured his Achilles tendon while playing for AC Milan, and didn't recover in time for South Africa.

4. Michael Owen (England)

Owen had the same fate as Beckham. The ex-Madrid, Liverpool and United player wasn't at the South Africa tournament either. A hamstring problem was to blame this time.

3. Lass Diarra (France)

Sickle-cell anaemia, an illness that affects the haemoglobin and inhibits the transport of oxygen in the body, ruled Diarra out of the 2010 World Cup.

2. Radamel Falcao (Colombia)

'The Tiger' saw himself sidelined from the 2014 World Cup in Brazil due to injury. The Colombian forward suffered a torn left anterior cruciate ligament in a game for Monaco.

1. Marco Reus (Germany)

Reus wasn't at the Brazil World Cup either. The Borussia Dortmund attacker sustained a partial tear to his ankle ligament during an international friendly against Armenia.