One in five people does not return: A torn cruciate ligament is really that bad for football players

But how many will come back – and above all: how strong? Basel sports medicine and orthopedics professor Victor Valderrabano cites studies and says only about 80 percent return. And of those, just over half are at pre-injury levels.

The worst-case scenario has happened for Zaniolo and Asensio

“There is always a certain shortage,” says Valderrabano. However, when it comes to cruciate ligament injuries, you must always make a distinction: are the meniscus, cartilage or collateral ligaments also affected or is it an isolated cruciate ligament tear? If the former is true, the road back will be extremely rocky. “Worst case,” Valderrabano calls it.

Two who know this particularly well are Marco Asensio (27, PSG) and Nicolò Zaniolo (24, Aston Villa). Like Gavi, the two were predicted to have global careers. But they never fully recovered from their ACL tear and meniscus damage.

One was even hit four times

Unlike Asensio, Zaniolo even tore his cruciate ligament twice. Just like Sandro Lauper (27) from YB. Former German professional Patrick Fabian (58) even tore it four times. “This is not the order of the day,” explains Georg Ahl Bäumer. He is head doctor at the intestinal clinic in St. Moritz GR and, together with many Swiss winter sports enthusiasts, cares for AS Roma. This year alone he has repaired two cruciate ligaments of Roma players. He says it is medically possible to return the player to pre-injury performance.

Like Valderrabano, Ahl Bäumer also says that there are anatomical reasons, such as knocking knees, and that some knees are more susceptible to such an injury than others. During the mandatory medical checks for football players, numerous tests are carried out to predict the likelihood of such an injury. In technical jargon this is called ‘predicted value’. To minimize the risk involved, specific training measures are applied. Another key figure is important here. “70 percent of all torn cruciate ligaments occur because there is no contact,” says Ahl Bäumer.

Freestylers as role models

That is why specific game situations, such as aerial duels, are trained. The football player must learn to center himself properly when he jumps into the air, so that he can land safely even when he bends deeply. Exercises like ski freestyler Andri Ragettli (25) are integrated into the daily training routine of football players. Ahl Bäumer: “Cristiano Ronaldo has extreme skills in this.”

However, completely preventing a cruciate ligament tear is impossible. Too quickly the foot becomes stuck in the grass while the upper body continues to rotate. It has already happened. A long journey back is inevitable. “The operation is only a small part of the success,” says Valderrabano. It will take at least six to ten months before the footballer can play again.

“That is the key to success”

“Rehab is much more active today than it used to be,” says Ahl Bäumer. But you work according to a clear schedule. There are a number of set tests that a player must pass to return to training and then reach the final rehabilitation phase “Back to Competition”.

But in addition to the many tests, something else is important. ‘Everyone has to do their part. That is the key to success,” says Ahl Bäumer. This means that the injured person must have the necessary courage and confidence in the work of the doctors. Gavi, Fazliji and Brych know this too. A lot of work awaits them.