The Plague of Soccer: ACL injuries and its impacts on the game

Rodrigo "Rodri" Hernandez, Dani Carvajal, Neymar Jr.… different leagues, and even countries, but affected by the same thing: Anterior Cruciate Ligament injuries.

All of these were just some examples from players affected by this "plague" in the past year. All of them were season-ending injuries.

Even if you have heard about it, you may not know what they truly are. So, here's an explanation:

What are ACL injuries?

Deep inside our knee, attached to the femur and tibia, there are two ligaments that cross each other: the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL). Specifically, the ACL is the mechanism that controls how much forward the tibia can slide compared to the femur.

Usually, ACL injuries are caused in relation to a high-velocity movement and contact or a harsh foul. However, a player's anatomy can have a huge effect if there will be an injury to that extent or not.

Studies have found that 1.7 per 10,000 athletes’ injuries are this type. Being able to keep players off the field for long, the general recovery estimate is from six to 13 months.

The European Leagues

These injuries have changed the pathway of some seasons, specifically teams or overall leagues, for better or for worse.

When Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid) got injured last year, many fans were worried. However, Andriy Lunin, who had been second to Courtois most of the season, had his chance to shine and guide the team to greatness. Later into the season, Real Madrid would go on to win its 15th Champions League.

Currently, the same team deals with an injury to one of its most important players, Carvajal. The defender went down the field in a match against Villareal and has had a reconstructing surgery. Even with the adversity, the La Liga team re-signed the player until 2026.

In the current season, Premier League's Manchester City might be the most affected team by this type of injury. Rodri suffered an ACL injury in the game against Arsenal. The midfielder, an essential player and one of the leaders to the treble run in 2022-23, had a career year in both Man City and the Spanish National Team.

Rodri, a Ballon d'Or candidate, will be sidelined for five to eight months.

These injuries also raise an alert to the number of games played by these athletes and the little rest time they are offered. With multiple championships and international play, the players have an extensive routine throughout the season.

In La Liga, over 200 players have been injured so far this season, with 14 having to undergo surgery. This aspect is not that different in other leagues, with the Premier League increasing by 11 percent and 21.93 percent in injuries in 2024.

The Effect On Women's Programs

As stated before, the anatomy of an athlete can be a factor in the potential risk of an ACL injury. This can be observed especially in women's programs.

Women are two to six more times likely to have an ACL injury than male athletes.

There exists an anatomical difference from men in relation to the place where the ACL stands. In women, that space tends to be more narrow and can twist more easily, sustaining an injury. They also have differences in hamstring/quadriceps strength ratio.

Their equipment has also been brought up in studies. According to the European Club Association, 82 percent of women's athletes have felt uncomfortable in their boots, which historically have been designed for male athletes.

Alexia Putellas, considered one of the best players in the world, suffered this injury in 2022. She missed the Euros but was able to be back on the field for the 2023 World Cup.

This matter is especially prominent in England's Women's Super League, which has tried to find ways to better their assistance to players and lower the chances of injuries like those. However, Arsenal was one of the most affected teams last season with four key players out: Leah Williamson, Beth Mead, Laura Wienroither and Viv Miedema.

Prevention

There has been an increase in studies on ACL injuries in men's and women's soccer leagues. New technologies have been used in both treatment, training and prevention to find ways to convert these numbers.

One of the biggest focuses has been strength and conditioning of the muscles that might be pulled throughout a match.

With all these new findings, it is hopeful that we will see a decrease in the number of these injuries in the next few years.

Sofia Miranda is a first-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, email szc6483@psu.edu.