Franck Ribery was one of the most remarkable players of his generation. He played a pivotal role in Bayern Munich‘s dominant run, which ended with their 2013 UEFA Champions League triumph. His stellar performances that season earned him the UEFA Player of the Year award and a spot among the Ballon d’Or finalists. Years after retiring, Ribery revealed a surprising detail about the injury that ultimately ended his career.
After joining US Salernitana, Franck Ribery faced a series of serious injury setbacks that ultimately derailed his career. “My knee was hurting more and more. I was no longer training between games but recovering to preserve myself. I would take two days off, then three or four. I lost my rhythm to save myself. Then tests revealed that I had no cartilage left. I had surgery in Austria. The operation went well, with the placement of a plate inside,” stated Frank Ribery on L’Equipe.
However, his struggles were far from over. Just five months later, Ribery encountered a major setback. “I had a serious infection. For two months I took pills. The plaque was removed. The infection had eaten away at me. It was so bad that I had holes all over my leg. I had caught Staphylococcus aureus. I was admitted to a hospital in Austria for twelve days. I was really scared. They came close to cutting my leg off,” confessed Frank Ribery on L’Equipe.
Despite his painful retirement, Franck Ribery left a lasting mark on soccer. During his time at Bayern Munich, he scored 124 goals and recorded 182 assists. He also formed a formidable attacking partnership with Arjen Robben, making them one of the most memorable duos in history. Reflecting on their bond, Ribery shared a heartfelt message about his former teammate: “We argued, we fought, but he became a friend, almost a brother, like many others.”
Franck Ribery of Bayern Muenchen in action during the UEFA Champions League final match between Borussia Dortmund and FC Bayern Muenchen at Wembley Stadium on May 25, 2013 in London, United Kingdom.
Franck Ribery blasts 2013 Ballon d’Or decision after Bayern’s historic treble
In 2013, Franck Ribery was at the center of what many experts consider one of the greatest injustices in soccer history. That year, Bayern Munich claimed the treble, winning the UEFA Champions League, the FIFA Club World Cup, and the Bundesliga. Ribery was the undisputed star of that team and played a crucial role in securing those titles. As a result, he was considered one of the top favorites to win the Ballon d’Or.
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However, the award went to Cristiano Ronaldo. After several years of silence, Frank Ribery made some strong statements: “I won everything that year…It was the perfect year. I couldn’t have done any better. That Ballon d’Or will forever remain an injustice. I’m still looking for the explanation, although some people have given me one.”
Frank openly criticized the decision to delay the voting for the award by two weeks, noting that he had been the front-runner at the time. Additionally, Ribery claimed that if the voting process that year had mirrored the current format, he would have beaten Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to win the Ballon d’Or.
