Marco Reus, Germany (2014)
Often described as one of the unluckiest players of his generation, Marco Reus was in sensational form for Borussia Dortmund and set to be a key player for Germany in Brazil. Heartbreakingly, he sustained a partial tear of his ankle ligament in the final
warm-up friendly against Armenia, ruling him out of the tournament. Germany would go on to lift the trophy, leaving fans to wonder what could have been for the gifted attacker.
Michael Ballack, Germany (2010)
As Germany's captain and leader, Michael Ballack was the heart of the national team. His dream of leading his country in South Africa was shattered just weeks before the tournament. During the FA Cup final for Chelsea, a tackle from Kevin-Prince Boateng resulted in a torn ankle ligament. The injury ruled the 33-year-old out, forcing him to watch from the sidelines as a young German team finished third.
Radamel Falcao, Colombia (2014)
Radamel 'El Tigre' Falcao was one of the most feared strikers in the world, and his goals had fired Colombia to their first World Cup in 16 years. But in January 2014, while playing for Monaco, he suffered a devastating anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. Despite a frantic race against time to recover, he was ultimately not fit enough to be included in the squad, a massive blow for the player and his nation.
Karim Benzema, France (2022)
Fresh off winning the Ballon d'Or, Karim Benzema was set to cap a stellar year by leading France's attack in their World Cup defence in Qatar. However, a thigh injury sustained in his first full training session with the squad just days before the tournament began ruled him out completely. The news was a huge blow to the defending champions and a cruel twist for Benzema, who later retired from international football.
Santiago Cañizares, Spain (2002)
In one of the most bizarre footballing injuries ever recorded, Spain's first-choice goalkeeper, Santiago Cañizares, was forced to miss the 2002 World Cup after an accident in his hotel room. He dropped a bottle of aftershave, and a shard of glass severed a tendon in his foot. The freak incident meant he had to withdraw from the squad, paving the way for a young Iker Casillas to take his place and begin his own legendary career.
Rio Ferdinand, England (2010)
Just eight days before England's opening game in South Africa, captain Rio Ferdinand was ruled out of the World Cup. The Manchester United defender suffered knee ligament damage during the team's very first training session in the country following an accidental collision with striker Emile Heskey. It was a devastating moment for Ferdinand, who had only recently been handed the captain's armband.
Alfredo Di Stéfano, Spain (1962)
Arguably the greatest player to never play at a World Cup, Alfredo Di Stéfano's international career was a tale of misfortune. After representing Argentina and Colombia, he finally qualified with his adopted nation, Spain, for the 1962 tournament in Chile. At 35, the Real Madrid legend was set to make his debut on the biggest stage, but a muscular injury sustained just before the tournament began cruelly denied him the chance.
Emerson, Brazil (2002)
Brazil captain Emerson was all set to lead his country at the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan. However, in a moment of playful training ground antics the day before the opening match, his tournament came to a shocking end. The midfielder decided to have a go in goal during a practice session and landed awkwardly, dislocating his shoulder. He had to be replaced as captain by Cafu, who went on to lift the trophy.
Djibril Cissé, France (2006)
Djibril Cissé suffered unimaginable bad luck just days before the 2006 World Cup in Germany. During a final warm-up friendly against China, the French striker suffered a horrific leg break after being tackled. It was the second devastating leg fracture of his career, having suffered a similar injury to his other leg just two years prior. The injury ended his World Cup dream and sidelined him for months.
Daniel Passarella, Argentina (1986)
Daniel Passarella captained Argentina to glory in 1978 and was a vital part of the squad heading to Mexico in 1986. However, he was struck down by a severe bout of enterocolitis, an intestinal illness, which caused him to miss the entire tournament. His absence allowed José Luis Brown to come into the side, while Diego Maradona famously led Argentina to their second World Cup title.
