Ronaldo, Salah, Rooney, Putellas: The worst-timed football injuries ever

As a player, there are few things worse than getting injured before a big match or competition. 

Over the years, some of football’s most admired stars have suffered this cruel fate and missed out on the biggest game or tournament of their lives. 

Spanish women’s midfielder, Alexia Putellas, is the latest name to add to that list. The Barcelona star is the reigning Women’s Ballon d’Or winner and was set to light up Euro 2022 this summer. 

However, the 28-year-old suffered anterior cruciate ligament damage on the eve of the competition, having sprained her knee in training. 

Putellas says she has faith she can “finish what I started” but she will be forced to watch Euro 2022 from the stands. 

The Spaniard will understandably be gutted to miss such a big event, but she is far from the first footballer to be dealt such an agonising blow. 

Here are some of the other worst-timed injuries of all time: 

In 2016, Ronaldo helped inspire Portugal to the final of Euro 2016 as he sought to win a major international competition for the first time. 

Yet, in the final against France, the Manchester United star was stretchered off after just 25 minutes, after a challenge from Dimitri Payet. 

In the end, it was substitute Eder who scored an extra-time winner for Portugal.

Ronaldo would no doubt have wished it was him who scored the all-important goal, though he did still lift the trophy as captain. 

Rooney remains England’s record goal scorer but the former striker was desperately unlucky at major tournaments. 

At Euro 2004, Rooney was the breakout star of the competition –– scoring four goals in England’s opening four games. 

However, he suffered an injury against Portugal in the quarter-finals as England were eliminated. 

Two years