Former Bayern Munich and France winger Franck Ribery revealed that he came close to having his leg amputated owing to a severe post-surgery infection near the conclusion of his career.
Ribery, a nine-time Bundesliga champion with 81 caps for France, retired in 2022 after a 22-year professional career.
His final playing years were plagued by injuries, particularly during his stint at Italian club Salernitana.
Despite his unremarkable time in Serie A, Ribery recounted one of the most harrowing experiences of his life in an interview with L’Equipe.
Speaking to L’Equipe, the 41-year-old described how what appeared to be a simple knee operation developed into a life-threatening situation.
“My knee hurt more and more,” Ribery explained. “I was no longer training between matches but rather recovering to protect myself.
“I went under the knife in Austria. The operation went well, with a plate inserted inside. But I had a bad infection almost five months later.”
The infection, which turned out to be Staphylococcus aureus, quickly escalated into a dangerous situation.
“They removed the plate, but the infection had eaten away at me. It was so bad that I had holes in my leg. I had contracted Staphylococcus aureus.
“I was in the emergency room at the hospital in Austria for 12 days. I was really scared. They could have cut off my leg.”
Following this health concern, Ribery opted to retire, bringing an end to a remarkable career that saw him thrive at clubs including Galatasaray, Marseille, Fiorentina, and, most importantly, Bayern Munich.
He scored 124 goals for the German giants in 12 seasons and developed a strong wing tandem with Arjen Robben.
Despite his numerous accomplishments, Ribery’s most memorable moment is the 2013 Ballon d’Or snub.
That year, he helped Bayern achieve a historic trifecta by assisting in the Champions League final, receiving the UEFA Best Player in Europe title, and scoring in the UEFA Super Cup.
Cristiano Ronaldo eventually won the Ballon d’Or after the voting period was controversially prolonged by two weeks.
“I had everything except that award that year,” Ribery said. “It was the perfect year; I could not have performed any better. That Ballon d’Or will always be a lingering injustice.
“I am still searching for an explanation, although some have offered their takes. I will never understand why the vote was delayed by more than two weeks when I was leading among journalists. If the voting had occurred as it should, I would have won.”
