Former Bayern Munich and France winger Franck Ribery has revealed the shocking and life-threatening experience that almost led to his leg being amputated during the final years of his football career.
Ribery, a nine-time Bundesliga champion and 81-cap France international, retired in 2022 after a distinguished 22-year professional career. However, his last playing years were marred by injuries, especially during his time at Italian club Salernitana.
While his stint in Serie A wasn’t particularly memorable, it was there that Ribery faced one of the most terrifying moments of his life. Speaking to L’Equipe, the 41-year-old recounted how a routine knee surgery turned into a dangerous health crisis.
“My knee hurt more and more,” Ribery shared. “I was no longer training between matches, but rather recovering to protect myself.”
He underwent surgery in Austria, where the operation itself went well and a plate was inserted into his knee. However, nearly five months later, Ribery developed a severe infection that would change everything.
“I had a bad infection almost five months later,” he explained. “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.”
The infection quickly became a grave concern. “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,” Ribery admitted.
It was this health scare that led Ribery to make the difficult decision to retire from football, bringing an end to an illustrious career that included stints at clubs such as Galatasaray, Marseille, Fiorentina, and, most notably, Bayern Munich.
At Bayern, Ribery scored 124 goals in 12 seasons and formed a legendary partnership with Arjen Robben on the wing, helping the team secure multiple titles, including the 2013 UEFA Champions League.
Despite his numerous achievements, one lingering moment of frustration still bothers Ribery—the controversial snub at the 2013 Ballon d’Or.
That year, he played a key role in Bayern’s historic treble, providing an assist in the Champions League final, winning the UEFA Best Player in Europe award, and scoring in the UEFA Super Cup. However, the Ballon d’Or was awarded to Cristiano Ronaldo, after the voting period was extended by two weeks, causing controversy.
“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.”
