Franck Ribery reveals he almost had leg amputated after retiring from football | Football

Franck Ribery says his leg was filled with ‘holes’ and he came close to having it amputated after an infection began ‘eating away’ at his flesh in 2022.

The Frenchman enjoyed a stellar career at the top, spanning over two decades, and is perhaps best remembered for his illustrious 12-year spell with Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich.

Across his stay in Munich, Ribery helped the club win 23 pieces of silverware, including nine league titles and the Champions League trophy at the end of the 2012/13 season.

Ribery, now aged 41, was also capped 81 times at international level with France and was a part of Raymond Domenech’s squad that finished runners-up to Italy at the 2006 World Cup.

After departing Bayern in 2019, Ribery went on to spend two years in Serie A with Fiorentina before joining Salernitana, which would prove to be the winger’s final club.

A serious knee problem left Ribery requiring surgery and the attacker decided to call time on his career at the age of 39.

In a wide-ranging interview with L’Equipe, two-and-a-half years on from his retirement, Ribery opened up for the first time about the terrifying ordeal that forced him to call it quits.

‘My knee hurt more and more,’ Ribery – who finished third at 2013 Ballon d’Or awards – told the French newspaper.

‘I was no longer training between matches but, instead, recovering to protect myself.

‘I went under the knife in Austria to have a plate inserted but I had a serious infection almost five months later.’

Ribery continued: ‘They removed the plate. The infection had eaten away at me.

‘It was so bad that I had holes in my leg. I had contracted Staphylococcus aureus.

‘I went to the emergency room at the hospital in Austria for 12 days. I was really scared. They could have cut off my leg.’

While Ribery feels he was not always given enough ‘support’ by the French national team, he passed on his best wishes to Didier Deschamps’ men ahead of their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.

‘I was very important for the French team, the top scorer, the best passer,’ he said.

‘I broke out but when I had this little back injury that deprived me of the 2014 World Cup, I felt that I had no support behind me.

‘But it’s a page that is turned and I wish the French team good luck.’

He went on: ‘I love France, my country! I do not forget anything of the steps of my journey.

‘There have been some uneasy situations. I made bulls***. I know it. But who does not do it!

‘There have been injustices, too. I was especially criticised by people who do not know football from the inside.

‘But I have always been respected by footballers. They know.’

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