11 footballers who played through the pain barrier (and definitely, definitely shouldn't have)

Vincent Kompany

Beckham and Owen shut down in Shizuoka

David Beckham’s metatarsal became the most searched bone on the internet after it was broken by Deportivo La Coruna’s ‘hatchet man’ Aldo Duscher in the Champions League less than two months before the 2002 World Cup. Beckham made it to Japan and South Korea, much to the chagrin of Alex Ferguson, but Becks later admitted: “There were obviously aspects of my game that were not right.”

Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1