“They Could Have Cut Off My Leg” – Franck Ribery Opens Up About Life-Threatening Infection

Bayern Munich legend Franck Ribery has revealed a terrifying health scare that nearly cost him his leg following what was supposed to be a routine knee surgery. In a recent interview with French outlet L’Équipe, the former French international opened up about a post-surgery infection that spiraled out of control, leaving him with severe complications and fearing amputation.

Ribery explained that during his second season with Italian club Salernitana, he underwent knee surgery in Austria due to ongoing pain that was preventing him from training regularly. While the operation itself went smoothly, the situation took a dramatic turn nearly five months later when he developed a serious infection. Doctors had to remove the metal plate inserted during the surgery, but by then, the infection had already caused significant damage.

“I had a bad infection almost five months later. 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,” Ribery said. “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.”

The infection brought a premature end to Ribery’s decorated career. He officially retired in 2022 after making his final appearances for Salernitana. Ribery had joined the Serie A side following a spell at Fiorentina, which came after a remarkable 12-year tenure at Bayern Munich. During his time with the German giants, Ribery scored 124 goals and provided 182 assists in 425 matches. His honours include nine Bundesliga titles, six DFB-Pokal trophies, and the UEFA Champions League crown in 2013.