Concussions, like other soccer-related injuries, are one of the risks players have to grapple with while on the soccer pitch.
A concussion is a mild brain injury caused by an excessive blow to the head, which could result from a clash of heads or an elbow/boot to the face during a soccer match.
Some of the symptoms of a concussed individual are loss of consciousness, dizziness, nausea, and memory loss, among others.
Here are a few soccer players who have had concussions while playing a soccer match.
10 Soccer Players Who Have Had Concussions
Here are 10 players who have had serious concussions on the football pitch and what happened:
1. Christoph Kramer
Christoph Kramer suffered a concussion in one of the most important matches of his life — the 2014 World Cup final.
The German defensive midfielder started the 2014 FIFA World Cup Final ahead of Sami Khedira after the latter had an injury minutes before kick-off.
Kramer was forced to leave the game in the first half after taking a hit to the head from a collision with Argentine center-back Ezequiel Garay.
It was later revealed that Kramer may have suffered a concussion from the collision, and André Schürrle came on to replace him.
In fact, the match referee Nicola Rizzoli said that 14 minutes after the collision, Kramer came to him to ask if the match was the World Cup final.
Christoph Kramer currently plays for Bundesliga club Borussia Mönchengladbach.
2. Gabriel Jesus
Brazilian and Arsenal FC forward recently suffered a suspected case of concussion during an English Premier League match played in October this year.
During a league match against rivals Liverpool, Jesus fell down heavily from a challenge from Liverpool player Kostas Tsimikas.
Jesus appeared to hit trip and fall heavily on his head which knocked him out cold.
The Brazilian international was out for a couple of minutes but was thankfully revived and able to continue with the rest of the match.
3. Didier Drogba
Chelsea and Ivorian legend Drogba also suffered a concussion during his playing career.
The incident occurred during a Premier League match in August 2011 against Norwich City.
While attempting to head a crossed ball into the 18-yard box, Didier was accidentally punched on the side of his face by the Norwich City goalkeeper, who was attempting clear the ball.
The impact instantly knocked the striker out, and he required treatment for several minutes.
He would later be stretchered out and substituted. Thankfully the former Ivory Coast captain would make a full recovery after missing a few weeks of action.
4. Jan Vertonghen
The former Tottenham Hotspur defender suffered the injury during a semi-final match against Dutch side Ajax Amsterdam in the UEFA Champions League.
In the course of the match, Jan was struck on the head, which led to him getting nauseous and eventually being substituted.
Vertonghen would later reveal how the injury affected his performance and having to live with constant headaches for nine months.
5. John Terry
The former Chelsea captain was also left in critical condition after suffering a concussion during his side’s League Cup final match against London rivals Arsenal in 2007.
Terry was knocked unconscious by Gunner’s midfielder Abou Diaby after an accidental boot to the face.
John’s injury was so serious that he had to receive oxygen before being carried out and substituted.
The Blues defender spoke of how he didn’t even remember the incident.
6. Kelechi Iheanacho
Nigerian international Iheanacho also suffered a similar injury during a league match for Leicester City against Manchester City.
Kelechi’s head was accidentally struck by the hands of Cityzens goalkeeper Ederson while contesting for a crossed ball.
The striker was unconscious for a few seconds but returned to his feet.
He was soon after replaced in the match for safety reasons but had no lasting effect from the impact of the injury.
7. Ronald Araújo
Barcelona defender Ronald Araújo is another soccer player who has had a concussion while playing a match.
In May 2022, The Uruguay player was taken off the field in an ambulance after he collapsed at the Camp Nou.
He had a concussion after he and his teammate Gavi clashed heads while going for a ball in the 61st minute of Barcelona’s game against Celta Vigo.
Araújo seemed fine at first but went to the ground after he took a few steps.
The players immediately called for medical assistance. Araújo was treated for nearly eight minutes as doctors immobilized the defender before putting him in the ambulance.
He was taken to the hospital and was discharged a few days later.
8. Ryan Mason
Ryan Mason’s story is one of the most serious concussion cases English football has ever seen.
The Hull City midfielder clashed heads with Chelsea defender Gary Cahill during a Premier League match at Stamford Bridge in January 2017 and suffered a fractured skull that required emergency surgery.
Doctors inserted 14 metal plates and 28 screws into his skull and Mason spent eight days in hospital before beginning rehabilitation.
In February 2018, he was advised by neurosurgeons to retire from professional football at just 26 years old.
Mason has since become one of the game’s most vocal advocates for better concussion protocols and called for children to be banned from heading regulation-weight footballs, and he is one of several footballers whose careers have been cut short by serious injuries.
9. Raúl Jiménez
Raul Jimenez suffered one of the most frightening injuries seen in the Premier League in recent years during Wolverhampton Wanderers’ 2-1 win at Arsenal in November 2020.
The Mexican striker clashed heads with Arsenal defender David Luiz while competing for a corner in the fifth minute, fell unconscious on the pitch, and was stretchered off with an oxygen mask after lengthy treatment.
He was rushed to hospital and underwent emergency surgery for a fractured skull and traumatic brain injury, with doctors later telling him it was a miracle he survived.
After eight months of rehabilitation he returned to competitive football, and remarkably went on to represent Mexico at the 2026 World Cup.
10. Alvaro Pereira
Alvaro Pereira produced one of the most alarming moments of the 2014 World Cup during Uruguay’s group stage match against England.
The Uruguayan left back was struck in the head by the knee of England’s Raheem Sterling, was visibly dazed, and briefly lost consciousness on the pitch.
Despite being advised to come off by medical staff, Pereira refused to leave the field and continued playing, an incident that drew widespread criticism and accelerated calls for better concussion protocols at major tournaments.
It remains one of the most discussed head injury cases in World Cup history.
What is the concussion rule in soccer?
According to the concussion rule in soccer, if it is suspected that a player has sustained a concussion, the soccer player must be removed from the field of play and not allowed to return.
The player should be monitored until he or she has been deemed fit by the medical personnel and is able to leave the venue.
