The Greatest Comebacks in Football: Stories of Grit, Grace, and Getting Back Up
Football isn't a sport of goals and championships alone. It's a sport of grit. Of falling hard and then getting up, when everybody's already turned back. Some players are great because of their skills, others because of their statistics—but the greatest ones we remember are those who returned. This blog is dedicated to those players. The players who encountered serious adversity—injuries, criticism, setbacks—and did not give up.
We will discuss seven of them: Eric Abidal, Santi Cazorla, Petr Čech, Paul Scholes, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Granit Xhaka, and Harry Maguire. Every return lands differently. Some are health, some form, but all are heart.
Eric Abidal – More Than a Footballer
When Eric Abidal was diagnosed in 2011 with a liver tumor, the world stopped. But rather than walk away from the game, he battled back. Just a few months after surgery, he was beginning the Champions League final—and then came the moment that none of us will ever forget. Carles Puyol, the most respected captain in the game, gave the armband to Abidal. Allowing him to lift the trophy first? That wasn't sportsmanship. That was class.
Abidal would eventually require a liver transplant. Anyone else would've left the game. But not him. He came back, again. His tale is not one of football—it's one of resilience, hope, and never quitting.
Santi Cazorla – The Magician Who Refused to Vanish
Santi Cazorla's return is genuinely one of the most heartbreaking in football. Doctors once said he'd be lucky to be able to walk, far less play. A nasty Achilles injury worsened with infections. He lost some of his skin. His career was all but over.
But Cazorla did not quit. After close to two years out, he came back to Villarreal in 2018. Fans were expecting a few sub showings. Instead, he illuminated La Liga. He scored 11 and set up 9 in the 2019–20 season. At the age of 34, he was given a surprise return to the Spanish national team.
I’ve always admired Cazorla. His comeback is proof that passion and persistence can defy any diagnosis.
Petr Čech – The Helmet That Told a Story
In 2006, Petr Čech had a terrible head injury—a broken skull. Everybody worried he would never be on the field again. But only three months later, he was playing again. And he wore that now-infamous helmet as protection, but also as a badge of honor for what he'd survived.
Čech wasn't merely back—he was phenomenal. He assisted Chelsea to more championships and was instrumental in their 2012 Champions League victory. His return was subdued yet dominant. It was not about pomp. It was about demonstrating he still had it.
---
Paul Scholes – The Secret Return
When Paul Scholes hung up his boots in 2011, it seemed the end of an era. But then along came January 2012. United were short of midfielders and Sir Alex Ferguson made a call. And Scholes replied.
What's crazy? Ferguson kept it so under wraps that even some of his teammates weren't aware Scholes was back until he appeared in the dressing room on matchday.
Scholes fit in seamlessly. As if he had never departed. His exit? Still perfect. His return? Unparalleled. He contributed significantly to United's 2012–13 triumph before once again calling it quits. Not a showy comeback—but a classy one. Much like Scholes.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan – Lost and Found
Mkhitaryan's stint with Manchester United did not quite work out. It was hyped up, but it did not come together. He went to Arsenal, but that didn't improve. He got written off.
Then came Roma. With Paulo Fonseca and subsequently Jose Mourinho, Mkhitaryan found his form again. He appeared cheerful, self-assured, and influential. Goals, assists, leadership—he had them all.
His return wasn't loud, but it was good. It's easy to be in the spotlight when things are going right. But to get your form back after getting knocked down? That's where maturity is made.
Granit Xhaka – From Booed to Beloved
Granit Xhaka's fall was hard to witness. Booed by the very fans he played for. Removed from the captaincy. Even seemed like he would be sold to leave Arsenal. Most players would have.
But Xhaka remained. He didn't protest. He toiled. Gradually, he regained the fanbase. With Mikel Arteta, he regained the prominence. His displays, his leadership, his spirit—all came back with vengeance.
Resilience isn't about faking that all's okay. It's about getting through even when it's not. The story of Xhaka teaches us what you get if you don't quit.
Harry Maguire – A Comeback Close to My Heart
Harry Maguire has received more flak than most players in recent history. Called "overpriced," ridiculed online, and even booed while representing England. Harsh. Sometimes cruel.
But Maguire didn't snap. He didn't quit. He just persisted.
In the 2023–24 season, injuries gave him a way back into the United lineup. But he stayed there on merit. He put in solid, confident performances. He led by example. And slowly, the narrative started to shift.
And then he also won a premier League Player of The Month, an extension at United and an integral part of that squad
I’ve always felt something personal about Maguire’s story. Maybe it’s his calm, maybe it’s the way he never got bitter. He showed that staying true to yourself matters—even when the world doubts you.
Final Whistle: More Than Just a Game
These comebacks aren’t just stories—they’re lessons. Football is fast and ruthless. Players get written off quickly. But as we’ve seen, the best chapters often come after the lowest moments.
Whether it’s Abidal’s bravery, Cazorla’s heart, Čech’s toughness, Scholes’ quiet genius, Mkhitaryan’s return to joy, Xhaka’s redemption, or Maguire’s unshaken belief—these journeys inspire.
Carles Puyol passing the armband to Abidal wasn't a tactical decision. It was football's soul. The respect. The compassion.
And perhaps that's why we cherish the game so much. It's not about winning. It's about standing up. Every time.
American Novelist Anne Lamott has a famous quote on comeback which I really like:
"There is nothing as sweet as a comeback, when you are down and out, about to lose, and out of time."
THANK YOU!!
Comments
Post a Comment