These peculiar injuries to athletes can serve as a reminder that you can never be too careful.
Jari Litmanen is also on the list. Andres Theiss
10. Cicero Ramalho and the misunderstood drug
Brazilian striker Cicero to Ramalho in Esepanja 1989, a moderately large medicine was prescribed, which he obediently swallowed. However, there was a small twist in the journey: the medicine should have been taken as a suppona.
The medicine taken orally caused the football star to have a stomach ailment and three days of bed rest. Ramalho explained what happened afterwards by saying that he had never seen a suppository before.
9. Joe Sakic and the snow cannon
An NHL icon Joe Sakic was already recovering from a herniated disc in the 2008–09 season, when fate decided to strike again, and at home.
On a snowy day, Sakic started cleaning his yard with a snow thrower, but when he bent down to clean the device himself, the worst happened. Snowflake suddenly sprang into action and pinched the star’s hand between his, crushing three of his fingers.
8. Eetu Luostarinen’s barbecue moment
Finnish NHL star Eetu Luostarinen was sidelined by the Florida Panthers in November 2025 due to a freak accident. He got such bad burns while grilling that he couldn’t put on his hockey gear anymore.
7. Kristýna Plíšková’s fan fiasco
Czech tennis player Kristýna Plíšková the match ended in a surprising way in China in 2017. During the break, he tried to turn the fan spinning on the side of the field into a better position, but his thumb ended up between the grate and all the way to the wing. The blow was so violent that Plíškova had to stop the match. The injury kept him sidelined for a couple of weeks.
6. Emerson’s play ended badly
The Brazilian midfielder who prepared for the 2002 World Cup Emerson had a bit of fun during the training break and decided to playfully jump into the role of goalkeeper.
It wouldn’t have been worth it, because he hurt his shoulder in the process. The injury was so serious that Emerson had to miss the World Cup completely. Brazil finally celebrated the world championship, but Emerson was left without the bright crown of his career.
5. Santiago Cañizares and the fatal aftershave bottle
The Spanish goalkeeper legend Santiago Cañizares lost his place in the 2002 World Cup because of the bathroom episode. A bottle of aftershave slipped from his jumps and landed broken in the corner of the sink. Shards of glass ended up in Cañizares’ leg, and a surgery gig was ahead. In the end, the whole competition trip was cancelled.
Santiago Canizares in 2002. EPA / AOP
4. Jack Hughes and dinner
New Jersey Devils star Jack Hughes suffered an incredible injury at a team dinner in the fall of 2025. Hughes slipped and fell, leaning against the glass, which cut his hand so badly that he needed surgery. The result was an eight-week break from the rink.
3. Bryce Mitchell and the drill
UFC fighter Bryce Mitchell experienced moments of horror during the renovation work in 2019, when he put an electric drill on his trouser collar. The device activated and tore his scrotum to shreds. Mitchell was also afraid of losing his penis, but in the end he survived the worst.
2. Michael Jordan and the cigar cutter
Michael Jordan vacationed in the Bahamas after the championship spring of 1998. There, a cheap cigar cutter fatally cheated a basketball legend in a casino. Jordan managed to cut his finger so badly that his tendon had to be reattached.
1. The Litmanen soda bottle disaster
Jari Litmanen the left eye took a legendary hit in the summer of 2006. The club boss of Malmö, the “King’s” team Hasse Borg uncorked a bottle of soda with his snuffbox in the dressing room. The cap, which came off under pressure, went straight into Litmanen’s eye and the Finnish legend was ordered out of the games for a month. The hit reportedly left a permanent defect in Litmanen’s field of vision.