Champions League Curse? Three Man of the Match Winners Suffer ACL Tears

A curious trend has emerged in the world of football. The past three winners of the Champions League final's Man of the Match award have all suffered ACL injuries in the following year. In 2022, Thibaut Courtois, the Real Madrid goalkeeper, took home the award, only to tear his ACL the following year. Similarly, Rodri of Manchester City, the 2023 winner, suffered the same fate. Last year, Dani Carvajal of Real Madrid also experienced an ACL tear. This year's winner, Desire Doue of Paris Saint-Germain, has caused concern amongst fans due to this pattern. "Please don't let it happen to Desire Doue," pleaded one concerned TikTok user. While there's no definitive explanation for this correlation, it raises questions about the physical demands of elite football and the potential for preventative measures.