"What I felt when our team doctor did the drawer test in the dressing room in Hoffenheim, looked at the physio and shook his head, and the physio did it too and didn't feel any resistance either - I went into the shower and cried for ten minutes. In that moment, I really thought: 'It's torn'."
"When I went for an MRI the next day and received the good news (that it wasn't an ACL injury), it was 1000% clear to me that it was over. I couldn't imagine anything worse than looking forward to life - being independent, going on holiday, spending time with my children - only to then have to come to terms with my third cruciate ligament tear."
Niklas Süle, 30-year-old Borussia Dortmund defender, announces retirement at the end of the 2025/26 season. The decision stems from persistent injury problems throughout his career, particularly two ACL injuries. A recent knee issue sustained last month proved decisive; after medical examination suggested a potential third ACL tear, Süle determined he could not risk further damage. Though subsequent MRI results showed no ACL rupture, the psychological impact of nearly suffering a third tear convinced him to end his playing career. Süle joined Dortmund from Bayern Munich in 2022, where he won five Bundesliga titles and one Champions League. At Dortmund, he appeared 108 times across all competitions despite missing 87 games due to injuries.
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