Football is a dangerous sport. Throughout history, there have been numerous serious injuries that have shocked fans around the world. Shocking images that are difficult to erase from the collective memory. On Wednesday, the victim was Noa Lang, a Galatasaray player, who almost lost a finger on the fence at Anfield.

His cut on his thumb and the images of blood gushing from his hand quickly went viral. The Turkish player writhed in pain on the turf as the assistants tried to help him. He was eventually stretchered off and had to undergo surgery.

The images were reminiscent of other gruesome situations experienced on the pitch. There is the famous case of German player Ewald Lienen, who suffered a 'goring' in the thigh in 1981 during a Bundesliga match between Werder Bremen and Arminia. The studs of the opposing player opened a 25-centimetre cut in his thigh that left the tissues open.

La lesión de Ewald Lienen, catalogada como una de las peores lesiones de la historia del fútbol, 14 de agosto de 1981.

A los 20 minutos de partido en Bremen, entre los equipos recién ascendidos, Werder y Arminia Bielefeld, se produjo un ataque por la banda izquierda de Lienen,… pic.twitter.com/v4GPrVdMQO

— 𝖪𝖾𝗇𝗂𝖺 𝗅𝗈 𝗁𝖺𝖼𝖾 𝗍𝗈𝖽𝗈 𝗆𝖺𝗅 (@RelatocuriosoK) October 29, 2023

Similar to Lienen's injury was the one suffered by Mexican player Giovani Dos Santos during an America vs Chivas match in 2019. The studs of 'Pollo' Briseno opened a hole in the Mexican's thigh that alarmed everyone in the Liga MX. An injury more typical of a war than a soccer match.

🗣️ ANTONIO BRISEÑO, sobre su recordada falta contra GIOVANI DOS SANTOS en 2019, en el podcast de Yosgart Gutiérrez:

"Nunca he sido mala leche ni voy a ser mala leche, no voy a decir (que) no sé pegar porque sé pegar, pero mala leche de quebrar a alguien no, de llegar fuerte sí.… pic.twitter.com/ku3uQ0ntuK

— dataref México (@dataref_mx) December 31, 2024

The skin of Slovakian defender Martin Skrtl was also badly damaged in 2014 in a Premier League match against Arsenal. Giroud's boot struck the red defender's head and left a hole in his scalp that required staples to stop alarming bleeding.

More famous is the historic image starring Terry Butcher in a Sweden vs England match in 1989. A clash opened a tremendous wound on his forehead that bled profusely despite the bandage, leaving his white England shirt totally drenched in blood.

When Terry Butcher played for England in Sweden in 1989, the game itself was meant to be simple.

It was a World Cup qualifier in Stockholm and England basically just needed to get a result. Sweden away was never fun, so the plan was stay solid, take the draw if it’s there, and… pic.twitter.com/zojSzOzUdZ

— FTBL_Planet (@FTBL_Planet) February 3, 2026

In England, Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta suffered a tremendous cut to his ear after colliding with the opposing goalkeeper. The end result was 25 stitches in his face.

Jean-Philippe Mateta est sorti de l'hôpital après la pose de 25 points de suture sur son oreille gauche
➡️ https://t.co/Zvaaj3lNfW pic.twitter.com/XukxvRlHub

— L'Équipe (@lequipe) March 1, 2025

Luckily, Noa Lang's injury against Liverpool was just a scare and will not have serious consequences for his sporting career.