# ACL injury recovery in professional football

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/acl-injury-recovery-in-professional-football
> Updated: 2026-10-17T14:20:38.000Z. Sources: 4. Developments: 2.

Research from the Clínica Universidad de Navarra regarding anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in professional football indicates that while 97.7% of players return to competition, long-term performance often suffers. The study found that five years post-injury, over 61% of players compete at a lower sporting level and maintain lower average playing times than before the injury.

Individual cases in Spanish football illustrate these recovery timelines. Borja Cortina of Atlético Levante returned to official matches after 394 days following an ACL rupture in September 2025. Similarly, Javi Puado returned to play after 279 days following a right knee ACL injury sustained in January.

## Timeline

### 2026-10-17: Spanish footballers return to play after long-term ACL injuries

Spanish footballers Borja Cortina and Javi Puado have both returned to competitive play following lengthy recoveries from anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/spanish-footballers-return-to-play-after-long-term-acl-injuries

### 2026-09-28: Clínica Universidad de Navarra study on ACL injuries in professional football

A study by Clínica Universidad de Navarra shows that while 97.7% of footballers return after ACL injuries, over 61% drop to lower competitive levels five years later.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/clnica-universidad-de-navarra-study-on-acl-injuries-in-professional-football

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Cite as: ACL injury recovery in professional football. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/acl-injury-recovery-in-professional-football