Imaging of football (soccer) injuries

Soccer is the world’s most popular sport, engaging hundreds of millions of participants each year. As a physically demanding contact sport, injuries occur rather frequently. Injuries range from the common and relatively benign low-grade muscle strains to potentially career-ending ligamentous injuries. At times, the nature of the injury or degree of debility requires further assessment with diagnostic imaging. Through a structured approach focused on injury epidemiology, relevant anatomy, mechanism, and appearance on medical imaging, the radiologist can gain familiarity with the common and important injuries experienced by soccer players and in turn assist the player and referring clinician toward the goal of appropriate treatment and timely return to play.