The coronavirus outbreak has put a stop to most sporting activities around the world, including the football season which was reaching its final stretch. Due to the highly infectious nature of the virus, footballers have also fallen prey to getting infected after repeatedly playing and interacting with the public before lockdown measures were taken.
However, the impressive health conditions of the current footballers has allowed them to fight against the coronavirus and ultimately overcome it. While some had a few difficult days, others fought through their symptoms and have made full recoveries in the past few weeks.
Fortunately, no active player has succumbed to the deadly virus yet and most who’ve been infected have tested negative to results recently. So here we’ll have our own ultimate XI of players to have recovered from Covid-19.
Goalkeeper: Pepe Reina
The Aston Villa goalkeeper had a harrowing experience battling against the coronavirus and gave details of when it almost crippled him. He said: “The most difficult moment was when I could no longer breathe, the 25 minutes I ran out of oxygen. It was the worst moments of my life.”
Thankfully, Reina’s now fully recovered from it after going through a traumatic period for a few weeks. The Spaniard made 394 appearances for Liverpool in a storied career at Anfield, and has made 6 appearances for Villa since joining in the winter.
Right-back: Daniele Rugani
Daniele Rugani was the first Juventus player to test positive for the deadly virus, causing the whole team to go into self-isolation. The most worrying aspect was that the Italian’s girlfriend - who is pregnant with their child – also got infected.
The Juventus defender didn’t experience severe symptoms and self-isolated for a number of weeks at home. He was recently revealed to have been tested negative for the virus and his girlfriend is also corona-free right now! Rugani has just made 7 appearances for Juve this season, helping them keep a few clean sheets as well.
Centre-back: Sean Raggett
Sean Raggett was among five Portsmouth players to have been infected by the coronavirus, causing tensions about the club’s well-being. However, the Irish defender battled through the virus with confidence and didn’t have any major complications during his infected period.
The Norwich City loanee tested negative for the virus a few weeks ago, having recovered alongside his Portsmouth pals as well. Raggett has made 26 appearances in the EFL League One for Portsmouth, scoring 2 goals, assisting as many and helping them stay in the race for promotion into the Championship.
Centre-back: German Pezzella
The Fiorentina defender was also among four players from the Serie A side infected with the coronavirus just when it started to implode in Italy. Like anyone, he became extremely scared after testing positive and gave an honest explanation.
He said: “I was sh***ing myself thinking: 'Will I wake up not being able to breathe tomorrow, will it be difficult or not? It's not easy.” The Argentinian centre-back ended up making a full recovery thanks to his strong immunity system. He’s made 24 appearances for the Viola, scoring 2 goals and assisting one this season.
Left-back: Eliaquim Mangala
Eliaquim Mangala was among the multiple Valencia players infected with the coronavirus soon after their Champions League clash against Atalanta. The former Man City midfielder showed very light symptoms and didn’t have many complications with the virus.
The former Man City defender recently tested negative along with many of his teammates - being one of the luckier ones in Spain - easily recovering from the virus thanks to his impressive health condition. Mangala’s struggled with injuries all season long, only being able to make 7 appearances for Valencia in the campaign.
Central midfielder: Blaise Matuidi
Blaise Matuidi was the second Juventus player to test positive for the virus after Rugani, but he didn’t let it get the better of him at any point. The Frenchman insisted that he felt ‘strong and positive’ after being diagnosed with the deadly virus and remained well during the period of infection.
He recently tested negative for it after multiple tests, coming out on top thanks to his strong immune system. Matuidi has made 31 appearances for Juve this season, being a versatile player and chipping in with a goal and 2 assists as well.
Central midfielder: Marouane Fellaini
The former Man United midfielder had the misfortune for becoming the first Chinese Super League player to be infected by the coronavirus. His condition deteriorated to the point he had to be hospitalized for some-time, but Fellaini fought through the infection really well.
The Belgian midfielder was recently seen released from the hospital and looking healthy as ever. After leaving United last year, Fellaini has been a success in the CSL scoring 12 goals and assisting 5 in 34 appearances for Shandong Luneng.
Right winger: Dusan Vlahovic
The stylish young Fiorentina forward was also among the bunch of players infected by the deadly virus in the squad. He has talked about experiencing high fever and the wrath of the other symptoms, but he recovered well after being diagnosed with it.
The Serbian made a full recovery after just over a two-week period alongside his other teammates. Vlahovic has been among Fiorentina’s standout players for this season, scoring 9 goals and assisting 2 in his breakthrough campaign in the Serie A.
Attacking midfielder: Paulo Dybala
Paulo Dybala became the third Juve player to be infected with the coronavirus and was perhaps struck by its severity the most among his teammates. The Argentine voiced about how he often struggled to catch his breath when infected and his muscles ached when he did some heavy work.
Thankfully, Dybala has also made a full recovery from the virus and is now healthy once again. The Argentine’s done a fabulous job at the Italian club this season, scoring 13 goals and assisting 12 in an eventful debut campaign under Maurizio Sarri.
Left winger: Callum Hudson-Odoi
The Chelsea winger dropped a bombshell in March when he revealed that he was also diagnosed with the coronavirus, forcing the whole club to go into quarantine. Thankfully, his age and strong health proved to be too much for Covid-19.
As a matter of fact, Hudson-Odoi had a very quick recovery from the virus and is in perfect condition. The 19-year-old has made 27 appearances under Frank Lampard this season, scoring 4 goals and setting up 6 in a rather topsy-turvy individual campaign.
Striker: Patrick Cutrone
The former Wolves striker was among those in Fiorentina to have been infected by the virus and had to be put into strict home-isolation during the entirety of the period. Thankfully Cutrone didn’t struggle with the virus and didn’t have major troubles dealing with it.
The Italian striker made a full recovery and tested negative alongside his teammates, gaining a full bill of health recently. He hasn’t had that good a campaign at Fiorentina, having been unable to score a goal in seven Serie A matches after arriving in January.
