Sight is essential for football, as it allows players to perceive the movement of the ball, the position of their teammates and the location of their opponents. However, not everyone is fortunate enough to have perfect vision. Some footballers, like Annibale Frossi, are born with vision problems that make it difficult for them to see.
At Óptica Bassol we present some footballers who have challenged the limitations of their eyesight and have achieved success in this sport. You will discover how players with myopia, astigmatism and other conditions have managed to overcome their difficulties and become football stars.
Their stories are an example of perseverance, self-improvement and passion for the king of sports. Keep reading!
Football players who wear glasses
Football players must have excellent eyesight to quickly and concisely see the location of the ball. Imagine the disaster in a team where its players cannot receive passes or kick accurately. That is why many professionals in this sport wear glasses, without it becoming a disadvantage. Get to know some of them.
Annibale Frossi
Born in Italy in 1911, Annibale Frossi is one of the most famous bespectacled footballers in history . Despite his severe myopia, Frossi became a star of Italian football in the 1930s. He played with round glasses that became his trademark.
His talent and determination led him to win the World Cup with Italy in 1938. He wore glasses similar to the LINDA FARROW 62 1 53.
24/48H
Edgar Davids
Dutchman Edgar Davids is another example of a player who has defied the limitations of his eyesight. Davids was born with glaucoma, a disease that damages the optic nerve and causes vision loss. Despite this, Davids became a professional player who worked for some of Europe's top teams , including Ajax, AC Milan and FC Barcelona.
Davids always wore special glasses during matches to protect his eyes and improve his vision, very similar to the Oakley OO9231 HELIOSTAT 923104 61.
Joop Van Daele
Joop Van Daele was a Dutch football player who played in the 1970s. He was known for his skill with the ball and for his peculiarity of playing while wearing glasses.
Van Daele started wearing glasses at the age of 12 due to his short-sightedness. However, he never let glasses stop him from playing football. In fact, he became a professional player and went on to play for Feyenoord , one of the biggest clubs in the Netherlands.
Football players who wear contact lenses
Footballers who opt for contact lenses instead of glasses experience unrestricted visual freedom on the field. The comfort and versatility of contact lenses allow them to fully concentrate on the game, without worrying about frames or visual limitations.
Andres Iniesta
Former Barcelona midfielder Andrés Iniesta, considered one of the best players of his generation, plays with contact lenses to correct his short-sightedness.
Iniesta has won numerous titles with Barcelona and the Spanish national team, including the World Cup in 2010. His vision and talent with the ball have made him one of the most influential players in the history of football.
Petr Čech
Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Čech is another example of a player who successfully uses contact lenses in football. Čech started wearing contact lenses after a blow to the face during a match damaged his cornea. Despite this, Čech has gone on to have a successful career, including winning the Premier League four times and the Champions League in 2012.
Alvaro Arbeloa
Former Real Madrid full-back Alvaro Arbeloa wears contact lenses. This became known after a blow to the face caused him to lose one during a match. Arbeloa has won numerous titles with Real Madrid, including the Champions League on two occasions.
David de Gea
Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea wears contact lenses to correct his long-sightedness . De Gea has been recognised as one of the best goalkeepers in the world and won the Europa League in 2017.
In addition to the players mentioned above, there are other footballers who wear contact lenses, such as Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos and Karim Benzema.
Footballers who have had eye surgery
Eye surgery, specifically laser surgery, has become increasingly popular among footballers to correct vision problems and reduce or eliminate the need for glasses or contact lenses. The most common is LASIK surgery , which reshapes the cornea to improve vision.
Some famous footballers who have undergone eye surgery include:
- Lionel Messi : The Argentine star underwent LASIK surgery in 2007 to correct his nearsightedness, allowing him to play without relying on glasses or contact lenses.
- Cristiano Ronaldo : The Portuguese footballer also underwent laser surgery in 2010 to correct his myopia, which significantly improved his vision on the field.
- David Villa : The former Spanish striker underwent laser surgery in 2005 to correct his astigmatism and myopia.
- Didier Drogba : The former Ivorian player underwent eye surgery to correct his vision and improve his performance on the field.
- Raúl González : The former Real Madrid striker underwent LASIK surgery to correct his short-sightedness and improve his performance. The operation was a success and Raúl was able to continue playing football at the highest level.
- Michael Owen : The former Liverpool striker underwent PRK surgery to correct his short-sightedness and astigmatism. The operation allowed him to improve his vision and performance on the pitch.
- Fernando Torres : The former Atlético de Madrid striker underwent SMILE surgery to correct his short-sightedness. The operation was a success and Torres was able to continue playing football at the highest level.
Get your right glasses at Bassol Optics!
Footballers with vision problems are an example for those with disabilities who dream of achieving their goals. Their message is clear: there are no limits to what we can achieve if we set our minds to it.
