Many female soccer players face knee injuries. Experts say better care can help stop this.
On February 16, 2025, Leonie Köster, a new player for 1. FC Union Berlin, got a bad knee injury just one week after her first game. She hurt her left knee in a match against 1. FC Nürnberg and found out she tore her cruciate ligament. This means she will miss games for many months.
Soon after, Sophia Winkler from Essen tore her cruciate ligament during training with the national team. She twisted her knee with no one touching her. Most of these injuries, about 90%, happen without contact from other players.
The Bundesliga sees more cruciate ligament injuries lately. Players like Menglu Shen, Sara Ritter, and Lara Marti had the same problem. Some, like Lilli Purtscheller and Jonna Brengel, had more than one. Lena Oberdorf had her second injury only 15 months after the first.
In 2025, 53 players in twelve top leagues tore their cruciate ligaments. The Bundesliga has the most, then the Women's Super League in England and the National Women's Soccer League in the USA.
Dr. Leonard Achenbach, Medical Director of FC Bayern Frauen, says women have higher risk from tougher game demands. The Champions League has fewer injuries, which shows pro setups may lower risks.
Experts note body shape and hormones make women more likely to hurt their knees. Women often have wider hips and narrower knee bones, putting extra stress on the knee. Changes in the menstrual cycle can also raise injury chances.
A torn cruciate ligament needs surgery or other care. Healing takes about eight to nine months for front ligament tears, longer for back ones. Merle Frohms, a former national goalkeeper, recently tore her back cruciate ligament.
Research and prevention go on, but injuries stay high. Experts call for better ways to manage training loads for female players to cut risks.
