The journey of Pedro Ruiz, once considered a future football great, was tragically cut short. At 24, the former striker trained at Real Madrid and played for OM announced his retirement, undermined by serious and recurring knee injuries. In a poignant interview for AceRuiz returned to this descent into hell marked by unbearable physical pain and a grueling mental battle.
It all started in January 2020 with a complete rupture of the cruciate ligaments and both menisci of his left knee during a match with the Real Madrid reserve. “Raúl told me to keep playing even if I cried. But after five minutes, my knee completely dislocated.”says Ruiz. Operations are multiplying, with ever more alarming diagnoses. “Dr Leyes told me it was the worst knee injury he had ever seen. »
Pedro Ruiz can no longer run
Recruited by OM in 2021 thanks to Pablo Longoria, who still believed in him, Ruiz was loaned to NEC Nijmegen where he attempted a comeback. But his pain caught up with him, forcing him to have another surgical procedure. Despite months of intense rehabilitation, the situation is getting worse: “My problem isn’t that I can’t play at a high level, it’s that I can’t even run from here to there”he confides.
Despite his shattered dream, Pedro Ruiz now wants to use his experience to support young footballers facing similar challenges. “I learned to fight, and I want to pass this strength on to others,” he declares.
