10 Footballers that beat cancer
Éric Abidal
The great Barcelona defender was diagnosed with liver cancer in March 2011. Abidal will never forget the night when Carles Puyol let him lift the Champions League Cup at Wembley. In 2013, he had a transplant and he returned to the pitch to play once again.
Germán Burgos
Burgos, aka 'The Bull' and current assistant coach for Atletico Madrid suffered from kidney cancer. He was diagnosed in 2003 but was quickly operated on and he recovered fairly quickly too.
Luboslav Penev
It took Penev four years to recover from cancer and to get back on the pitch. The Bulgarian forward was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 1994. Four years later he competed in the France World Cup.
Arjen Robben
Robben will never forget the moment he faced Spain's goalkeeper, Iker Casillas, in the World Cup 2010. But, he is proud of the fact that he survived testicular cancer at the young age of 20.
Juan Carlos Bazalar
It wasn't long ago that Bazalar was diagnosed with stomach cancer. But, without any delay, he was sent into surgery and he is recovering well.
Jonás Guiérrez
Guiérrez also suffered from testicular cancer, which is believed to have developed after the ball hit him hard in the crotch during a match. But, he has now fully recovered and has returned to the football world.
Carlos Roa
Likewise, the Argentinian keeper and World Cup hero of 1998, also suffered from testicular cancer and got the all clear.
José María Buljubasich
The Argentinian goalkeeper recovered from his cancer as if it had never happened. He discovered a brain tumour in 2006, but he soon recovered and won the title with Universidad Católica de Chile.
José Francisco Molina
The ex Atletico Madrid and Deportivo de la Coruña goalkeeper didn't let testicular cancer stop his footballing career. He returned back to the pitch only a few months after his operation.
Sergio Aragoneses
Goalkeeper Aragoneses never gave up. He beat cancer in both 2005 and 2007 and nothing could stop him from returning to the pitch.
